Earlier tonight Dan and I were playing Super Mario Bros. (my new obsession) on our new Wii, when out of FREAKING NOWHERE horrible pain hit me right in the middle of my abdomen. Below where my stomach pouch is, but above where typical bowel cramping occurs. It was so bad… I’d like to think I have an average pain tolerance, but this pain had my doubling over. It went on for at least fifteen minutes, during which time I could barely stand up straight. I was walking around hunched over, hoping I could walk whatever it was out. At one point Dan stepped outside to put the trash out (I feel so bad, he was freaking out over me) and I went down on my knees to the kitchen floor, it just hurt SO bad that standing up, even hunched over, was out of the question. I was whimpering, crying, sobbing… it was SO bad, that pain. Dear god.
And then like that, it subsided. I kept getting twinges and achy pangs for a good hour, but nothing like what I experienced during those first fifteen minutes.
What was it? I have no idea…
It wasn’t stuck food — I’ve never had food get stuck, except for a bit of ravioli that, despite being chewed thoroughly, just didn’t sit well with me, and I had to throw it up (and it got semi-stuck on the way).
It wasn’t dumping — the only dumping I have experienced was very minor, and involved chills, the shakes and a slight touch of nausea. It first happened when I took liquid cold medicine a little too soon after eating, and happened a second time last week when I tried about a third of an Entennman’s crumb-topped donut (bad craving, I know!).
It wasn’t bowel issues — I’m currently having to take Dulcalax to keep things going every few days, and the one time I experienced constipation was about a week after surgery, and THAT pain was lower and much “hotter”, if that makes any sense.
So what could it be? One thought was the three wheat crackers I ate… maybe they mixed with liquid in my stomach pouch and expanded, and caused pain in the lower portion of my pouch and upper portion of my small intestine? But I’ve had those crackers before and did fine, and when I ate them tonight I hadn’t drank for over an hour.
Another thought was maybe this is a sign of gallbladder problems? I’ve dropped 30 lbs. since surgery… gallbladder issues are fairly common in post-op bariatric surgery patients.
Blah. Whatever it was, I hope to never, EVER have it again. That pain comes pretty close to being as bad as labor pains. And THAT is saying something!
Related posts:21 Comments
, on December 28 2009 at 1:36am:
Definitely ask your doctor. Gallbladder is no fun, I’ve been there and done that (mine is gone now thankfully) and it IS like that – can’t stand, can’t sit, can’t lay down. Worst pain of my life.
, on December 28 2009 at 1:53am:
I would definitely tell your doctor about it as soon as you can. I hope everything is ok!!
, on December 28 2009 at 2:30am:
I really need to check out this game…we haven’t bought many new Wii games lately, so it may be time for one! I hope whatever caused the pain was a one time occurrence. Things like that would definitely scare me…I’d be calling the dr every time they happened.
, on December 28 2009 at 6:42am:
Are you sure u dont have an allergy to wheat? I know it sounds silly but sometimes these kind of things take years for us to notice! Hope you get better soon! p.s. i’m jealous of your wii i want one!
, on December 28 2009 at 8:33am:
Wow, sounds like a really awful experience!!! Hope it doesn’t start again, but make sure you tell your doctor!
, on December 28 2009 at 9:27am:
I’ve never had gastric bypass, but I HAVE had gallbladder issues. My last gallbladder was a lot like you described, the only difference is, it didn’t subside like it usually did. I ended up having an emergency surgery. You should def. get that checked out…and who knows, it might be something else!
, on December 28 2009 at 10:11am:
When I had gallbladder problems, my stomach hurt right above my bellybutton. I felt sicks for hours and then just disappear. I would def get it checked out. They can find out through a sonogram.
, on December 28 2009 at 11:58am:
Funny. I get that same pain. It’s on the left side down below. And the pain feels like labor almost! I get it at least 4 times a month. I worry all the time what it might be. I’m going to try to make a appt to see if I can get a ultrasound to see if they can find anything.
, on December 28 2009 at 1:20pm:
Sounds like it could be your gallbladder. I had mine removed a few months ago. I had a gallbladder full of stones, which I found out after a few attacks. The attacks are by far the worst pain I’ve ever experienced, I swore each time I was dying (or having a heart attack).
The first few attacks were like yours – unbearable pain then it was gone after an hour or less. Sometimes, I’d throw up and it’d disappear then. The later attacks did not go away, and were so bad we rushed to the ER. I hope that’s not your case – the attacks are awful!
Worth checking out, since it can happen after quick weight loss. They can usually tell with a ultrasound if the gallbladder is infected or there are stones. I hope it’s something else, but if it is your gallbladder, chances are that the attacks will continue until it’s removed. I’d hate for you to have to have another surgery so soon! Good luck.
, on December 28 2009 at 4:34pm:
Oh hun, that sounds painful and scary. I would bring that up to your doctor. I do not know much about gastric bypass or about gallbladder issues, but I pray that it is not your gallbladder going bad. It would suck to have to go in for surgery so soon after your bypass!
, on December 28 2009 at 5:27pm:
Lame! Well I’m definately crossing my fingers for you. I agree with the previous posters, it may be worth calling your doctor just to double check. I hate follow-up visits and surgery scares, but they’re worth doing just to be safe.
Side note, I completely agree. I am just NOT a gamer but I’ve pestered Sean all week so we can save Princess Peach. PS I effin’ hate the ice/winter level. Punch it in the face.
, on December 28 2009 at 6:02pm:
Oh no! That doesn’t sound good. I hope it never happens again. I would definitely tell you doctor about it. It doesn’t sound normal to me. 
, on December 28 2009 at 6:43pm:
Kinda sounds like the pain I get from my gallstones. I know this is stupid to say to ya cause you take care of yourself and are going to do it anyway but, tell your doctor about it.
, on December 28 2009 at 7:46pm:
Obviously you need to get it checked out and tell the doc ASAP as it does sound like gallstones, but it could also be gas related to the surgery. You’d be surprised what funny things your body is going to do for months after this!
Why didn’t they take a look at your gallbladder and see if it needed to be taken out while they were in there? Just curious, I thought that was standard???
, on December 28 2009 at 10:55pm:
Firstly… I’m so friggin jealous you have the Super Mario Bros game… WANT WANT WANT! lol. Hmm it might be your gallbladder! I agree with one of the previous posters – to mention it to your Doc!
, on December 29 2009 at 10:52am:
That sounds terrible! I hope you can figure out the source of it, or that it was a one off you won’t have again.
I’ve played the Super Mario Bros game on the WII, my house mates have it. I love it 
, on December 29 2009 at 1:40pm:
I’d have it checked out, but it could just be gas. I’ve had lots of weird stomach pains, so I’ve googled stomach pain a lot and it seems that most people who show up to the emergency room with stomach pain just have gas. But it definitely could be something serious, so, yes, go to your doctor.
, on December 30 2009 at 5:37pm:
As someone who had to have their gallbladder removed in March, that definitely sounds familiar … :/ I honestly didn’t think anything could be more painful than labour but seriously – gallstones are it!
Hope it’s an isolated incident!
, on January 24 2010 at 10:42pm:
One cannot be sure if such pain has been instrumented by gallbladder stones or by gas only. I have seen a member of my family to pass through such sufferings. Initially we all have taken his pain as one related with gas. Simple relief medicines have worked in the beginning. But in course of time the recurrence of such unbearable pain has forced him to consult a surgeon who has diagnosed as stone in the gallbladder.
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That sounds like the pain my dad had after he had gastric bypass a few years ago. It did end up being his gallbladder. He let it get bad enough that I eventually had to call 911 one night before he checked it out. I’d definitely bring it up to your doctor.