Left abdominal pain

[Cobie]

I've been having constant left abdominal pain under the rib and around the back.  It feels like pressure and I have a fullness feeling, which makes me never hungry.  Eating makes the pain very intense.  Let me give you some background.
I had a RNY gastric bypass on Dec 27, 2004.  I've lost 126 lbs and now weigh 114.  I've had no complications until Oct. of 2005, when I developed an internal hernia, which has been repaired.  Also, an endoscopy in Oct. showed I had a deuodenal ulcer and I was on Protonix and Carafate for one month.  In early Nov I started having the current pain and it was only occasionly after I ate.  It would last a few hours and then go away.  I had another endoscopy in Dec and my original ulcer had gotten worse and I had two more in the same area.  I'm back on the Carafate, but I never got off the Protonix.  I also had a colonoscopy, which didn't reveal anything.  My Gasto doc doesn't think the pain is related to the ulcers, since I have been on the meds for a month now.  I had a CT scan, which showed I have a fatty liver and a 4.2 cm dermoid cyst on my right ovary. Two weeks ago the pain became constant and more intense.  My bariatric doctor (surgeon) put me in the hospital for more tests.  I had a small bowel series, which didn't show anything wrong.  I had an ultrasound of my kidney and pancreas.  All the bloodwork was fine.  I'm still awaiting blood results for Lupus and RA, since my mother has both.  I have Hashimoto's, which puts me at risk for developing other auto-immune disorders.  I had a biopsy done for Celiac, which I don't have.  The doc did say he could feel my spleen was slightly enlarged.  While in the hospital, he did an exploratory laproscopy to look for a hernia, adhesions or anything else that may be the problem.  He didn't find anything but a few strange white lesions, which he did a biopsy of and I haven't rec'd any results yet.  I was sent home on the 31st with the constant pain.  I was taking Darvon every 4 hours and hardly able to eat.  AFter a week went by without my bowels moving, I did an enema and took laxatives.  Even with that, I had very painful hard stools, including the barium from the test done a week earlier.  The constant intense pain was relieved a bit after my bowels started moving again, but the pain is always there and is made worse after eating.  I've lost another 9 lbs in the last two weeks.  I see my bariatric doctor tomorrow for a follow up and the gastro doc next week.  Any clues as to what might be causing the pain?  Has being obese in the past caused my fatty liver?  Is that anything I should be concerned about?  Could the pain be because I have an enlarged spleen?  I also bruise easily, but my doctors consulted with a Hemotolgist while I was in the hospital and he says I'm fine.  

Where do I go from here?  I'm not sure I can live with this pain and I can't keep losing weight.  I want to work on getting pregnant this year.  I'll be 39 in March.

I appreciate any help.

[dea800]

A related discussion, gastritis was started.

[xxlee]

Hello,
I have SOMETHING to tell you all. I was in so much pain that I had a dream to look into the internet. I found Dr. Natura site. I read the testimonials and still very skeptical. I bought the product delivered by FedEX next day. I took the Herbs, pills, and Tea. Something came out!!!! I took pictures of them. My stomach feel a little better already. It was just my first day after trying it. When I read in the testimonials, it takes people weeks for it to show up. You may want to give Dr. Natura product a try. You can email me at ***@**** if you want to speak to me personally. It is a start for me and I'm sure it is probably the right product. I have three weeks to go with the product. Thanks.

[xxlee]

I orginally have a left abdominal pain. Three weeks into it, I have  more pain througout the abdomen if I eat any food. The pain starts out with a buring on the upper stamach, then a sensation of fever go by, then I get the chill with my teeth chattering.
I had the following done: GI, Colon, CT, MRI, blood test, autra sound and everything seem normal. The doctor thought it is the gallbladder. They removed the gallbladder but my symptom is still the same. The moment I eat, about an hr later the burning in the abdomen begins and the fever start. I am weakended and the chill started. I can't eat and whenever I eat, the same symtom happens. I lost 7 pounds already. Anyone had this problem and what have you done to help it?

At times I do have cramp on my abdomen too. I need help. Please help. Thanks

[xxlee]

I orginally have a left abdominal pain. Three weeks into it, I have  more pain througout the abdomen if I eat any food. The pain starts out with a buring on the upper stamach, then a sensation of fever go by, then I get the chill with my teeth chattering.
I had the following done: GI, Colon, CT, MRI, blood test, autra sound and everything seem normal. The doctor thought it is the gallbladder. They removed the gallbladder but my symptom is still the same. The moment I eat, about an hr later the burning in the abdomen begins and the fever start. I am weakended and the chill started. I can't eat and whenever I eat, the same symtom happens. I lost 7 pounds already. Anyone had this problem and what have you done to help it?

At times I do have cramp on my abdomen too. I need help. Please help. Thanks

[Tracyin Texas]

I stumbled on this webpage this evening because I have been experiencing what I suspect is kidney pain.  I, too, had the gastric bypass surgery-in July 04.  Until recently, I had no real problems.  Last week I found myself severely constipated-6 days straight w/o a bm.  I was taking every laxative that was suggested (all ok'd by my MD). Murphy's Law rules, nothing kicked in until I was waiting (and waiting) in the ER last Friday night.  Now that part of life is back to normal, but now I have this dull and constant pain the the lower left back area where y'all have described it too.  Like you, it gets worse when I eat and it has psychologically caused me to avoid food for as long as possible.  While this pain is NOTHING compared to being constipated, it is very bothersome.  I am planning to call my surgeon tomorrow.  I am dreading bugging her since I have been a pest for the last two weeks.  I must say, I hope that mine is not ongoing like you describe.  So far the duration is about a week.
Just an FYI: I also had recent major complications from a vitamin B12 deficiency.  I had no idea b12 controled so many things.....
***@****   if any bypass patients care to chat via email.

[msprettygirl]

This post is for everyone but I'm really interested in speaking with Cobie. I too had gastric bypass. I had mine 9/2003 since then I have seen more than my share of hospitals and drs. I troo have the left side pain which is generally a little left and above my navel and radiates around my side into my back. mine also started after eating. Now I have it all the time and its not just associated with eating however drinking sometimes like first drink in the morning will make my stomach wrench up and take my breath. There is no description to the pain other than my stomach wrenching around a hot knife and at times it is worse than labor pains. I have had numerous tests ct scans, colonoscopy, scopes etc. everything looks fine. I had diagnostic surgery which repaired an internal hernia. but the pain continued. I had my gallbladder removed but nonetheless the pain returns. It is starting to consume my life. I am on pain medications which I hate. But sometimes its like an attack or something where the pain gets so bad I start dry heaving then I will get real hot and then freezing cold and the pain is so intense nothing gives me relieve. I went to the E.R. once and the ct scan showed fluid in my abdominal cavity but that went undiagnosed. I had the diagnostic surgery two days later and all that was found was the hernia. this last attack (this past weekend) I went to the E.R. twice the first time they gave me morophine 10mg and I took 1 1/2 pain pills (percocet and the pain was still as intense as before the first dose) I then went back to the E.R. and they gave me fentanyl and it took the edge off enough to fall asleep I was exhausted bc this went on for 18 hours. I need it to stop!!! The pain also intensifies with activity walking, sex,etc if I sleep on my left side now (since the hernia repair) I will wake up with crampy feelings and within a couple hours it will be intense where walking aggravated it etc. I can say the pain ranges from extreme period cramp pain to worse than labor pains. I can't pinpoint what exactly triggers it other than the activities that aggravated it more. I don't know if a staple from the GB is on a nerve or what. If anyone else reading this has had similiar experience please contact me so we can discuss these experiences and hopefully be able to pinpoint something. my personal email is ***@****....

[bballmom]

I am a 38 year old female, and I was first treated for many years for gastro problems, diverticulitis(from ab pain), and back pain, etc.  Finally, a urologist (from having red blood cells in my urine -unnoticable to the eye), read my systems, and saw I had a severe bleeding from the rectum occurance that reduced my hemoglobin to 4.  (which by the way, they said was IBS or bacteria in my colon at the time I was hospitalized), finally found the true reason of all my pain and suffering. I have a tumor that has grown to a large size called angiomyolipoma.  My Symptoms include nausia, vomiting , ab pain, gastro pain, and middle back pain. ( and the red blood cells in the urine) Its right next to my kidney (therefore the gastro and back pains).

Just a note for those not looking for the tumor in the CT scans. That's how mine was discovered.

[malcom]

hi missy 74, I am 34 and male. i have the same problem, afraid to eat, pain is mostly in the upper left side but it goes to the back and center. It is sore to touch.normal bowel movement,  very painfull to eat, nausea, i had all kind of tests done, i lost my job, lost weight(25lb). i dont want to take addictive pain killers because i know i will be hooked. Just want to know what it is. The pain is worse in the morning as soon as i get up, it never stops until i go to bed, also have joint pain(mild), Thirsty in the morning( i dont know why , i never drink but thirsty like hang- over), i tried glutien free diet and fiber- no result.
if you have results please post it her, i will do the same because i have GI visit(for 10th time) if he knows some thing i will let you know. good luck for all of you.

[missy74]

When i was pregnant with my second child i had an attack of pain in my upper left side that went around to my back. The pain came in waves like contractions. I went to the er and they did some tests. My lipase level was so high that i was there for 2 weeks. I have no idea what that is or where it came from.I went home on demerol for the pain. Noone ever told me what it was. That was 4 years ago. The pain comes and goes. It hurts to eat,sensitive to the touch. I cant do anything until the pain subsides. I've had MRIs, catscans, Upper and lower GIs. Still there is no answer. Every time i go to doctors they just give me pain meds. It helps but i want to know the cause. Im sitiing in pain right now. Ive lost 10 pounds in the last 2 months. The only way to actually eat is to be on clear liquids until the pain stops. I cant eat any kind of beef or it hurts. I dont take the pain meds until its unbearable. I have 4 sons that i have to care for so i cant be doped up,but its also hard to sit and play when my side hurts.please any answer is better than no answer.

[NickyIsHere123]

I've been having constant left abdominal pain under the rib and around the back. It feels like pressure and I have a fullness feeling, which makes me never hungry.


I know this sounds elementary, but what you describe is like a "gassy" feeling. Gas can make you feel full and bloated and considering you have had a surgery already, there may be a food allergen there. Have you been tested for food allergies? would start here, but you can also do it at home by trying the bland foods first. If you have a reaction of any kind, then you know you can't eat it. Eggs are really at the top for food allergens. Even though you have a complex history, your original problem could have stemmed from just be allergic to certain foods. Alos, the fatty liver could have something to do with it. Good Luck...


My advice:

It may not count for much, but go buy a juicer machine and start juicing fresh vegetables and fruits. These are living foods!!! Dead foods=dead bodies...
I have a slew of problems about 3 years ago. I had urq pain w/ all kinds of symptoms. Had two surgeons recommend GB removal..ect

Put me on Protonix , Reglan, Achiphex...YOU name it I was on it and finally threw it out the doe hoe!

Just start eating the REAL medicine...that is veggies and fruit...good luck

[Kevin Pho, MD]

You have had a pretty comprehensive evaluation.  Further GI testing can include a 24-hr pH study to evaluate the acidity of the stomach.  This can be done in conjunction with esophageal motility testing to evaluate for motility disorders.  Otherwise, the CT scan, ultrasound and endoscopies would give a pretty complete picture of the GI system.

To answer your questions - there is a connection between obesity and fatty liver.  Other causes of fatty liver would include chronic alcohol use.  

An enlarged spleen may be resonsible for the pain.  This possibility as well as treatment options can be discussed with a surgeon.  

Followup with your personal physician is essential.

This answer is not intended as and does not substitute for medical advice - the information presented is for patient education only. Please see your personal physician for further evaluation of your individual case.

Kevin, M.D.
kevinmd_b