Left Shoulder Pain

[Jeanie Sleevy 3]

On NYE I ended up in the ER with very bad stomach pain & pain in between my shoulder blades. I was admitted to the hospital and a CT scan was done. I was told the scan was clear but my lab work showed I had pancreatitis. I was sent home the next day on a strict diet. My surgeon was out of the country during my ER visit & had no on call doctor. So when we met a week ago I told him what happened. He looked up the CT scan report & lab work & told me the CT scan shows "fluid collection". He said we need to rule out a leak or an abscess. I had an upper GI done last wed. I was told it came back fine & it's not a leak. I'm still having left shoulder pain on & off!? My surgeon doesn't seem to think it's a leak, he said I would be sicker & running a fever. Don't get me wrong I'm happy it's not a leak but I can't help but suspect it could be because of this damn shoulder pain. I'm not sure what to do???

[Ms skinniness 3,003]

Is it time for a second opinion? Probably would have difficulty finding someone though. If it gets worse then I'd go to your PCP to have it ruled out. Remember, you are # 1 and need a advocate for yourself. Hope you get better really soon.

[andersonlj 32]

if you were faily new post op I would guess that it might be from the air that they pump into your stomach during surgery. but if you are out a ways and had pain that bad there most be something else going on. Do you have a primary care doctor or an internist??? I would definitely go see someone.

[Jeanie Sleevy 3]

Thank you. I met with my GP on monday about it. She said it was out of her legue, to talk to the surgeon. My husband called the surgeon today, he has not heard back though. DOS was 12/15/11

[gettingthere 11]

Hi Jeanie,

When you say "bad", how severe is the pain? So bad that you can't walk or function? I had my surgery a few days before you and I still have pain in my shoulder and upper abdomen. I saw my surgeon several times and he said that the healing process will take up to 8 weeks and some of this is normal depending on the amount of strain I put on the surgery site (i.e housework, exercise etc...). I haven't had a CT but would consider going back and demanding one if the pain was so bad that I can't move. Saying that, we hear on this forum of leaks where symptoms are just the shoulder pain (no fever) until they are eventually picked up way past the 6-8 weeks mark, so better be safe than sorry.

[Jeanie Sleevy 3]

It's not horrible pain that I can't take, it'a a nagging on & off pain. Hopefully I'm just a slow healer & it's not a big deal.

[Jeanie Sleevy 3]

This is what my CT scan said... "There is a 3.7 x 2.1cm Fluid collection to the left of the gastroesophageal junction" I did an upper GI & that came back fine.

[MeMeMEEE 206]

My first upper GI came back fine as well but I had an abscess confirmed by the CT. My second upper GI had to be done while I was laying down because I got light headed - and when I rolled to my left side, they saw my leak - it NEVER showed when standing up! They told me it wasn't standard to do one laying down so if they haven't done one laying down, ask for it! There is someone else here on the boards who had the same thing happen - it only showed when laying down. Also? I never had a fever or was sick from it. Left shoulder pain was my only symptom.

[Jeanie Sleevy 3]

Thank you for responding. They had my stand up & lay down. I'm not sure what to think?

[hope2Bfitand40 37]

Hi,

I am 4 days out and I have a nagging little pain going from my left shoulder up my neck. Is this the kind of left shoulder pain you are all talking about? It is probably a 2 on a scale of 1-10. Of course it is Saturday, so calling the surgeon isn't an option. I just wonder what kind of "left shoulder pain" you all mean? Was it sharp pain and really severe?

Thanks.