Right Side Slight Pain

[aug62012 27]

I am 10 weeks out from surgery and under the site where I had the drain hurts and my right side hurts. Not a lot of pain but it is slight. Sometimes radiates to back right side but very slight pain. Has anyone experienced this? What could it be? I have not had any complications and weight lose since surgery is 43 pounds.

[Nicci 28]

have you done anything that could have aggravated the site? Pulled a muscle, stood up funny, lifted something heavier than what you are suppose to?

[4ALongerLife 329]

Ok not sure but you sounded a bit paniced and worried if maybe it's a leak or complication? Here's what I know.....

Usually a complication is felt on the left side of the body, from what I know. The reason? From my understanding is the phrenic nerves that run down from your brain, it splits on either side of the body - one nerve runs down the left and one on the right. Your liver insulates the nerve on the right but the nerve on the left has more 'open' space around it. Whenever you have a leak, the body tries to take those contents and encapsulate them, protecting itself (isn't that amazing?). So generally speaking, as I would assume you are concerned with 'is this a leak' - generally pain on the left side of the body is a sign of a leak. How do I know? Because I've had a leak since my surgery in March. We tried to fix it through surgery but even afterwards, I still had a bit of leakage. A week of TPN and months later, pain on my left side and two bouts of what we thought was pneumonia and a two view laying down CAT scan finally showed I still am nursing this freak'n leak. Yes, grrr. But the good news is that I am doing better and going to remain positive. No more surgery expected (I pray for that outlook to only continue) but I am on a liquid diet/soft foods and still nursing this thing until it closes. Double, triple grrrr... but hey I have lost 105-106 lbs. And I hope I'm learning more "mindful" eating practices. (yes, I am still positive and stronger than anything that will be thrown at me!)

I would highly suggest that you call your dr's office and ask what is up. If you are concerned that it's a leak, I don't think it is but I am not a medical professional so I cannot tell you that with certainty. I just can tell you what I've learned from my own journey thusfar and hope that helps offer you some comfort, to which is why I am posting. Are you having any drainage from the site where your drain was? Call the dr's office and ask them please... if you are in pain, don't delay ok? I can only HIGHLY encourage you to call. They have the experience on these matters.

I wish you only the best of luck in your WLS journey. xx

[aug62012 27]

Thank you for posting. My sites are totally healed. I have been doing more physically so maybe it is something with that. I am nervous about a leak but was not sure how far out you can still get a leak. My breast on that side is now droopy a little and lays on the area also so maybe that is it. I will call the doc and make an spot in Monday.

[Nicci 28]

Leaks are often associated with increased heart rate, fever etc (from what I have read) and also the stomach is on the left side of the body (anatomically speaking). It is possible for your pain to be radiating from the left side of your body to the right side, thats what I experienced with my gall bladder and it confused my doc at first because the gallbladder is on the left and I had no left sided pain.

4ALongerLife have you discussed the possibility of having your surgeon fix the leak with a stent? From what I have read this generally heals the leak (I am doing sooooo much research before I have my surgery that I am beginning to feel like a walking encyclopedia for WLS, lol!).

[VitaleEM 44]

Ok not sure but you sounded a bit paniced and worried if maybe it's a leak or complication? Here's what I know.....

Usually a complication is felt on the left side of the body' date=' from what I know. The reason? From my understanding is the phrenic nerves that run down from your brain, it splits on either side of the body - one nerve runs down the left and one on the right. Your liver insulates the nerve on the right but the nerve on the left has more 'open' space around it. Whenever you have a leak, the body tries to take those contents and encapsulate them, protecting itself (isn't that amazing?). So generally speaking, as I would assume you are concerned with 'is this a leak' - generally pain on the left side of the body is a sign of a leak. How do I know? Because I've had a leak since my surgery in March. We tried to fix it through surgery but even afterwards, I still had a bit of leakage. A week of TPN and months later, pain on my left side and two bouts of what we thought was pneumonia and a two view laying down CAT scan finally showed I still am nursing this freak'n leak. Yes, grrr. But the good news is that I am doing better and going to remain positive. No more surgery expected (I pray for that outlook to only continue) but I am on a liquid diet/soft foods and still nursing this thing until it closes. Double, triple grrrr... but hey I have lost 105-106 lbs. And I hope I'm learning more "mindful" eating practices. (yes, I am still positive and stronger than anything that will be thrown at me!)

I would highly suggest that you call your dr's office and ask what is up. If you are concerned that it's a leak, I don't think it is but I am not a medical professional so I cannot tell you that with certainty. I just can tell you what I've learned from my own journey thusfar and hope that helps offer you some comfort, to which is why I am posting. Are you having any drainage from the site where your drain was? Call the dr's office and ask them please... if you are in pain, don't delay ok? I can only HIGHLY encourage you to call. They have the experience on these matters.

I wish you only the best of luck in your WLS journey. xx[/quote']

how long after surgery did you leak?

[It's all new 453]

Leaks are often associated with increased heart rate' date=' fever etc (from what I have read) and also the stomach is on the left side of the body (anatomically speaking). It is possible for your pain to be radiating from the left side of your body to the right side, thats what I experienced with my gall bladder and it confused my doc at first because the gallbladder is on the left and I had no left sided pain.

4ALongerLife have you discussed the possibility of having your surgeon fix the leak with a stent? From what I have read this generally heals the leak (I am doing sooooo much research before I have my surgery that I am beginning to feel like a walking encyclopedia for WLS, lol!).[/quote']

Yes,the stomach is definitely on left side - I think you switched the gallbladder because it is on the right. I had to look it up to be sure, but it is tucked by the liver! I only clarify for those of us who may go through gallbladder pain in the coming months!