Gaining weight post-surgery and pain distended abdomen

[cjscarlet 5]

I weighed in at 208 on the morning of my surgery and 3 days later I weighed 219! My abdomen is distended and I have severe pain just below my right breast, so bad I can't take a full breath and the pain meds don't touch it. I went to the ER and they performed a CT scan, but found no Fluid in my abdomen. I've had nothing but Water, Protein Drinks and sugar-free Jello and broth. Has anyone else experienced post-surgical complications like this? I finally lost 4 pounds, down to 215, since yesterday and the pain is easing up just a tad, but it's still so bad I can't stand up straight. Any thoughts, anyone? Thanks for your support.

CJ

[Daisee68 2,493]

Nearly all (if not all) gain weight right after the surgery due to fluids from the hospital and swelling. That part is totally normal. The rest sounds like the gas they used during surgery trying to escape. It is good that you went to the ER just in case, but especially since you said it is easing up now, it very much sounds like that is what it is. It is an odd pain that the pain meds cannot touch. You have to walk, walk, walk. At day 5 it should start to ease up a lot. Try using a heating pad on your back/shoulder. That will ease the pain sometimes. And try Gas-X if you haven't. It does not work on the kind of gas they used to expand your stomach during surgery but it does work on the intestinal gas. If it doesn't ease up more by tomorrow or you need peace of mind, call your surgeon. There is always someone on call. I am not a medical professional, but I can only speak from my experience. Hang in there!

[cjscarlet 5]

Thank you for your comment. I figured out what the problem is they did a hiatal hernia repair while they were doing the gastric bypass and the pain is from back. Hiatal hernia repairs often take longer to recover from then bariatric surgery itself. This is definitely not gas pain its in one spot and never moves. Nice to meet you.

[cjd2010 30]

@@cjscarlet thank you for finding that out. I had a hernia repair too, and my esophagus is so sore, even from water!! Thanks for confirming that I am not crazy! Hahahahjaaj

[Dub 9,922]

Nearly all (if not all) gain weight right after the surgery due to fluids from the hospital and swelling. That part is totally normal. The rest sounds like the gas they used during surgery trying to escape. It is good that you went to the ER just in case, but especially since you said it is easing up now, it very much sounds like that is what it is. It is an odd pain that the pain meds cannot touch. You have to walk, walk, walk. At day 5 it should start to ease up a lot. Try using a heating pad on your back/shoulder. That will ease the pain sometimes. And try Gas-X if you haven't. It does not work on the kind of gas they used to expand your stomach during surgery but it does work on the intestinal gas. If it doesn't ease up more by tomorrow or you need peace of mind, call your surgeon. There is always someone on call. I am not a medical professional, but I can only speak from my experience. Hang in there!

Well said !!!

[cjscarlet 5]

I will be heading back to the surgeon's office tomorrow to schedule another EGD to discern the damage from the hernia repair. The pain in that one spot below the breast just will not respond to pain meds after an entire week. I feel better, though, just figuring that out. Wish me luck!

[cjscarlet 5]

Sorry for the long silence. The excruciating pain I was experiencing was not, in fact, gas. I had gall stones that were impacted in my gall bladder and they had to do emergency surgery to remove it. I urge each of you not to make light of it when someone complains of severe pain that does not change. I waited for 5 days to get the help I needed because I believed it was "just gas." I do appreiciate your support. CJ

[Dar200 285]

Bless your heart. I understand gallstone pain is just awful! I hope you recover quickly from your surgeries.

[Threetimesacharm 1,400]

glad to hear you found out what it was. It is unfortunate though that the surgeon did not consider taking out/looking at your gallbladder when he was in there in the first place! Happy that you are now on your way to healthy recovery.