Burning pain below remnant stomach post bariatric surgery

Posted by gjack5404 @gjack5404, Aug 5 2:35pm

I will try and make this brief. My wife had bariatric surgery about 2 years ago. At the time, they also took the gall bladder. Earlier this year, she was experiencing pain upon eating and drinking. After 20 days in the hospital, it was determined she had a kinked bile duct. This was repaired and the immediate pain upon eating and drinking subsided. They also looked in her remnant stomach at the time. It was highly inflamed. They put in a stomach tube. We are no longer feeding that way, but are putting meds in for decreased bile production. Now she is experiencing burning pain below the stomach tube area (not around the tube itself) but between the tube and pelvic area. It is like a constant burning she says. Nothing has seemed to help. She has a lot of discharge from her tube, even when we don't use it. The discharge has also began to have a different odor as well. SHe is due to get an endo this Friday and they are supposed to look into her remnant. I was like, why can't they test her gastric fluid for some sign of infection that possibly her current antibiotics are not touching? They don't seem to be concerned about that. She also has a nerve block scheduled next week and an upcoming appointment with Mayo. I am just baffled, as is she, about what is causing this endless burning pain. We are wondering if she perhaps needs the remnant out? Just trying to figure this out. It has been a long, ongoing battle.......

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Bariatric Surgery & Weight Loss Support Group.

Laurie, Volunteer Mentor | @roch | Aug 6 6:23am

@gjack5404

Welcome to Mayo Connect.
Sounds like your wife has been going through a very time. Can not answer your medical question directly, maybe another member can share their experience.

While reading your discussion I was thinking she needs a 2nd opinion so was very glad that you have an upcoming appointment at Mayo. Make sure you share her current medical records with Mayo.

There is a great article "How to make the most of your Mayo Clinic appointment." that may help you prepare for 1st appointment. https://www.mayoclinic.org/patient-visitor-guide/how-to-make-the-most-of-your-appointment

Do you care to share what location and department your wife's appointment is at?

gjack5404 | @gjack5404 | Aug 11 1:48pm

She is set up to see the Bariatric Physician first, In Jacksonville. It is on Sept 9th.

Lisa Lucier, Moderator | @lisalucier | Aug 11 5:38pm

Hi, @gjack5404 - I'd like to add my welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. Glad you've gotten to connect with @roch.

I'd like to tag a few others who may have some thoughts about your wife's challenges with the kinked bile duct, the inflamed remnant stomach and the burning pain below the stomach tube area following her bariatric surgery @sammk @usernameimpossible @huskycart2126 @maryecox @nova1976 @markymarkfl @barbsbaileyboo.

Lisa Lucier, Moderator | @lisalucier | Sep 22 4:14pm

In reply to @gjack5404 "She is set up to see the Bariatric Physician first, In Jacksonville. It is on Sept..." + (show)

@gjack5404 - how did the appointment with the bariatric physician go in Jacksonville earlier this month? What did he or she recommend for your wife?

gjack5404 | @gjack5404 | Sep 23 8:13am

Good morning, I was so amazed with the first appointment. So precise and to have the doc waiting on you instead of the other way around. He spent a considerable amount of time discussing everything with us and tried to get a surgical consult while we were there. We drove 6 hours to Mayo. We did decide to stay until Thursday evening with hopes of getting in to see a surgical consult, but to no avail. The intake physician said they had two surgeons out and the others very busy with clinic. That part was disappointing. Our consult is not scheduled until the 24th virtually. We've had no direction or indication what this consult is about so it has continued to be a long painful wait for my wife. I know it is complicated and we aren't the only patient but I thought things would have ran smoother or at least we would have some knowledge about what is upcoming. I did submit a question about a test result that I thought was high and pointed to something more urgent, but it wasn't treated as such. We are still hopeful for tomorrows call and what it will bring. She is feeling this is her last hope. I am attending the consult as well in hopes we may get a plan, or a surgical plan in the very near future. I am about ready to take her to the ER here locally again. She has been 5 times this year and hospitalized three times, once for 22 days. Thank you for your concern and for reaching out.