NCC/Visit with GI doctor this week - Long again but interesting

[Guest guest]

Hello Everyone,

My primary sent me to a GI specialist this Thursday after the EGD turned out

fine and abdominal pain continued post gallbladder removal. He was actually

very nice and patient. I have a medical history form I keep on my computer and

update as needed. I just find that its easier as I talk and then I can remember

dates, etc. and he can review before he sees me.

He said that when they do a gallbladder removal that there are 2 metal clips

that are left in the " area " not sure why I guess to sew in the area where they

took out the gallbladder. However, it should not have set off the metal

detectors or body scanners at the airport. He found that very interesting and

wanted to see the CT scan which was uploaded to their system but for whatever

reason he couldn't pull it up. I'm thinking they just told my doctor they were

uploading it as they were on the phone and didn't actually do it.

He listened to what has happened since the gallbladder surgery (Feb 10), and

then examined my abdomen and did a test called Carnett's test which was

positive. He then says, I believe what you are suffering from is abdominal wall

muscle pain. I think my face must have been " shock. " Here's what I was

thinking: You mean I drove almost 2 hours to find out this information.

He said that when you have abdominal wall pain go from a lying down position to

a sitting position the pain will normalling increase but if it was

" intra-abdominal " or organ related then it would decrease.

The problem with this type of " injury " is that everything we do with our bodies

requires use of these muscles so when you eat, breathe, turn your body, walk,

sit, stand, transfer from sit to stand, use the bathroom, etc. you are using

these muscles. So, the goal is to try and rest these muscles during sleep so

that they can try and heal.

He prescribed Amitryptyline (sp?) at a very low dose to take at night but that

doesn't sit well with me so I am going to have to talk with my primary to see

what else I can do. If it doesn't heal soon, I am not sure what happens since

it has been going on for several months.

He also said most people don't know why or what they did and it can behave just

like gallbladder disease so it could have been the sourse of the gallbladder

pain but of course, he can't be sure of that either.

Urggh! No easy answer he said and he apologized for that. I told him I was not

the typical patient and he didn't have to apologize. He was very down to earth

and I appreciated his honesty.

Whatever muscles are involved in activity surrounding your stomach and small

intestines are the ones that are extremely aggravated or strained, I can hardly

have any food in my stomach or else they are mad as heck!

Thanks for all the help everyone has been! Thank goodness for laptops!

Take care,