Pain in the belly following gastric bypass surgery can have a number of causes, and it’s not even that uncommon.
Also keep in mind that a major cause of this is the fact that you were just cut open in the stomach.
Belly Pain after Gastric Bypass Surgery: Here Are Some Causes
“Again, this can be benign from something as simple as indigestion or a tight abdominal wall muscle,” says pain specialist Jacob Teitelbaum, MD, medical director of the Fibromyalgia and Fatigue Centers nationally, and author of “The Fatigue and Fibromyalgia Solution.”
“But if it is a new pain, especially if it is severe and the surgery was recent, call your physician,” continues Dr. Teitelbaum.
“Any severe abdominal pain, especially if associated with vomiting without diarrhea, or with severe tenderness when pushing on the abdomen, should be checked.
“If the surgery was recent, concerns include a rupture or infection, or obstruction from an adhesion.”
These last few possible causes are life threatening. Waste no time getting to the emergency room. What seems like even a minor delay can be the difference between life and death.
Another possible cause of pain in the belly region after gastric bypass surgery is that of kidney stones, since the procedure alters the way the body absorbs oxalate and calcium.
This problem, though, would not occur right away; it’s a possible long-term complication.
Interesting statistics regarding bariatric surgery:
A surgeon earns between $4,000 and $6,000 per operation.
A Fresno, California team of three physicians performed 1,128 gastric bypass operations in a single year.
The fatality rate is half a percent.
So in summary, though pain in the belly is not all that uncommon after a gastric bypass operation, it can also be a sign of something that needs immediate medical attention.
is a board certified internist and nationally known expert in the fields of fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, sleep and pain.
