ER visit (long); abnormal EKG

[Kel]

Has anyone heard of these symptoms following lap band placement/hernia repair? It was unlike anything I have ever experienced. I've PB'd but this was totally different... and scary. I'll speak with my pcp and follow up surgeon this week. My band was placed 8/10 with a "huge" hiatal hernia placed at that time. I have not yet had a fill because I was having some problems with vomiting after I started solids...most likely due to swelling from the hernia repair... I am scheduled for a fill in 2 weeks.

About 3 hours after I had dinner Friday night, I had some cramping, but didn't think much of it. Figured it was TOM. The cramping was following by sudden intense pain and pressure around the diaghragm area and across to both rib cages. The pain and pressure were so intense, I started sweating, became intermittently nauseous, and my breathing became more shallow. I was so scared thinking I was having a heart attack, but at the same time not wanting to go to the hospital and be "the fat lady with gas in curtain 2." Intense pain for an hour... it lessened... slept for 1/2 hour... woke up from the pain... decided to go to the ER.

Had bloodwork, urine analysis, upper GI, EKG, chest xray,and a positive d dimer followed by a CT of my heart to rule out pulmonary embolism. They have me anti nausea meds and morphine via IV. Pain went from an 8 to a 3.

6 hours and about $5000 later, they sent me home and said to take Tylenol for pain and come back if the symptoms returned. They said everything was normal, but my EKG report says abnormal (cannot rule out anterior infarct, age undetermined) and the distribution of my white blood cell count seems off. My EKG in August was normal.

Driving me crazy not having any answers... Kelli

[kim_8]

Geez Kel - no, haven't heard of that! Sorry you're not feeling well... hope you get some answers soon. Take care of yourself.

[Kathy]

Egads, Kel! Be sure to get this resoved before your fill. It would seem it's related to your hernia repair...but who knows! Please keep us posted. We wanna know!

[paula]

They said everything was normal, but my EKG report says abnormal
Say what??

I almost thought it sounded like gallbladder, but after I read this sentence - I have no idea!

Kelli, IMHO - get this checked out quickly! If you have a larger city close by - then go there. It may be nothing, and on the other hand - it may be something!
PLEASE keep us in formed on this issue!!!! ((hugs)) cant help but be worried about ya...

[PhotoNut]

Geesh, what a scare huh? Sounded like gallbladder to me too, but I'm no doctor and wouldn't presume to know for sure. As the others have said, get seen by someone right away. Did they check your gallbladder? Has the pain subsided/stopped now? Or are you still having symptoms? Wow.. please keep us posted cause we'll all be worrying about you now, ok?

*hugs*

[lil'bitty]

Hi new here, but have been reading everything I can get my hands on. I read a ladies diary just last night and the symptoms where similar. They told her she had an esophgeal spasm. She figured she maybe ate to fast. Here is the link to that specific page in her diary: http://www.mosescone.com/body.cfm?id=1035. Good luck

[Kel]

Thanks for the suggestion re. gallbladder as a cause. The symptoms do sound similar except that the pain wasn't limited to the right abdomen. When the ER doc examined me, I wasn't sore to his touch. My gallbladder was normal at preop in August, as was everything else incl. EKG. I've read up on abnormal EKGs and realize it could be nothing (which is how they treated it at the ER) or something significant, so I will follow up. Currently, I just feel "off." I'm not in pain, but I'm lethargic and don't feel myself. Slept in today and now I'm off to work. Thanks everyone. Kelli

[paula]

Kelli - when I had MY gallbladder issues, I NEVER had pain on my R side... it always radiated from the middle, under my sternum, AND - pressing in the hurting area wasnt sore to the touch. When I had my attacks, my pain was SO strong that I was grey in color, clamy and sweaty.
Just giving MY experiences.
Sure hope this gets resolved soon!

[NurseTeresa]

All glalbladder signs and symptoms are not identical. Some have the right sided pain with radiation to mid sternum area. Some have no right side at all but have mid back and lower abdominal sometimes specific to one area and sometimes all over. Some tests they do to rule out the wonderful gallbladder come back as normal when in all reality it is shot. When mine was going out i had eveysort of pain from one degree to the other fineally ended in where I wasnt able to stand because of the intenste pain in my back. Nauseated at times not always....just better to not eat. CT scan was neg. Ultra scan was negative. They even did a hyda scan with CCK injection and I had immense pain right away and started violently vomiting as soon as the cck hit my galbladder however, the rejection infraction period was fine. But when I fineally talked to a surgeon who said that is possible and he took it out two days later ,,,he said it was totally cashed...yet nothing picked up on that. EKG...follow up on that . Have another one done and then have it compaired to the two previous ones. Sometimes they are having fluke days, sometimes our hearts are having fluke issues. Please look into all issues you have and dont discount one single thing just becasue someone said "thats not normal cuz you dont have pain so it cant be" Everyone is very different and maybe there is an issue with the hernia repair that has been missed. I would schedule an appt with your surgeon and get looked at thoroughly. It is always better to be safe then sorry. I wouldnt do any fills until things are figured out. I will have you in my prayers and hope that it all works out soon for you. Pain sucks and to not know the cause is even worse.

[Kel]

Appreciate everyone's input. I haven't had any pain since the ER visit. I followed up with my primary MD (who is also a bariatric doc). He did a follow up and reviewed the EKG and believed the leads were placed incorrectly. He wants to rule out issues with my gallbladder and pancreas so I have additional tests scheduled next week. I'll see my fill doc next week and see if he has any additional recommendations for me. Frustrating to not have answers or a FILL. The lap-band process has not been an easy one for me thus far... Kelli