Oh Dear....

[shadowicewolf]

Does anyone experience this?

 

The first one:

 

Earlier today, I had what felt like a charlie horse in my side (just right of my bellybutton and right in the middle of the area where i had my gallbladder surgery). While uncomfortable, when i pressed down on it (around it, in the middle of it), it did not hurt and it felt like just a muscle spasm. I've read that this can happen in areas where surgeries have occurred. Its been almost two years since that time however.

 

The second:

 

Now, i'm dealing with something that has been going on for a while that has happened off and on. It is similar to period cramping and is no where intense as gallbladder pain (which would make me feel like i couldn't breathe, move, etc). I was laying back propped up in bed and it hit me out of nowhere. It is located below the belly button, and while the pain is somewhat radiating to the right side, it feels more like a period cramp (which i do not have my period at the moment). Heat helps and moving my right leg upward helps (but not the left). Sitting upward seems to help to, as well as laying on the side. I should also note that i have had similar pain on my left side (which is leading me to believe that it is related to a cycle thing than anything else).

 

If it is of any help, i'm as normal and as predictable as can be with my cycles.

 

Ideas, advice, anything?

 

Edit: random thought, could this also be due to "C"?

[emaegf]

Not Celiac related just normal muscles cramping. If you have had surgery they cut the muscles in places so they can access the area to do the surgery and the muscles usually aren't as tight like they used to be can be explaination but it does happen to those who haven't had surgery. Also if they are in the lower part of your abdomen on either side could just mean you're ovulating.

Unless they don't stop or you are having other sypmtoms like nausea, vomiting etc then don't worry about them.

[AlwaysLearning]

B12 deficiencies can cause nerve pain anywhere in your digestive system, and are easy to test for. (Levels below 400 can cause symptoms.) 

Supplementing my B12 deficiency did help with my pains that sound somewhat similar, but I don't know if I have additional problems as well. My pain started before I discovered that gluten and I are mortal enemies, but gluten doesn't seem to be related, other than causing deficiencies. 

I've done a lot of research. People with similar pains get diagnosed with diverticulitis, endometriosis, appendicitis, gallbladder disease, internal scarring, gas, gastritis, crohn's disease, IBS, ulcers, and more. 
 

There are a ton of people who get tests run and find no answers at all.

 

Then there are those who have been misdiagnosied, have even had organs removed, and their pain has not been resolved.

I can tell you that many people who have had their gallbladders removed complain online of similar pains.

[IrishHeart]

Shadow

I think so, yes, it could be related to chronic C.

Have you tried the ground flaxseed meal in 16 oz. of water every morning ? I know you hydrate enough, right?

How about the probiotics? any help at all?

 

I have had two surgeries (gall bladder--but the surgical scar is 9" and runs from my breast bone and takes a right at my belly button (that was the "old school way" when they also did exploratories if they suspected anything else going on in there)   

and a hysterectomy, so I've had my abdominal muscles sliced vertically and horizontally

I do not have any cramping in the muscles after those, but it is possible to have surgical scarring, which would cause tightness and

trigger points (hyper-irritable knots in the muscles) They respond well to massage.

 

And yeah, I have had a lifetime of cramping from periods, C or D or any other fun thing we

get from celiac, too and some things that help are:.

 

Try moist heat on the area.

Massage your muscles.

Stretch. (yoga, for example)

Walk. several times a day, even if just for 10 minutes. 

 

But if it persists, hon--go to the univ. clinic and have someone palpate your abdomen just to make sure? Just a thought. Hope it

stops soon. 

[frieze]

14 days before your next period, could be ovulatory pain, "mittleschmertz" I think, spelling may be off....otherwise, if movement helps, perhaps some tight abdo muscles?  Get a little more magnesium in your diet/supps. good luck!

[nvsmom]

I get the ovulatory pain that frieze mentioned. It hurts and inflames the area - I often end up with a sore back too. Ovulation happens 10-16 days before your period so that could be it.

 

I have had "lumps" I could feel with my hands when I got a back-up from C. They weren't very comfortable.. That could be it too.

 

I hope it all goes away for you!

[laura1959]

I also get cramping in the area below my navel, which I'm pretty sure is related to my intestinal issues and chronic constipation (I'm guessing that is what "C" means here?  Not sure.)  In my case, it often precedes an urgent need to use the bathroom, but not always.  

 

Had my gallbladder removed about a year and a half ago, and also have occasional stabbing pains where it used to be.  I consider these to be phantom pains, but they may also be due to adhesions at the surgery site.  They only happen occasionally.  That surgery was laparoscopic, so no muscles were cut in order to get the gallbladder out.  If your surgery was done a long time ago, that could be a consideration, but today they are almost always performed with the laparoscopic technique.  

[BelleVie]

Do you think it could be related to an ovarian cyst? I had a cyst a few years ago that didn't go away, and it caused a lot of tightness and cramping in that area. An ultrasound at your gynecologist's office should be able to see if anything is amiss in there! 

[IrishHeart]

one more thought..if you are ovulating and mid cycle, maybe that could explain the one sided pain (left one time, right the other)

 

P.S.

I came back to post this late in the day and some others may have already suggested this. I did not read all the posts on the thread (I admit it) as I was reading about a gazilion posts this afternoon.    sorry if it's repeating suggestions already thrown out there. xxIH 

[shadowicewolf]

one more thought..if you are ovulating and mid cycle, maybe that could explain the one sided pain (left one time, right the other)

Thats what i'm thinking.

 

Thanks everyone, I'm doing much better today

[anti-soprano]

Hi Shadow,

I just spoke to my yoga teacher about doing a private session with me because I am so very fed up with how tight my stomach muscles are- even while stretching them in regular classes.  I've had no surgeries.  I do have random pains in my abdomen, but they are mainly concentrated on the lower left side. BTW, this isn't where my "tightness" is, which seems to be more centered on my obliques and upper abs. I've had ultrasounds (plural) by both the GYN and my primary care doc and neither have shown anything.  In my case, I know the pain is associated with C and tends to flair up when I have any other swelling in the area from my cycle.  Still working on someone to tell me what this is.  I'll let you know if I get any answers.  I'm not sure we have the same issue, but wanted to let you know that the spasm feeling doesn't necessarily need to be related to surgery.

 

Shellie