My advice is to contact the surgeon that performed your gastric bypass, ASAP!! You could have a hernia that is obstructing your bowel.

I had a gastric bypass in July of 2003 and my gallbladder removed the following year. Last week I noticed my stomach bloated up well beyond the norm. I figured it was just gas and since I also suffer from IBS, needed to have a bowel movement. After using a variety of enemas, suppositories, stool softners, the pain became intense in my abdominal area and radiated to my back. The pain would gradually go away but when I ate, the cycle would reoccur. Thinking still that I was probably impacted from constipation (similar syptoms had happened in past but usually relieved when trying previous methods) I drank 1/2 a bottle of (my sure-fire cure) magnesium citrate and with no relief and followed with stool softners, laxitives, enemas......for 5 days.

Finally I called the office of the surgeon that performed both my gastric bypass and gallbladder removal. The doctor was in surgery all day but left orders for me to go to the ER. Once in the ER, a cat-scan was conducted, along with blood-work. A hernia was suspected and even though my cat-scan was inconclusive, my doctor order my admission to the hospital. On follow-up the following morning, the doctor said the results of my tests were not conclusive, but he suspected a hernia and recommended surgery the following day (laporscoptic would be performed if possible). The decision I had to make was between waiting and exploratory surgery. I chose surgery.

Sure enough, I had a rather larger part of my intestines twisted. The repair was done laporscopically and I was released the following afternoon. I was told that adominal hernias are common after gastric bypass surgery, that you also lose weight internally and that loose tissue can become twisted, resulting in a hernia.

Don't wait....the pain of the surgery isn't close to the pain caused by the untreated hernia!