Stomach? Issues

[MikeHeim]

I have been having an issue that I don't think is necessarily heart- or surgery-related, but might be.

About 90% of the times that I have gone running since surgery, I've developed a pretty intense stomach ache after about the first mile. The stomach ache seems to get more and more intense until I finally stop. It goes away quickly after I stop, and when I begin to run again (after five minutes or so), it doesn't return. It only happens when I'm running, never when I'm hiking, weightlifting, swimming, surfing, or using an Eliptical at the gym. One other piece of info: the "stomach" ache seems to be cented about two inches below my sternum, about halfway to the belly button.

Being the engineer I am, I have tried running in the morning with an empty stomach, in the afternoon about one hour after eating, and at night several hours after eating. I get the same ache every time, so I don't believe it to be food-related.

Anyone else had this? I don't believe it to be heart-related because the pain is nowhere near my heart, but like I mentioned earlier, this has only been an issue since surgery.

Thanks!

 

[Ross]

Now that is strange. I can't say that I've ever heard of it before. Doesn't seem like anything other then running contributes to the symptoms?

 

[Karlynn]

Did it start when you began running after your recovery? And it sounds like you didn't experience it before surgery? Were you on the same medications prior to surgery that you're on now? (just wondering if it's medication related, or related to when you take your meds)

 

[Christina L]

Hiatal hernia?

Hiatal hernia?

The stomach is being pushed up into the esophagus from the jarring that occurs when your feet hit the ground??? Just a thought. I have no clue, really, so this is all conjecture.

Christina L

 

[epstns]

Mike,

I have something kind of like you do -- in my case it is that I cannot run for many hours after any sort of a "full" meal. My normal schedule is a light lunch at about 11:30, then after work I get to the gym at around 5 PM. At that rate, I'm usually OK, unless lunch is anything larger than my normal light fare. On weekends, if I have brunch or a late breakfast, I can't run until later in the afternoon. In my case, it just feels as if I'm too "full" to be comfortable running. I've casually attributed it to the fact that I have moderate aortic stenosis and I'm still pre-surgery, so if I run too soon after eating my heart is being called upon to supply not only my digestive system, but the large muscles used in running, too.

I've been running for so many years that I don't really remember when this started. I've just been much more aware of it since my AS diagnosis.

Not sure if there's any connection to your situation, though.

 

[mbfleth]

Did you have a full open heart on your repair? This almost sounds like one of the sites where the drains would have been inserted during surgery. I remember a similar discomfort/pain at the same site, but mine cleared soon within the first couple of months.

Check with your Doctor.

 

[Karlynn]

Did you have a full open heart on your repair? This almost sounds like one of the sites where the drains would have been inserted during surgery. I remember a similar discomfort/pain at the same site, but mine cleared soon within the first couple of months.

Check with your Doctor.

Oo - that's a heads-up question! Good point.

 

[MikeHeim]

Thanks to everyone for their replies. I ran last evening about two hours, and it actually wasn't too bad. Riddle me that one, Batman.

Karlynn -
I wasn't on any medications prior to surgery. I am now on Atenolol (only), and I never really considered it as a possible cause. I'll try to look into that angle further.

 

[mtkayak]

Maybe scar tissue??? You have to remember they are cutting through more than just skin. I know I had more pain in my back than I did from my chest after surgery. When they pulled the drain tube out, it hurt like hell. Plus it hit a bundle of nerves in my back. The surgeon said that most people have more pain from that damn drain tube than anything. He was right in my case.