had pyloric stenosis as baby, now have brief recurring spasm in region

[chris]

i had pyloric stenosis at 2 weeks old

im now 21 and for a couple weeks have had small localized spasm in the immediate region of the scar from the surgery

the spasm lasts only a couple seconds and will sometimes reoccur every few minutes for hours on end

i can not find any correlation between having a full or empty stomach or any other cause

there is otherwise no other symptoms or pain.
it's really just annoying and worrisome
what is it?!

[john in Tennessee]

Yeh...i have muscle twitches sometimes in the area of my scar from pyloric stenosis. my scar is 4" on right side...just under rib cage. How about yours?

Email me sometime: [e-mail]

chris wrote:

i had pyloric stenosis at 2 weeks old
im now 21 and for a couple weeks have had small localized spasm in the immediate region of the scar from the surgery
the spasm lasts only a couple seconds and will sometimes reoccur every few minutes for hours on end
i can not find any correlation between having a full or empty stomach or any other cause
there is otherwise no other symptoms or pain.
it's really just annoying and worrisome
what is it?!

[Jeff]

Just curious... I have a 13 year old daughter who had PS as a baby and is now exhibiting similar symptoms after eating, sometimes vomitting up food...but she is 13 years old now. When you have these spasms, do you /have you ever vomitted?

[Trisha - Maine]

I have never had my scar twitch or spasm. Though I have noticed that when I get a flu that causes me to vomit my symptoms are much more violent than others with the same flu. I find it strange that 3 to 1 boys get PS compared to girls, yet in my family my father had it, my sister had it, I had it, and my brother was skipped entirely. Does anyone know why boys rather than girl more commonly get PS?

chris wrote:

i had pyloric stenosis at 2 weeks old
im now 21 and for a couple weeks have had small localized spasm in the immediate region of the scar from the surgery
the spasm lasts only a couple seconds and will sometimes reoccur every few minutes for hours on end
i can not find any correlation between having a full or empty stomach or any other cause
there is otherwise no other symptoms or pain.
it's really just annoying and worrisome
what is it?!

[Sabrina]

My pyloric stenosis was diagnosed when I was 1 month old. I am now 25 and trying to start a family of my own. We have been trying to conceive for a year now, with no luck. I have been searching the internet to try to find out if other women with pyloric stenosis have had any difficulty getting pregnant. This is the first discussion I have been able to find. If you have any info. that would be helpful, please e-mail me!
[e-mail]

Thanks!

[Frank]

Have read a lot about the many possible after-effects of pyloric stenosis and have never come across difficulty conceiving.
Would recommend you consult your doctor or a specialist about this.

[Jess]

I have a 15 month old baby who was diagnosed when he was 4 weeks old. I was wondering if anyone who had pyloric stenosis ever had any reoccurance during infancy. He has been vomiting for one day. I am hoping that its stomach flu and not PS.

[Frank]

The causes and heredity of pyloric stenosis are still largely unknown. What is known is it's multi-factorial - like with cancer and lots else, there are many causes which all make up the odds for and against getting it. The male-female numbers with PS has to do with the difference in the genders' chromosomes, but also that some PS genes are dominant (and show more often) and others recessive (show only sometimes).
Your Dad's PS gene must be strong. Mine is recessive - none of my kids or grandkids have had it. But there are many families like yours.

[Dave]

I have a 4-5 inch scar as all of your on my right side. I have noticed since high school (now going on 22 yrs old) that when I do extensive cardio workouts (running a few miles) at a decent pace (a hard workout) my scar begins to hurt intensely. It sometimes feels as if it is going to rip open...anyone else experience this? I hope I'm not the only one:(

[Frank]

My scar is midline-vertical, I've jogged 45 mins 3-4x p/w for many years but never had this problem. Assume the pain is different from the ol' muscle cramp? As your scar is closer to the chest muscles a real workout could affect them.

[Crystal]

My son had PS at 6wk, and had 2 surgeries after that (6mo, 9mo). Dr. thought he had a hernia at the site, but turned out to be excessive scar tissue -both times. He's now 11yr and has intense scar pain when the site is touched (even brushed) described as an "ice pick". And yes, he tends to get stomache flu-like sympoms very often. Has anyone looked for treatment for the pain that worked, but would be endurable - deep massage would not be an option I think.

[Danielle]

Hi I am 27 F and had Pyloric Stenosis at 2 weeks. my scar is also about 4 inches acriss and on the right side right under my diaphragm. I have been told that the surgery was supposed to be a permanent fix but that also as I age and develop more scar tissue, I will eventually need another surgery to remove scar tissue and release the muscle and fat that has grown on top of and on the scar. I also tend to have spasms and a pulling sensation sometimes during/ after exercise, eating, or just randomly. Mine is not an intense pain at all though just kind of a weird feeling. Whenever I get the stomach flue or drink a little too muc I tend to have trouble ending the vomiting unless I take phenigran or another anti- nausea medication. I also have Irritable Bowel Syndrome so I wonder if there's any correlation there?

So two questions-
Have any ladies out there who had PS as an infant carried and delivered a baby? Was just wondering if that effected your scars in any way. My hubby and I are considering starting a family soon and that scares me a little, with the extra weight in the belly could it pull too much???

Also, has anyone out there had there scar surgically "released"? If so, for what reasons and how bad was the process?

Thanks All!

[Amanda]

Danielle-

I've had a lot of the same symptoms you describe--to the point that my doc's are thinking about corrective surgery...but I have some good news: I've had 2 kids, and with both, I had no problems whatsoever w/ the scar. If anything, I was less symptomatic while preggers than at any other time in my life. Unless your scar is somehow attached to your uterus (and I don't see how that could happen...) you'll be fine. Always best to consult your GYN before you start planning a family anyway--and it'll make you feel better.:D

[Danielle]

Thanks, Amanda! That does make me feel much better. I've got an appt. in a few weeks with the OBGYN. I've heard that it doesn't bother most but I've also heard in rare occasions that some experience more pulling pains due to the extra weight pulling on the scar. But, I'm really glad to hear from someone that had no issues!

[lil isobel]

hey i'm 14 and i had pyloric stenosis when i was... uh... some weeks old...
Anyway, this post sorta scared me so is there anyone out there who had it and are fine with no side effects? Oh and another thing, does anybody else have a lump on their scar? It's on the end near my belly button and when i tense my muscles in a certain way this little lumps shows. I've had it forever and it hasn't grown so it's nothing tumerous but people somtimes notice when i wear tight tops. Also my mum and my gran had it (all second born females) so do you think my kids might? Thanks guys, nice to talk about it with other PS people!

[FredVee]

Most of us who've had PS surgery thankfully have no or minor-only side-effects. That includes pregnancy issues too! Many have some continuing reflux or indigestion - but who doesn't?
Many of us also have lumpy and/or depressed PS scars. Not always pretty but hey, part of our personal story! Surgical incisions go through many layers of muscle which will sometimes heal imperfectly matched. Even when a wound looks good at first it can develop lumps and hollows as we grow - from PS baby to adult about 3x ! Facebook has several PS Groups, all with forums and photos. It's reassuring to read most of the experiences and see the variety of scars we have. You can add your own comments and questions.

[MaryBeth]

My son had PS and had surgery at 5 weeks old. He is now 5 months old and the last few days he has been vomiting a ton and I am flashing back to those early days when we first discovered he had PS. Has anyone had experience with recurring PS? I know it is very rare but my surgeon said it does happen. Can scar tissue build up result in vomiting?

[Gra27 Australia]

Jess wrote:

I have a 15 month old baby who was diagnosed when he was 4 weeks old. I was wondering if anyone who had pyloric stenosis ever had any reoccurance during infancy. He has been vomiting for one day. I am hoping that its stomach flu and not PS.

Hello yes well my boy was diagnosed at 8 weeks and i think it may reacure he can never eat the same about as other infants or he pojectiles it up might need to see about again i think as they get bigger it skin grows back over operation?? i never knew it was as common until i looked it up

[Bkluvr]

My 21 mo. old baby girl had pyloric stenosis at 5 weeks and had surgery. Afterwards continued to spit up and was treated for acid reflux until about 9 months. Within the past 3 months she has become very picky and would hardly eat. Now within the past few weeks she is started eating less and less. A bite and she's full. She has diarreah or is constipated. Her breath in the morning smells like something rotten. Now she has started throwing up what she eats. We've seen the pediatrician and was put on prevacid. Have appt with GI tomorrow. Everything I've read says that it doesn't show in children after 8 months. The only other thing I've been able to come across is pyloric stenosis in adults. If anyone has any thoughts, please let me know.

[Fred]

Incomplete pyloromyotomy will cause continuing problems, and some non-severe kids who are treated medically instead of surgically can also have continuing issues that sometimes leads to (re)sergery in later years - there are several reports of these 2 possibilities around. What you describe could be a mix of both, but also GERD. Interested in what your GI said!