post laproscopic gallbladder surgery pain (chronic)

My Aunt went through Gall bladder removal by laproscopic surgery. She got discharged from hospital and came home only to suffer from unbearable pain. We took her back to the hospital where her sugery was performed. They did all scans and tests and started saying there is no problem with the surgery they have performed and that started treating her for gas. That did not solve the problem and she was suffering from very bad pain. They said they will have a Psychiatrist visit her to help her manage pain. This really pissed us after seeing her suffering. We took her to a different hospital in Bangalore. Once again they did all the tests and reported they found no problem. By then her stomach was swollen like crazy and she had lost her hope for life. One of the doctors there finally mentioned there is fluid filled in her stomach, he put a needle to remove the fluid and collected more than a liter of fluid. Her pain reduced only to comeback next day. By now my aunt had become very weak by suffering and with no food. Next time, they inserted a needle and fixed a bag to collect the fluids. They performed a surgery and inserted a stunt. No use. the fluids did not stop. There was about 700ml to 1lt fluid flowing out everyday. Doctors were not able to figure out the problem. They let her go home without solving problem and with needle in her stomach. She became weak hour by hour and she became so weak that we all decided she was on her death bed. After requesting (literally begging to save her) one of the doctors went aganist his hospital policy (the reason why I am not mentioning hospital and doctor names) gave us address of Asian Institute of Gastroenterology and referred us to Dr D Nageshwar Reddy. Finally, we took her to this center in Hyderabad. She was treated and cured in 3 days. She was on observation for other 4 days. she was able to sit up and eat food after a month and half. They found a pin hole puncture and put a stunt. The total expense for her stay and treatment was not more than Rs. 40000 which is 1/6 of what we spent in Bangalore hospitals.

When she was suffering, I did lots of browsing to see what could be the problem. I found lots of people have gone through the same problem but I never found a proper answer and found that people who are suffering from this problem have not yet found the solution for their problem. When my aunt was at Asian Institute of Gastroenterology, I found lots of people with same problem who have come from all over the country. The hospital staff is very courteous and very caring and understanding.

The hospital is headed by Dr D Nageshwar Reddy who has been the recipient of several national and international awards including the prestigious DR B C Roy Award given by the Indian Medical Council and Padmasri Award by Government of India. Dr D Nageshwar Reddy is also the visiting Professor to the Harvad Medical School – USA, Era Same Hospital – Brussels and Fujigoka Hospital – Tokyo.

Address:
Asian Institute of Gastroenterology
6-3-661, Somajiguda, Hyderabad-082. India.
Phone: 91-40-2337-8888
Fax:91-40-2332-4255
Hope his information helps save someone pain and life.

1- About 2 yrs ago, my partner had his gallbladder removed laproscopically. It was inflammed, no stones.
2- His recover appeared to go well and then he started having pain in the right upper quadrant, like a burning. When it increases/intensifies , he vomits.
3-After much insisting on our part, 5 months post surgery, since they ruled everything else out, the surgeon did an exploratory lap, removed some adhesions.
4- Pain has continued. He is on huge amounts of medication.
5-He went to a local pain management practice and had a series of celiac plexus nerve blocks, needle abblation, and a trial of an implantable nerve stim unit.
6- At first the blocks provided some relief...the abbelation made it all worse, back to blocks and then the stim trial.

The problem is we have never been able to get anyone to diagnose this and tell us what is causing the pain....if a nerve was injured from surgery is our guess....
We have gone so far as a consult and testing at Johns Hopkins and ruled out all GastroIntestinal causes.

We are going to a new neuro group/pain group this week and if that doesn't provide us with any answers, a possible exploratory....

He is in pain all the time and has been out of work a year and a half....he is amazing in his will to "overcome" this, but we can't get anyone to tell us what THIS is.

Can you offer any insight?
Thank you.
Robin

I have the same problem and went through a lot visits at a pain specialists. I can agree with you that it is a nerve thing and/or we are dealing with scar tissues, which means maybe a massage therpaist can work through this but my problem is that I cant pay for it and I would need to have someone work on this area twice a week. If it isnt scar tissue inside then with massage I would be making a nerve or the abdominal facia even worse by doing that. I have also try diet changes, and that seems to make it slightly change a bit, so I am heading towards inflamation of that abdmonial facia or nerves..... but I do not have any treatment that has work for me. I try heat all the time now and my one pain specialist gave me a muscle relaxer but I dont want to try that.

i had same thing. was told it was BILIARY DYSKINESIA. after much trouble and complaining and being treated like i was crazy, was treated with a medication called procardia xl, which is usually given to relax heart muscle but it apparetly also relaxes the bile duct muscle - which i was told is now continuously spasming - hence the pain. i take it every day now for the past ten years with no recurrence. good luck.

Have you had any luck with a diagnosis (I know it's been a very long time)?  My daughter has exactsame symptoms post gallbladder surgery.  Has been in pain for over a year and can't work either.  She has no life, always in pain and taking lots of meds.  She needs her life back at age 27!!

Im sorry your partner is in so much pain, Hope he heals soon and for ever.

I have no idea if anyone is even following this anymore. I had Gallbladder surgery on July 3, 2013. It is now March 26 2015. Right after surgery I noticed a burning feeling just below my sternum. The burning spread to encompass my entire front and rear torso. I writhed in pain for 1 month until I got some Tramodol. I went to a pain doctor and am on Tramodol and Gabapentin. I've also had more nerve ablations than I can count. I went in mulitple times as the doctor worked with me to find out the cause of my pain.

I know my pain is nerve-related. I am back at work, sort of, but am counting the days until I can go on permanent disability.

I was able to recently talk my doctor into ordering a CAT Scan and they found nothing. I suspect that my issue is adhesions and/or scar tissue but I also think they may have "over inflated" me during laporoscopic surgery.

I am intrigued by the massage therapist idea and I might try it.

Does anyone have any updates to share also?