Long term pain associated with illiostomy reversal

In March of 2009, my mother had surgery for stage C3 ovarian cancer.  A tumor that was on her bladder dome and rectum was removed, with part of the colon removed(anastomosis, not sure if spelled correct).  When her bowels began to function, their was an leak in the anostomy and a illiostomy was put in place.  Through the summer she had chemotheropy and a barium enema in October to check if the area of the leak had healed. All tests were passed for the reversal to take place and scheduled for November 18th.  Ever since the surgery of the reversal my mother has been in awful pain.  We are aware of the issue of the frequency of the bowl movements, and that it will take time to get the bowl used to controlling her movements.  It is the issue of the pain, from stomach pain, to cramping, to her colon throbbing like it is on fire.  On December 20th, we had her back in the hospital to try and control her pain with meds. X-rays were taken to check the area and a colonoscopy performed to check the area of the intestens, stenosis was ruled out, no  test performed in the illium area. Hyomax-Sl 125mg SUB for crampin, Hydromorphone 4mg for pain, Diphenoxylate/atrophine, diareha-as needed, Merelay for constipation-as needed are the meds we came home with.  Her bowel movements are not as frequent, but she is still in so much pain, Is this normal for a person to be in so much pain this long after an illiostomy reversal and to be taking so much pain & cramping medication to TRY and control it.  Please help, she is giving up, mom is 78 years old. Thank You Penny

[Enoch Choi, MD]

Don't give up!  It's reassuring that recent colonoscopy did not show complications of iliostomy reversal, that gives evidence to the fact that there isn't a failure of the reversal.  Pain is common after surgery, but becomes less common the longer after surgery.  A month and a half after suregry, the pain should be considerably less.  It's worth getting a second opinion to see if there's anyting missing.

Enoch Choi, MD