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Upper Abdominal Pain
Hi All
I have been suffering upper abdominal pain since I had my gallbladder removed laparoscopically in Dec 09.
It is just below my ribs usually right in the epigastric regions between the ribcage (I have a keloid scar there from the surgery incision) and to the RUQ.
I have had all the usual tests, mri, ct, endescope/colonoscopy, numerous bloods etc.....
My past few blood tests have showed slightly elevated liver enzymes (only just above normal) and white blood count (again only slightly above normal) and some slight level of unspecific inflammation.
I have been hospitalised several times when the pain gets out of control and the doctors really have no idea what could be the problem!!!
I take panadeine forte and tramadol daily for pain management and endone for when it gets really bad.
The pain management team at my hospital are looking at treating me with local anaesthetic injections around the epigastric scar thinking I may have a trapped nerve or even a neuroma as I do test positive for the Carnetts test.
Another thought is that maybe internal scarring/adhesions can cause this pain or trap a nerve.....
My main question is, sometimes I think I may actually have more than one source of pain but because it is in the same area it feels the same.
Some days my abdominal muscle is extremely tender (like I've been kicked in the gutts) and other days it is a deep ache just under my right ribs and I can sometimes get dark urine like applejuice no matter how much water I drink.....
I know that pain doesn't happen for nothing....and I'm really not happy with the ongoing band-aid treatments. I would really like to find out the cause of this pain and how best to treat/cure it!!!!
Any thoughts or words of wisdom would be greatly appreciated.
I am a working mum of 2 young boys and don't have time to be sick and this daily severe pain is impeding my quality of life - and my kids!
Please help
Sarah
I have been suffering upper abdominal pain since I had my gallbladder removed laparoscopically in Dec 09.
It is just below my ribs usually right in the epigastric regions between the ribcage (I have a keloid scar there from the surgery incision) and to the RUQ.
I have had all the usual tests, mri, ct, endescope/colonoscopy, numerous bloods etc.....
My past few blood tests have showed slightly elevated liver enzymes (only just above normal) and white blood count (again only slightly above normal) and some slight level of unspecific inflammation.
I have been hospitalised several times when the pain gets out of control and the doctors really have no idea what could be the problem!!!
I take panadeine forte and tramadol daily for pain management and endone for when it gets really bad.
The pain management team at my hospital are looking at treating me with local anaesthetic injections around the epigastric scar thinking I may have a trapped nerve or even a neuroma as I do test positive for the Carnetts test.
Another thought is that maybe internal scarring/adhesions can cause this pain or trap a nerve.....
My main question is, sometimes I think I may actually have more than one source of pain but because it is in the same area it feels the same.
Some days my abdominal muscle is extremely tender (like I've been kicked in the gutts) and other days it is a deep ache just under my right ribs and I can sometimes get dark urine like applejuice no matter how much water I drink.....
I know that pain doesn't happen for nothing....and I'm really not happy with the ongoing band-aid treatments. I would really like to find out the cause of this pain and how best to treat/cure it!!!!
Any thoughts or words of wisdom would be greatly appreciated.
I am a working mum of 2 young boys and don't have time to be sick and this daily severe pain is impeding my quality of life - and my kids!
Please help
Sarah
Best Answer
I also had the gallblatter surgery...never eperienced any pain like what you are describing. in fact alot less pain, even directly after surgery because my gallbladder attacks had become so severe. Get second opinions..someone is missing something.. get another opinion, make sure you are seeing specialists..get referrals to make sure that insurance covers it....good luck.
Have you considered going to a naturopath, someone with experience with this type of problem? If you decide to call a few just ask before selecting a doctor.
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It can be due to post cholecystectomy syndrome. In this, there’s persistent pain and associated nausea/vomiting. This occurs primarily due to either the adhesions which are formed in the area of the surgery after gall bladder removal or due to the dysfunction of the sphincter of oddi. Since the reservoir of the bile i.e. gall bladder has been surgically removed, it results in a continuous flow of the bile into the intestine resulting in gastritis & esophagitis.
The sphincter of oddi dysfunction is treated by using high doses of calcium channel blockers or nitrates. ERCP is a procedure which is done to look for the cause of the post cholecystectomy syndrome and is also used for the treatment.
It is very difficult to precisely confirm a diagnosis without examination and investigations and the answer is based on the medical information provided. For exact diagnosis, you are requested to consult your doctor. I sincerely hope that helps. Take care and please do keep me posted on how you are doing.