Internal Surgical Staples from Subtotal Colectomy causing pain?

[nikilotta7]

I had a subtotal colectomy (left with about 1.5 cm) at age 20 in Dec 2000 due to prolapsing, telescoping, toxic megacolon.  Besides my mother (she had hers done 12/93), I haven't met anyone else who experienced this surgery so we don't know what is normal and not.  The surgery was done all in one step.  There was no bag.  They removed the colon and reattached to rectum.  I was left with roughly 20 internal staples throughout my intestines area holding things in place?  I've seen many xrays since then and some are clustered so its hard to count.  

My question is I have been having random stabbing pains that feel like something is being pinched or twisted inside.  It comes on abruptly and sharply.  Then just as quickly fades away a few minutes later.  The pains are so intense they leave me gasping for air and crying.  A few minutes later after fading away it's like nothing happened.  Sometimes the pain is near my belly button, sometimes more to the side, for the past 24 hours I have been having quite a few in my pelvic area.  Can this be caused by my staples?  The only thing I have noticed in common with the times that is happens, is shortly after I have a bowel movement or am currently holding it when the pains hit.

I'm 28 yr old female.

[Kitkat9989]

Yes absolutely you could be having an allergic reaction to the staples. The first staples were made out of stainless steel which could have a nickel content as high as 18%.Now they are using titanium which also have nickel from 2% to5% but since that is the most allergic metal it could still be the cause. There is now a blood test and a website for allergy testing called MELISA. Another possibility is that the staples traveled or became encapsulated and built up adheasions which could be pinching the nerves around the staples. Either way I would go see a new gastroenterologist and have them test you for a metal allergy and do a CT to see where the staples are. Then discuss with your doctor about removing them.

[seabiscut21]

Suzanne,

I know what your going through I haven't been told anything that I had staples in my body. Im still waiting for the doctor to call me. I see 4 staples and one of them has open and the other ones are lodged against my rib cage. When I eat it gets worse. Not one doctor cares. I actually had a ser doctor said it was calcium deposits. Another doctor said nope that's staples. I feel one staple is making me bleed internally or pulling up on my bile duct. Unless he taken the whole thing out. Somethings wrong I eat less. Acid reflex every day.  What I see with you  is I wonder if they should remove them did you know you could get metal infection inside your body. I feel I might have that why aluminium levels were high. I Alos think you might have a hernia lower pelvis. Have they said anything about it. Go back make the doctor look at it. Yu shouldn't feel that way at 28. No one should. If yu don't look at it know .Later will be worse. Ask what would happen if you take them out. I think staples freaking get in the way. if they raise up they call discomfort. Did you also know wherever you go anything magnetic zaps your staples. Airport and anything you could imagine.
Brads my name my email is ***@**** email me if you want pretty knowledgebale why I have been lied to.

[llrascal]

That is not true, it a foreign object and you also can have an allergy to the metal. They alloy and have different types of metal in them. http://www.friscowomenshealth.com/Blog/General-Health/Foreign-Objects-Inside-Your-Body-After-Surgery-What-Your-Doctor-May-Have-Forgotten-To-Mention.html go read by a Doctor.

[Metalstaples]

I have an inch or two of staples from having my appendix taken out, and have been in terrible pain for years. I had a metal allergy test, and I am not alleric titanium.

Doctors say that staples don't hurt, and there are no nerve endings on your intestines. As a person with staples inside me, I can say they DEFINITELY hurt, and hurt very badly.

I hope doctors realize the harm they are doing and stop, there are other materials available. It is barbaric to put metal inside a persons body. Especially inside someone's guts.

[Zeldapinwheel]

What other materials can be used besides staples?

[Suzanne34359]

Hello. I think I may be allergic to my staples too. What has happened? Did you leave them in? Get them removed?

[nikilotta7]

Dear hopefulinutah
Since posting this I was diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis, Fibromyalgia, Osteomalcia (Adult Rickets), Anemia, Chronic gastritis, Eosinphillic esophagitus, polycystic ovarian syndrome, depression and Vit B deficiency.  I also have trouble staying in proper hydration levels due to not having a colon, I am not absorbing vitamins correctly.  The Dr referred to my deficiencies in B, D and iron as "dumping syndrome".  Pleasant.  My mother is now on potassium daily because the lack of absorption has affected her heart.  I actually was experiencing these pains for several hours last night and when talking online to my support group for RA, figured it was just my immune system attacking the staples but after reading your post it makes me wonder about scar tissues.  The surgeon that performed my surgery not only did staples at joining but random stapled the small intestines to keep it in place.  There are over two dozen throughout my abdomen.  I did recently find several hard lumps under surface of skin right around where staples would be.  Odd right?  

[hopefulinutah]

I know it has been a while, I am hoping you might see this post. 23 years ago I had an extra long colon with a 4 inch twist, ulcerated and cancerous. I had surgery to remove 15 inches of my colon, they reconnected my colon with surgical staples. I continued to have pain around those staples from shortly after the surgery until to this day, 23 years later, along with numerous other health problems. I recently found out I am very allergic to metal. I knew this, or was suspicious of this allergy before this surgery took place so long ago, but at that time no one asked me about any allergies. My health has progressively worsened over the years. Nearly every system in my body is being affected, all autoimmune responses. Fibromyalgia, schleraderma, chemical sensitivities, allergies, migraines, cancer, kidney disease, heart disease, IBS, miscarriages, early menopause, skin rashes, osteopenia, insomnia, chronic pain and so on. I am searching for answers, anyone who has experienced anything like this. I have a large mass of scar tissue around those old staples, having them removed would be complicated, I don't know what to do. I don't know if removing them would even help, I think the damage may be permanent. If anyone has some insight, please let me know! Hopeful, thanks.

[Little Miss Kay]

Hi Nikilotta7

Just wondering how you are doing and if you have found the cause of your pain.

I have had rectal surgery 2 years ago and have surgical staples holding me together. I too am experiencing agonising pain now. I think it is caused by the staples. Maybe they have moved or rusted or caused abscesses or something!

[nikilotta7]

I would understand if these were surface staples, however they are permanent INTERNAL staples.  I have had them for almost 8 years now!  the staples were put there to keep everything in its place, i.e. my small intestines etc.  The pains just started in past few months. I have had many sets of external staples, you are right those don't hurt.  Do you have any internal staples?

My last abdominal surgery was over 2 years ago.  So if they knicked a nerve wouldn't I have had pain way back then?

[joyneau]

PS- Staples don't hurt. I have had many, so has my husband. Sharp/burning  pain that lasts from seconds to minutes and then fades with NO other symptoms is almost always nerve pain!

[joyneau]

Could be simply nerves healing.
After my abdominal surgery, I had that exact pain. They could find nothing wrong. went to a neurologist and found out that the abdomen carried multiple nerves.
When they do any surgery, it is possible they 'knick' a nerve. what you are feeling is the nerve healing and getting its function back.
Mine lasted about 7 weeks.
VERY sharp, very painful. All I could do was try to breathe thru the pain....and that wasn't easy!
Some people heal faster when it comes to nerves than I do. You might get lucky, if this is what it is, and heal within a week or so.
best of luck.
J.

[nikilotta7]

I haven't seen that specialist since 2001 and he currently does not accept my insurance.  I have had many complications since then... bowel bleeds, bowel obstructions, bowel twists etc. :-( I've had several transfusions due to the bleeds but none in past 3 years.  In 2006 I had my gallbladder removed as well, my appendix was removed the same time as my subtotal colectomy.

Do you have internal staples from your colectomy?

Thank you for your help!

[Morecambe]

Hi - I believe that you should go back to your surgeon who is responsible for your recovery - as well as the immediate outcome of your operation.

I underwent a total colectomy almost five years ago and never experienced the pains that you describe.

Good luck
Morecambe