Chronic pain & other symptoms following surgery gone wrong

Posted by moables011 @moables011, May 4, 2019

I had a surgery go wrong almost 4 years ago and since then my pain has gotten continually worse. I tried opiates but decided to get off of them because it was just a temporary fix with a lot of negative side effects. I've been to many states and countless doctors and hospitals where they have had no answers. I have also suffered from almost constant anxiety or rapid heart rates, blisters (not herpes of any kind I have been tested) , random rashes all over my body, swelling due to water or fluid build up, severely low vitamin issues, I am anemic, I have cold sweats most days and i literally pour sweat, no energy, random fevers, migraines, insomnia, issues with my stomach from diahhrea one week to constipation the next, and I get sick easily. I only take clonazapam, b12 injections, and my birth control. But it's to the point I am giving up on doctors and its impacting my mental health. Before the surgeries I worked out all the time, slept decently, had rare anxiety, and was energetic. I am just looking for any ideas, any tests I should ask my doctor to do, what this might be, literally anything. So far they just say its fibromyalgia but it's not just constant pain everywhere it's all those other symptoms plus more. It is causing me to continually lose jobs due to being sick or hurting to badly to do the work. Please someone help me figure out what I can do to get some answers and get some relief.

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Chronic Pain Support Group.

I am currently enrolled in a Pain Rehabilitation program at Mayo under Dr. Chris Sletten. You might consider looking into it. It has only been 3 days but I can already see that this just might work. I am 77 years old.

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@moables011 Welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. We're glad you found our cyber-table! Can you share with us what type surgery you had? Has your doctor referred you to a pain specialist, yet? Good for you to be proactive and seeking out answers. We'll share our experiences as we can to help you out.
Ginger

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I read and reread about you, and brainstormed. I think the biggest thing you should do, is start with a new primary care physician, whether you like yours, or not. The reason for this, is that I think you should be looked at with "fresh eyes," so to speak. You need someone that is meeting you for the first time, with no prior attitudes towards you. Sweep clean. I also wonder if you should be seen by an infectious disease specialist, for some underlying infection in your body. You have so many thing going on, that I could never address all of them. But if I were you, this is how I would start. Regards, and best wishes....Lori Renee

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I hear a lot about a small amount of fentanyl being so dangerous that EMTs and law enforcement officers carry the antidote Narcan in case they or their drug dog comes in contact with the drug or they go into some kind of distress. Since the civilian population also has no idea when they will come in contact with this substance why aren't civilians allowed to purchase Narcan so they would have immediate access to the antidote to support a family member if necessary, since time would be of the essence?

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A year and a half ago my wife first suffered a Serious infection and we went to the ER. Her pain was unbearble for her. They first tried Morphine but it didn't cut her pain. Her doctor came in and said fentanyl was the only thing left to get her sedadated and comfortable so they could examaine her. Fentanyl had just come into the media. I was a little aprensive at first. Then I saw how it took away her suffering! She recovered from the unknown infection plus had suffered a stroke. My point ti all of this is that fentanyl is very safe in the proper usages. It is used every day without serious concecuices as we speak! She has not become adicted to it or any other opioids. The media blows all of this totally out of control! Yes there are people living in every town in areas most of us would not go to even during the day who misuse every drug imaginable! Yes some people young and old misuse these drugs illegally. But these drugs are Life savers! Many of you reading this can function day to day because many of these drugs relieve pain that otherwise would be unbearable to live with! Hopefully our percriptions are not taken from us without knowing and we keep them in a safe place and are aware of our dosage. But Please stop being afraid of eveything you read! Be realistic as to how many of these drugs make everyday life bearable for many of us.
Sundance

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@sundance6

A year and a half ago my wife first suffered a Serious infection and we went to the ER. Her pain was unbearble for her. They first tried Morphine but it didn't cut her pain. Her doctor came in and said fentanyl was the only thing left to get her sedadated and comfortable so they could examaine her. Fentanyl had just come into the media. I was a little aprensive at first. Then I saw how it took away her suffering! She recovered from the unknown infection plus had suffered a stroke. My point ti all of this is that fentanyl is very safe in the proper usages. It is used every day without serious concecuices as we speak! She has not become adicted to it or any other opioids. The media blows all of this totally out of control! Yes there are people living in every town in areas most of us would not go to even during the day who misuse every drug imaginable! Yes some people young and old misuse these drugs illegally. But these drugs are Life savers! Many of you reading this can function day to day because many of these drugs relieve pain that otherwise would be unbearable to live with! Hopefully our percriptions are not taken from us without knowing and we keep them in a safe place and are aware of our dosage. But Please stop being afraid of eveything you read! Be realistic as to how many of these drugs make everyday life bearable for many of us.
Sundance

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I agree with your assessment that Fentanyl in proper doses can really help somebody. My issue is that when the drug dealers or abusers use methods to make it more concentrated for abuse, it can get to the point where an amount the size of a grain of sand can render an EMT or drug dog unconscious or kill them. Most people aren't exposed to this situation, but it would be good if normal people had the antidote Narcan within reach rather than having to wait for an EMT as it might be too late before severe damage is done. Just like people carry Epi pens for severe allergies, Narcan could save lives for people exposed to bad Fentanyl.

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@gingerw

@moables011 Welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. We're glad you found our cyber-table! Can you share with us what type surgery you had? Has your doctor referred you to a pain specialist, yet? Good for you to be proactive and seeking out answers. We'll share our experiences as we can to help you out.
Ginger

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A d and c from a missed miscarriage. They did the first one then called 3 days later saying they didnt remove anything and I had to come in for a second emergency one. I have seen a pain specialist but they just wanted me on opiates and I didnt like the effects and no one can seem to give me any answers.

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@moables011

A d and c from a missed miscarriage. They did the first one then called 3 days later saying they didnt remove anything and I had to come in for a second emergency one. I have seen a pain specialist but they just wanted me on opiates and I didnt like the effects and no one can seem to give me any answers.

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@moables011 Go back to your primary, or get a new one. You are suffering, affecting your ability to get through each day, and that isn't acceptable! Will your insurance allow you to self-refer? Perhaps getting linked up with a good internist and ob/gyn. Not knowing what part of the country you are in, is there a good university hospital within a reasonable distance from you? Also, check into possible exposure to a toxin, which is where an infectious disease or industrial doctor might assist. Was there a reaction to anesthesia that must now be addressed? Have you had a scan to make sure they didn't accidentally leave a foreign body [ie. sponge or gauze] in your body cavity, or to make sure what they set out to remove, really was? Throwing out ideas as they come to mind.......
Ginger

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@gingerw

@moables011 Go back to your primary, or get a new one. You are suffering, affecting your ability to get through each day, and that isn't acceptable! Will your insurance allow you to self-refer? Perhaps getting linked up with a good internist and ob/gyn. Not knowing what part of the country you are in, is there a good university hospital within a reasonable distance from you? Also, check into possible exposure to a toxin, which is where an infectious disease or industrial doctor might assist. Was there a reaction to anesthesia that must now be addressed? Have you had a scan to make sure they didn't accidentally leave a foreign body [ie. sponge or gauze] in your body cavity, or to make sure what they set out to remove, really was? Throwing out ideas as they come to mind.......
Ginger

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I had laparoscopic surgery to look for stuff and its fine. I recently had a ultrasound and everything that came out fine. I'm seeing my PCP tomorrow and is there any questions I should ask or maybe a test to ask for?

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@moables011

I had laparoscopic surgery to look for stuff and its fine. I recently had a ultrasound and everything that came out fine. I'm seeing my PCP tomorrow and is there any questions I should ask or maybe a test to ask for?

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@moables11 Hmm, perhaps ask him to review those two procedures with you, not simply say "everything is fine". There has to be a cause of your pain and discomfort. Ask him what he would suggest to a family member with the same issues? I hope you find some answerssoon. Please let us know what he says.
Ginger

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