Chronic Pain members - Welcome, please introduce yourself

Hello. In June 2019 I had a cholecystectomy or gallbladder removal surgery. The gallstone pain finally made me pursue surgery. Since I was moved to a hospital bed post-op, the new - and however possible, worse - pain began. I was in the ER twice in two months post-op. I have been to a University hospital more times than I can count, with so many X-rays, ultrasounds, etc. I finally gave up they would solve this pain issue after seven months and exhausting any money I had left. I partially work from home and hoped the worst spasms and mule-kick-to-the-diaphragm pain would happen at home, as the event would last up to 24 hours, and they still do today.

06/2019 Post-op: Spasms are ALWAYS happening, like rhythmic waves, and are very light. Few are still intensely painful, and come out of nowhere. Feels like a lightning strike inside from 3 cm right of the xiphoid process, down to half way point of the right quadrant. Like being punched hard in the diaphragm non-stop. Still can’t breathe deeply without the punched feeling. One of the worst was trying to pretend everything was fine when I was on a flight and the spasms began - I did not want to be on the news for an emergency flight diversion. That was intense.

Last week was suddenly the worst event I’ve experienced. I woke up, had a glass of water, began to prepare breakfast for the kids, and was hit hard. After 12 hours of writhing on the floor, cursing and praying, my resolve not to spend anymore money on a high medical deductible gave out. Pain became incapacitating and absolutely intolerable. Having a high Pain tolerance I can put up with a lot, and have had work injuries that caused excruciating pain - this was the limit of my tolerance. I Waited 12 hrs to go in but couldn’t handle anymore pain, thought this was going to end me (no fear of death but just wanted to get moving with it).

Could be they entrapped even the Vegas nerve during surgery, or some other nerve? Muscle at rib attachment was extremely rigid and inflamed, and is during these events. Bile is likely backing up from odid’s sphincter into stomach (?) - must have thrown up several cups of bile (not stomach acid). Doctors say it’s not possible but my body disagrees - this fluid was something I’ve never known before (and my stomach to my esophagus never ached or burned). This wasn’t an upset stomach and only right upper and right mid quadrant we’re ever in pain.

They released me after four days and said they couldn’t help any more. They put me on Amitriptyline and Gabapentin (again), and gave me a small amount of Ativan (‘just in case the worst spasms/pain occur‘, they said). They want me to go to a pain clinic for a nerve block shot in the abdomen. What will that cost and will it even work?

Does anyone at Mayo have experience with what appears to be chronic and intensely acute spasm and nerve pain or damage post-op cholecystectomy? I can’t support my family living moment-to-moment in fear of another attack.

I look forward to some idea in handling nerve and/or biliary pain. Thank you for this forum!

Hello. In June 2019 I had a cholecystectomy or gallbladder removal surgery. The gallstone pain finally made me pursue surgery. Since I was moved to a hospital bed post-op, the new - and however possible, worse - pain began. I was in the ER twice in two months post-op. I have been to a University hospital more times than I can count, with so many X-rays, ultrasounds, etc. I finally gave up they would solve this pain issue after seven months and exhausting any money I had left. I partially work from home and hoped the worst spasms and mule-kick-to-the-diaphragm pain would happen at home, as the event would last up to 24 hours, and they still do today.

06/2019 Post-op: Spasms are ALWAYS happening, like rhythmic waves, and are very light. Few are still intensely painful, and come out of nowhere. Feels like a lightning strike inside from 3 cm right of the xiphoid process, down to half way point of the right quadrant. Like being punched hard in the diaphragm non-stop. Still can’t breathe deeply without the punched feeling. One of the worst was trying to pretend everything was fine when I was on a flight and the spasms began - I did not want to be on the news for an emergency flight diversion. That was intense.

Last week was suddenly the worst event I’ve experienced. I woke up, had a glass of water, began to prepare breakfast for the kids, and was hit hard. After 12 hours of writhing on the floor, cursing and praying, my resolve not to spend anymore money on a high medical deductible gave out. Pain became incapacitating and absolutely intolerable. Having a high Pain tolerance I can put up with a lot, and have had work injuries that caused excruciating pain - this was the limit of my tolerance. I Waited 12 hrs to go in but couldn’t handle anymore pain, thought this was going to end me (no fear of death but just wanted to get moving with it).

Could be they entrapped even the Vegas nerve during surgery, or some other nerve? Muscle at rib attachment was extremely rigid and inflamed, and is during these events. Bile is likely backing up from odid’s sphincter into stomach (?) - must have thrown up several cups of bile (not stomach acid). Doctors say it’s not possible but my body disagrees - this fluid was something I’ve never known before (and my stomach to my esophagus never ached or burned). This wasn’t an upset stomach and only right upper and right mid quadrant we’re ever in pain.

They released me after four days and said they couldn’t help any more. They put me on Amitriptyline and Gabapentin (again), and gave me a small amount of Ativan (‘just in case the worst spasms/pain occur‘, they said). They want me to go to a pain clinic for a nerve block shot in the abdomen. What will that cost and will it even work?

Does anyone at Mayo have experience with what appears to be chronic and intensely acute spasm and nerve pain or damage post-op cholecystectomy? I can’t support my family living moment-to-moment in fear of another attack.

I look forward to some idea in handling nerve and/or biliary pain. Thank you for this forum!

Hello. In June 2019 I had a cholecystectomy or gallbladder removal surgery. The gallstone pain finally made me pursue surgery. Since I was moved to a hospital bed post-op, the new - and however possible, worse - pain began. I was in the ER twice in two months post-op. I have been to a University hospital more times than I can count, with so many X-rays, ultrasounds, etc. I finally gave up they would solve this pain issue after seven months and exhausting any money I had left. I partially work from home and hoped the worst spasms and mule-kick-to-the-diaphragm pain would happen at home, as the event would last up to 24 hours, and they still do today.

06/2019 Post-op: Spasms are ALWAYS happening, like rhythmic waves, and are very light. Few are still intensely painful, and come out of nowhere. Feels like a lightning strike inside from 3 cm right of the xiphoid process, down to half way point of the right quadrant. Like being punched hard in the diaphragm non-stop. Still can’t breathe deeply without the punched feeling. One of the worst was trying to pretend everything was fine when I was on a flight and the spasms began - I did not want to be on the news for an emergency flight diversion. That was intense.

Last week was suddenly the worst event I’ve experienced. I woke up, had a glass of water, began to prepare breakfast for the kids, and was hit hard. After 12 hours of writhing on the floor, cursing and praying, my resolve not to spend anymore money on a high medical deductible gave out. Pain became incapacitating and absolutely intolerable. Having a high Pain tolerance I can put up with a lot, and have had work injuries that caused excruciating pain - this was the limit of my tolerance. I Waited 12 hrs to go in but couldn’t handle anymore pain, thought this was going to end me (no fear of death but just wanted to get moving with it).

Could be they entrapped even the Vegas nerve during surgery, or some other nerve? Muscle at rib attachment was extremely rigid and inflamed, and is during these events. Bile is likely backing up from odid’s sphincter into stomach (?) - must have thrown up several cups of bile (not stomach acid). Doctors say it’s not possible but my body disagrees - this fluid was something I’ve never known before (and my stomach to my esophagus never ached or burned). This wasn’t an upset stomach and only right upper and right mid quadrant we’re ever in pain.

They released me after four days and said they couldn’t help any more. They put me on Amitriptyline and Gabapentin (again), and gave me a small amount of Ativan (‘just in case the worst spasms/pain occur‘, they said). They want me to go to a pain clinic for a nerve block shot in the abdomen. What will that cost and will it even work?

Does anyone at Mayo have experience with what appears to be chronic and intensely acute spasm and nerve pain or damage post-op cholecystectomy? I can’t support my family living moment-to-moment in fear of another attack.

I look forward to some idea in handling nerve and/or biliary pain. Thank you for this forum!

@wt1413wt Welcome to mayo Connect. We are not medical professionals, but we are fellow patients, family members and caregivers who share experiences and support each other.
Here is a link to contact Mayo Clinic, to see if thy can assist you. http://mayocl.in/1mtmR63
Here is a discussion about complications after gall bladder surgery https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/nausea-pain-and-headaches-after-gallbladder-laparoscopic-surgery/
Have your surgeons been made aware of this continuing problem? What has their response been? Please let me know if this is any help to you?
Ginger

@wt1413wt I wish to God I could help you. I suggest you get a Pain Doc ASAP and perhaps review the various nerve stimulator machines that block pain signals to the brain. What you have sounds like really bad nerve damage. I am getting a DRG stimulator implanted in me in a few weeks for severe nerve damage in my feet. This is terrible, and maybe not in your radar, but removing a gall bladder and having this happen to you raises a red flag for a law suit. Just saying! Also, I use a plant for pain called Kratom, that is the best there is for nerve pain. Please private message me if you want to know more about Kratom. Best wishes, and I am so sorry for what you are enduring. Me too! Lori Renee 1

@wt1413wt There is crap Kratom being sold. Only buy from ethanaturals. com and buy it in pill form. Please, if you want to know more, send me a private message. LoriRenee1

Hello. In June 2019 I had a cholecystectomy or gallbladder removal surgery. The gallstone pain finally made me pursue surgery. Since I was moved to a hospital bed post-op, the new - and however possible, worse - pain began. I was in the ER twice in two months post-op. I have been to a University hospital more times than I can count, with so many X-rays, ultrasounds, etc. I finally gave up they would solve this pain issue after seven months and exhausting any money I had left. I partially work from home and hoped the worst spasms and mule-kick-to-the-diaphragm pain would happen at home, as the event would last up to 24 hours, and they still do today.

06/2019 Post-op: Spasms are ALWAYS happening, like rhythmic waves, and are very light. Few are still intensely painful, and come out of nowhere. Feels like a lightning strike inside from 3 cm right of the xiphoid process, down to half way point of the right quadrant. Like being punched hard in the diaphragm non-stop. Still can’t breathe deeply without the punched feeling. One of the worst was trying to pretend everything was fine when I was on a flight and the spasms began - I did not want to be on the news for an emergency flight diversion. That was intense.

Last week was suddenly the worst event I’ve experienced. I woke up, had a glass of water, began to prepare breakfast for the kids, and was hit hard. After 12 hours of writhing on the floor, cursing and praying, my resolve not to spend anymore money on a high medical deductible gave out. Pain became incapacitating and absolutely intolerable. Having a high Pain tolerance I can put up with a lot, and have had work injuries that caused excruciating pain - this was the limit of my tolerance. I Waited 12 hrs to go in but couldn’t handle anymore pain, thought this was going to end me (no fear of death but just wanted to get moving with it).

Could be they entrapped even the Vegas nerve during surgery, or some other nerve? Muscle at rib attachment was extremely rigid and inflamed, and is during these events. Bile is likely backing up from odid’s sphincter into stomach (?) - must have thrown up several cups of bile (not stomach acid). Doctors say it’s not possible but my body disagrees - this fluid was something I’ve never known before (and my stomach to my esophagus never ached or burned). This wasn’t an upset stomach and only right upper and right mid quadrant we’re ever in pain.

They released me after four days and said they couldn’t help any more. They put me on Amitriptyline and Gabapentin (again), and gave me a small amount of Ativan (‘just in case the worst spasms/pain occur‘, they said). They want me to go to a pain clinic for a nerve block shot in the abdomen. What will that cost and will it even work?

Does anyone at Mayo have experience with what appears to be chronic and intensely acute spasm and nerve pain or damage post-op cholecystectomy? I can’t support my family living moment-to-moment in fear of another attack.

I look forward to some idea in handling nerve and/or biliary pain. Thank you for this forum!

@lorirenee1 I'm so sorry you had to go through this . You shouldn't have that much pain sounds like they nipped not only a nerve but muscles also . Certainly would be grounds for a law suit . Keep all the documents you have ,make copies . In the O.R. we did a lot of gallbladder surgeries ,never had anyone have these after affects . God bless you

@lioness I think you sent your message to me by accident. You meant @wt1413wt Take care. Lori