Post Op abdominal pain

[CorfuSunseeker]

I am only 3 months post oesophagectomy and so appreciate it is still very early days into recovery. However, each morning between 0300 and 0600hr, I wake up with a nagging pain in the lower abdomen just below and to the left of the stomach incision. The pain eases when I get out of bed and move about, or take a painkiller. I mentioned it to the consultant in my recent, post op appointment, but clearly it wasn't something he was familiar with, nor did he seem too concerned. I just wanted reassurance it was a common postoperative condition and wondered if anyone else had experienced it.

[Smithyrat159]

Hi, I had my Ivor Lewis oesophagectomy in Nov 2022. I too had pain, lower abdomen but on the right side which was constant and was only eased with painkillers. I had other issues aswell which aren't relevant to your query but eventually my consultant decided to go back in and see what was causing the pain and lack of transit of food. Further surgery in August last year where they reopened the original incision site under the ribs. They took off loads and loads of internal scar tissue which had attached itself to my colon which created a kink that shouldn't be there hence the slow transit and pain. Since then I can eat much better and it's going down well. I get dumping occasionally but not often and my weight has stabilised. However I'm still in alot of pain in that same place, worse than before, and nothing shifts it. I've just had another CT scan to see if anything else is going on i.e more disease but if not the consultant says it's just more scar tissue and they'll refer me to a pain management clinic. It's an ongoing saga. This may not be your issue but I think scar tissue can be a factor, I hope you'll be OK

[CorfuSunseeker in reply to Smithyrat159]

Thanks for the reply. I will bear this in mind if I still have the pain when I see the surgeon in 3 months time. Good look with your issues.

[CorfuSunseeker in reply to Smithyrat159]

Thanks for replying. I also suspected scar tissue in my case, but in the last week or so the pain has eased a bit. Hopefully I have turned a corner. I also hope you get some some relief soon

[kiddy]

Hi there,

Yes still early days and did you have a jej tube to feed you? It takes a while for the system to adjust to surgery and nerve endings to repair. Don’t do any heavy lifting as not to get a hernia.

Good Luck

Debbie

[CorfuSunseeker in reply to kiddy]

Hi, thanks for taking time to respond. It actually feels bit better this week. Although every week seems to bring about a new area of discomfort. As you mention, there's a lot going on down there and it will take a while to settle down. Thanks