Liver Resection Pain

mojogirl67
mojogirl67 Member Posts: 306 Member
in Colorectal Cancer #1

Hey guys.  First I will say I am grateful to be healing. Of course I want the fast track approach but that ain't happening no matter what I do, lol. I wanted to throw this out there and see if any of you dealt with it. I am able to move and adjust in bed much better with the soreness. The big kicker for me is these random gas bubbles that will literally roll in my body and ALWAYS travel into my shoulder blade and arm on the side of my liver. These pains will stop me in my  tracks and will knock the wind out of you. I had a BAD case of it yesterday and literally did not get out of my PJ's all day and cancelled a much needed hair appointment. (you know it's bad when a lady cancels her hair appt., lol) I posted about this neck and should pain before and Butt said she had dealt with it too. I've read where others have it as well. The only thing I found was that it could be trapped gass irritating the phrenic nerve. I am off of all pain killers which I know causes constipation and gas build up. I feel much better today so far and have walked and will continue to walk it out. I couldn't eat much yesterday and my appetite this morning is just not there. I'm trying to put on wait before mop-up chemo but I can only eat so much and lord knows, after trying to get enough fluid in my system, I am as full as a tick. I am still wrestling with how in the world I am going to get thru chemo in less than three weeks from now. How long before I feel half-way normal again? Please tell me there is light at the end of the tunnel.

Comments

  • Trubrit
    Trubrit Member Posts: 5,804 Member
    #2
    There is light at the end of the tunnel

    Not sure how long your tunnel is going to be, though. 

    Do you have to start chemo in three weeks? It seems awful early after such major surgery.   At the end of the day, when you start chemo is your decision when you start. As much as the Oncologist can tell you 'he wants' you still have the right to say yay or nay.  Your body and mind must be ready for that ride. 

    I cannot help you with the gas pain. I have had it, many, many years ago, after major abdominal surgery (not Cancer related), I remember it was bad, but I cannot remember how long it lasted or what I might have done, so I am no help for you.  I do think walking is one of the bodies most natural ways of healing, so keep that up. 

    I wish you all the best as you move forward, and hope this gas pain dissipates soon. 

    Tru

  • abita
    abita Member Posts: 1,152 Member
    edited March 2019 #3
    I haven't had that pain. I do

    I haven't had that pain. I do want to mention, and maybe you should ask your doctor, before I had my liver resection, the surgeon and nutritionist made sure I knew how important extra protein was. I believe that aids in the healing and regenerating of the liver. Again, I would ask your surgeon. The nutritionist even made sure i got protein drinks in case I couldn't eat much. 

     

    I can say that one pain that took a while to go away was where they pull your ribs back. Not sure, maybe your resection was smaller so they didn't need to. I had a lot removed.

  • SandiaBuddy
    SandiaBuddy Member Posts: 1,381 Member
    #4
    Gas

    I have had fairly chronic problems with gas and digestion since the surgery.  As a primary matter, drinking some baking soda mixed with water helps me enormously.  Ranitidine (available OTC) has been highly effective, just take a double dose (the same as the prescription level).  Ranitidine is okay in the short term, but may be mildly linked with colon cancer.  Cimetidine (also OTC, but take two to four times the OTC dosage) has an anti-cancer effect.  I read an article that said Gaviscon was good for gas bubbles.  I tried it, but it did not help me.  If it is really bad, you might try a short course of a PPI like prilosec.  (Please not, I have no idea how any of these meds might affect your liver).  It seems like short-term relief would be great for you right now, then you can address the underlying issue when you get on your feet.

  • mojogirl67
    mojogirl67 Member Posts: 306 Member
    #5
    Trubrit said:

    There is light at the end of the tunnel

    Not sure how long your tunnel is going to be, though. 

    Do you have to start chemo in three weeks? It seems awful early after such major surgery.   At the end of the day, when you start chemo is your decision when you start. As much as the Oncologist can tell you 'he wants' you still have the right to say yay or nay.  Your body and mind must be ready for that ride. 

    I cannot help you with the gas pain. I have had it, many, many years ago, after major abdominal surgery (not Cancer related), I remember it was bad, but I cannot remember how long it lasted or what I might have done, so I am no help for you.  I do think walking is one of the bodies most natural ways of healing, so keep that up. 

    I wish you all the best as you move forward, and hope this gas pain dissipates soon. 

    Tru

    Thanks Tru..

    I know the thinking on chemo is to get it started as quickly as possible to kill the remaining cancer cells but I'm with you on the fact that it seems way to soon. I have an appt April 1st with my oncologist to discuss everything..we'll see. I'm not sure my mind and body can ever be "ready" for that ride. 5 sessions of Folfox with the Avastin left me scarred in more ways than one. I'm not the most patient person in the world so I will work on taking "one day at a time"..hugs, M

  • mojogirl67
    mojogirl67 Member Posts: 306 Member
    #6
    abita said:

    I haven't had that pain. I do

    I haven't had that pain. I do want to mention, and maybe you should ask your doctor, before I had my liver resection, the surgeon and nutritionist made sure I knew how important extra protein was. I believe that aids in the healing and regenerating of the liver. Again, I would ask your surgeon. The nutritionist even made sure i got protein drinks in case I couldn't eat much. 

     

    I can say that one pain that took a while to go away was where they pull your ribs back. Not sure, maybe your resection was smaller so they didn't need to. I had a lot removed.

    Hi Abita..

    I am trying to up my protein. I have the protein drinks on hand as well. I just have zero appetite and get full so quickly. I'm hoping that will resolve with time. My surgeon removed my entire right lobe with my gallbladder and my colon surgeon did the cut and paste on my sigmoid at the same time. I know it was a lot at one time and will take some time to heal. I just like to be on top of my game with anything but this has had so many unknowns and last minute aches and pains I had no idea were coming. The did tell me they retracted my ribs and YES, I still feel it..lol...Thank you for offering input..much appreciated. I guess I will just have to take it one day at a time...hugs, M

  • mojogirl67
    mojogirl67 Member Posts: 306 Member
    #7
    SandiaBuddy said:

    Gas

    I have had fairly chronic problems with gas and digestion since the surgery.  As a primary matter, drinking some baking soda mixed with water helps me enormously.  Ranitidine (available OTC) has been highly effective, just take a double dose (the same as the prescription level).  Ranitidine is okay in the short term, but may be mildly linked with colon cancer.  Cimetidine (also OTC, but take two to four times the OTC dosage) has an anti-cancer effect.  I read an article that said Gaviscon was good for gas bubbles.  I tried it, but it did not help me.  If it is really bad, you might try a short course of a PPI like prilosec.  (Please not, I have no idea how any of these meds might affect your liver).  It seems like short-term relief would be great for you right now, then you can address the underlying issue when you get on your feet.

    Hi there..

    Thanks for the suggestions. With my compromised liver, I'm scared to throw too much into the mix right now. I'm going to increase my walking which is bound to help.The shoulder pain has lessened since I've been home but it still packs a hard punch when it hits. It's weird to me how gas can get rerouted thru the body and cause such intense pain. I'm learning something new everyday..lol...hope you are out and soaking in air and sunshine...hugs, M

  • abita
    abita Member Posts: 1,152 Member
    #8
    mojogirl67 said:

    Hi Abita..

    I am trying to up my protein. I have the protein drinks on hand as well. I just have zero appetite and get full so quickly. I'm hoping that will resolve with time. My surgeon removed my entire right lobe with my gallbladder and my colon surgeon did the cut and paste on my sigmoid at the same time. I know it was a lot at one time and will take some time to heal. I just like to be on top of my game with anything but this has had so many unknowns and last minute aches and pains I had no idea were coming. The did tell me they retracted my ribs and YES, I still feel it..lol...Thank you for offering input..much appreciated. I guess I will just have to take it one day at a time...hugs, M

    That retracted ribs last a

    That retracted ribs last a while. I thought that something must really be wrong, so mentioned it at a surgery follow-up. That is when he expelained to me the ribs are retracted. Yikes!

    I had my left lobe, gall bladder and a bit of my right lobe removed

    I also asked if because I had a mostly brand new liver, if I could now drink like a 20 year old again. SUrgeon didn't get it, but the nurse laughed.

     

  • myAZmountain
    myAZmountain Member Posts: 417 Member
    #9
    So sorry to hear of all the pain!

    So sorry to hear of all the pain you are experiencing after surgery!. I do remember when I was a nurse  patients complaining of the shoulder pain after surgeries where gas is used--some even thought they were having a heart attack it was so severe. But i would think it would be dissipating soon? I also remember that any time ribs were displaced or moved the pain was very intense as well--gosh you really got the double whammy! You have a warrior's spirit ! It sure seems early to start chemo in 3 weeks though....I feel like they recommended 6 weeks to me after I had hemicolectomy to start chemo, it wasn't really mop up chemo but full on but would think the time would be the same? I had right sided surgery not Sigmoid though don't know if that makes any difference--I had surgery last march 15 and did not start chemo until early June--no growth occured in between original scan and the one just prior to starting. Praying you are feeling better soon!

  • Butt
    Butt Member Posts: 352 Member
    #10

    Butt is still dealing with it but for me it is not from liver. Chemo does something strange with the muscles. You may ask for  ketoprofen prescription. One step lower from narcotics. 

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