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Pain post paracentesis

I've had 3 drainage procedures while in-patient. They were done by inserting a pigtail catheter and letting the pressure of the ascites and gravity do the rest. I am finally ok enough that I can have the outpatient procedure regularly scheduled. I no longer end up in-patient when one is scheduled.

I had the first outpatient paracentesis on Monday 8/17/2015. My belly was HUGE. They removed an outrageous amount of fluid. I was the talk of the departments. It just kept coming. 10.3 liters in all. (They might have been playing ascites bowling in the hall. I can't be certain) It was incredible to see my hips and waist again. Hopefully, for a couple of days my clothes won't fall off. That's another story. I've never had so much go while in-patient. I can't be certain of that as I always end up leaking like a sieve.

Anyway, afterward and through today, I've had what feels like muscle pain just below my ribs and under them a bit, pain along both sides and pain in the lower portion (just above my pelvic bone. When I walked back to my bed, I couldn't really fully stand up. I hunch over. I also have the pain without activity. Not as often as when I walk.

Is this from my muscles recovering from being pushed around by the fluid and my compensation for the giant belly that was there?
Has anyone had this pain?
How did you deal with it?
Should I be alarmed by the pain?
7 Responses
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Avatar universal
I was thinking it was sort of like post-pregnancy. Organs, muscles, tendons, etc. need to shift back to more normal use.

My clothes fall off all the time. I'm quite the spectacle trying to keep a skirt or pants on while shopping or walking through the hospital or doctor's office building. Luckily, I have dresses that work. They don't exactly flatter this body, but at least they stay on. If the top droops off, the most exposed is a bra, if I bother wearing one. I sure don't have those DDs anymore.
Helpful - 1
Avatar universal
I get drained about every 1 to 2 weeks and have paying for exactly 3 days like you are describing. I also thought it was just from everything settling back down. I however only get around 1.6 L to 2.6 L drained so it’s not that much fluid but I’m also a very tiny person that weighs 98 pounds so maybe that’s a lot for me but I always just assumed that it was everything settling back down but it’s pretty painful for me but like I said it goes away like clockwork on the third day like nothing ever happened.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
My dad has cirrhosis, kidney disease and 2 or 3 hernias that doctors won’t touch. The doctors gave my dad 6 months to live and December has been 2 years. My daddy had to have his belly drained for months and I’m talking liters at a time. I think the most was 14-17 liters then needed albumin following due to his blood pressure. My question is, is it normal hes all of a sudden not retaining fluid anymore? My dad is 75 years old and sleeps a lot. He has become so frail and thin in the last couple of years. He also is very very cold all the time. Thanks for any feedback. It is a very hard disease to watch someone go through.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I'm feeling much better today, Standing up straight is easy and pretty much pain free, I'm loving seeing my stomach, hips and waist.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I experienced some pain myself shortly after the extraction.. I considered it to be a muscle strain and it did disappear as one would expect. Whether or not it was, who knows? But I was like you amount wise - I dropped 92 lbs after my short 10 day stay and walked out (slowly of course) so skinny that I wrapped a rope around me to keep my pants up. Amazing things our bodies are capable of.
Helpful - 0
1 Comments
Holy cow!  Walking out and tying your own shoes was great!
Avatar universal
I'll call them. It's strange that I had the pain immediately. I don't think there would be time for an infection to develop.

Cranky/tired me is really sick of calling doctors, going to the ER, and watching too much Law & Order from a hospital bed. That's cranky me. The other me laughs at myself and yields to the professionals.
Helpful - 0
446474 tn?1446347682
COMMUNITY LEADER
I am not sure what is causing your pain. Really you shouldn't have pain, maybe some discomfort from losing 20 lbs of fluid.

Call the hospital or your hepatologist tomorrow and let them know what you are experiencing. If the pain gets worse before then go to the ER. Complications are rare with parenthesis, but it is best to err on the side of caution as an infection or other complication from parenthesis in someone with advanced cirrhosis can be life-threatening so please follow up ASAP.

Take care.
Hector
Helpful - 0
1 Comments
Hector is correct.  I'd rather worry a professional silly with questions than take the risk of not asking and thinking it was just "me" thinking too much.  This could be a serious issue.  ConnieL1
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