Pain around navel after Cholecystectomy

[Siamo Uno]

I had a laparascopic cholecystectomy on Sept 1st. I have been tender around the navel incision since that time...the incision has healed nicely and there have been no signs of infection, but there is this "pulling" sensation deep behind my navel and I can feel a knot when I press in that area. I had quite extensive bruising below the navel after surgery, because that is the incision where the camera was inserted so a lot of manipulation went on in that area. But I am starting to have a deep, pulling, aching pain there daily and it's not very comfortable...could it possibly be adhesions forming? I feel like some little person is sitting inside me behind my navel and twisting and pulling it....Any ideas?

[Siamo Uno]

It's very hard not to get discouraged, but I am trying my best. Thanks for your time, I do appreciate it so very much.

[Jeffrey S Guy, M.D., M. Sc.]

Most surgeons are very uptight people, myself included.  Therefore, they want to know about problems, big or small, sooner rather than latter.  

Having the surgery was the correct thing to do.   Acute cholecystitis is not something to full around with.  If a stone obstructs the draining common bile duct and the ducts get infected that can be a life-threatening infection.  A pancreatitis from a gall stone is some of the worse pain one can experience.

Try not to get discouraged.  You’ll have better days ahead.

[Siamo Uno]

Thank you for responding to my question. It is much appreciated. I am still having the pain so perhaps a visit to my surgeon is in order. In addition to the pain I am still having post cholecystectomy diarrhea every day and find it difficult to eat many of the foods that I used to eat with no problem. I feel worse since I had this surgery and wish I had kept my gallbladder. They gave me questran for the diarrhea but I developed an allergic reaction to it..I have multiple drug allergies.

[Jeffrey S Guy, M.D., M. Sc.]

Sorry for the delay.   It’s been now over two months and you are still having pain.  As you pointed out, the camera used for the surgery is inserted in the incision in the bellybutton incision.   If the gall bladder was damaged on removal, there might have been some spillage of bile or gallstones on removal of the gall bladder from the body—does not seem likely.  Two things that I would want to evaluate first:  When the air (carbon dioxide) is in the abdomen and then released or vented, there is sometimes a small vacuum effect if the surgical ports are removed at the same time.  This can sometimes capture a small piece or small intestine (creating a small hernia) or omentum (the fat apron in the abomen).   This is easily seen by the surgeon when they close the incision in the abdominal wall with the suture.   Given that this pain has peristed for over two months, I would get an ultrasound of the areas to make sure nothing is trapped in the wound.  This can often be done in the office in simply a matter of a few minutes.  Adhesions, can and will form with any abdominal operation, but they usually only cause symptoms if the bowel twists around them creating the condition of a bowel obstruction.    

[Siamo Uno]

Can anyone answer my question for me? I am still having this pain.