Is this normal?

When I mentioned occasional pains to my consultant last December, he said, if I recall correctly, that I could have them for a while - because of scar tissue? I was just wondering if it is still normal to have them over a year after the operation? Before going to sleep at night there is not only gurgling, twinges, and feeling of something moving, also sometimes a squeezing feeling, and tightening - is all this just part of healing even though over a year ago? Also, recently and just occasionally, when I am seated and turn to the left I have had an ouch at my left side - could that be where the spleen used to be, do you think?

The operation that I had in November 2023 was to remove a sarcoma that necessitated also removing the left kidney, spleen, half the pancreas and half the colon. The operation was called resection retroperitoneal sarcoma left nephrectomy left hemicolectomy splenectomydistal pancreatectomy; I had had a liposarcoma. 

  • Hello and thank you for posting,

    I am sorry to learn that you needed surgery for liposarcoma, it sounds like you needed to have a big operation.

    Unfortunately not being involved in your care we cannot say what the cause of the pain you are experiencing might be. However, it is possible what you are experiencing is due to the operation even a year on.

    It is worth just letting your cancer team at the hospital know as they know your situation and can give you more reassurance or they may want to assess you. If you have a nurse specialist (CNS) you can contact and leave a message with, they will get back to you as soon as possible.

    I hope you can get some advice soon,

    If you would like to talk things through with one of the nurses on the helpline, we are available between 9am and 5pm Monday to Friday and the freephone number to call is 0808 800 4040.

    Take care,

    Jemma

  • Thank you for replying. In the meantime, I posted on the sarcoma patients page in Facebook and two people responded who had a similar operation, four and five years ago, and they could empathise with me.

    I had emailed the sarcoma specialist nurse at our hospital but not had a reply so she must be away. I don't have a cancer team.

  • Offline in reply to Mary.

    Scar tissue pain can be lifelong. My wife is over 3 years out from treatment and still gets pain.