"Cut Out but Not Cured..?? A Flatulent Tale of Post-Op Recovery with Homoeopathy "

A 57-year-old homemaker residing in Navi Mumbai (Patient ID: 42105) presented with persistent complaints of bloating, flatulence, and abdominal heaviness for the last one and a half years. Her suffering began shortly after undergoing a cholecystectomy for gallstones on 8th May 2024. While the surgery was successful, her gastrointestinal complaints progressively worsened postoperatively. She had a constant sensation of heaviness and bloating in the abdomen that persisted throughout the day, with episodes of rumbling and discomfort occurring at least 1–2 times per week. The intensity of these episodes was moderate, but they significantly impacted her daily comfort.

The bloating was more troublesome after meals and seemed to reduce slightly after consuming warm water.  Her abdominal pain, although occasional and localized more to the left side, worsened after eating spicy food and paradoxically improved with the same. The patient also noted a mild loss of appetite, particularly during episodes of bloating. Passing of flatus was infrequent, and when present, it was often offensive, further adding to her discomfort and social embarrassment. Despite suffering from her complaints, she was not on any regular medication at the time of consultation.

In addition to the primary complaint, she had a history of atopic dermatitis for which she had undergone treatment previously with Lifeforce homoeopathy and responded positively within four months. 

Associated Complaints - She also suffered from varicose veins for the past few months and was currently under conventional treatment for the same.

Physical generals:

A thermally hot patient with an average appetite and satisfactory bowel movements. She craves spicy food and green vegetables and has an aversion to sweets, pumpkin, and bottle gourd. She consumed tea twice a day and had an average thirst of around 2 liters per day. Sleep was sound, with a preference for sleeping on the side. She had entered menopause two and a half years ago, at the age of 55.

Mental Generals:

Patient was a very warm, mild, and gentle personality. She was sensitive and caring in nature, often getting anxious and nervous in certain situations. Her adjustable attitude made her a cooperative patient. She had endured emotional trauma after the demise of her husband in 2000. However, she remained emotionally resilient, with supportive children, a son working as a scientist in Australia, and a daughter as a fashion designer.

Family History - There was a strong family history of cancer (father and uncle) and allergies (mother and brother), which further highlighted the need for constitutional individualized treatment. 

On examination, she weighed 55.5 kg, with a blood pressure of 120/80 mmHg and pulse rate of 81/min. No abnormal findings were noted on physical examination.

Based on the totality of symptoms, physical and emotional constitution, and considering the iatrogenic origin of the complaint post-cholecystectomy, a deep-acting homeopathic remedy was selected. 

Follow-ups:

First follow-up was taken on 05/02/2025 - The patient reported a slight 5% improvement. Bloating had mildly reduced. The heaviness was better managed except after heavy meals. Abdominal discomfort showed mild improvement, and pain was only occasional. She was compliant and hopeful.

On 31/03/2025 - Marked improvement was noted. There were no major episodes of flatulence or abdominal pain. Gas formation had significantly reduced. Appetite had improved slightly, and discomfort occurred only after dietary indiscretions. She had stopped all conventional medications by this time.

On 25/05/2025 - A major change was noted with a 60–70% overall improvement. Flatulence had reduced significantly. There were no complaints of abdominal pain or eructation. Her appetite was normal, and she was able to eat without discomfort. No conventional medication was being taken, and she expressed satisfaction and relief with the progress.

In a recent follow-up on 18/07/2025, a 70 % overall improvement was noted. Bloating and flatulence were significantly better. Mild bloating would occasionally arise with irregular or heavy meals, but no abdominal pain or eructation was reported. She was cheerful and emotionally more relaxed, reflecting the improvement on both physical and mental planes.

Conclusion:

The case reflects a classical example of post-surgical digestive dysfunction managed successfully with homeopathy. Her symptoms, which had persisted for over a year post-cholecystectomy, showed significant improvement within 5 months of treatment.

• Case study written by Dr.Shreya Hedaoo, an associate doctor to Dr.Rajesh Shah, MD [Homo]