Post-cholecystectomy symptoms were caused by persistence of a functional gastrointestinal disorder

Table 2 Assessment of pain symptoms

Had an abdominal pain attack at least once for the last 3 mo or longer?

Experienced either pain or discomfort in the abdomen of a continuous steady nature at least once per week for the last 3 mo or longer?

For women: Did the onset of pain begin during pregnancy or soon after pregnancy?

Evaluated in the Emergency Department or seek medical attention for the abdominal pain?

Admitted to the hospital for the abdominal pain?

Estimate how often pain medications are required for the pain:

Not at all or rarely (less than 10% of the episodes)

Occasionally (less than 50% o the episodes)

Very often (more than 50% of the episodes)

Almost always (more than 80% of the episodes)

Time-interval during which the pain most often occurs:

7 am – 12 pm

12 pm – 6 pm

6 pm – 11 pm

11 pm – 7 am

Highly variable and unable to predict time of onset

Rate how often the pain occurs in the following abdominal areas:

Right upper quadrant1

Left upper quadrant1

Right lower quadrant1

Left lower quadrant1

Midline or center of the upper abdomen1

Is there often an area where the pain is strongest (able to point with one or two fingers):

Right upper quadrant

Left upper quadrant

Right lower quadrant

Left lower quadrant

Midline or center of the upper abdomen

Highly variable and unable to predict one area

No

Experience discomfort in the right upper quadrant when bending forward?

Abdominal pain radiates from where it started?

If yes, where does it radiate most often?

Right upper back beneath the right shoulder blade

Upper back between the shoulder blades

Lower back

None of these places mentioned

Highly variable and unable to predict a dominant area

Estimate the number of pain attacks over the last 3 mo

Estimate the usual duration of a pain attack in hours and minutes

Experience urge to move around during a pain attack1

Choose one of four patterns describing pain attacks (depicted by graphs):

Low-grade warning pain followed by a steady rise to a maximal constant pain, gradually getting better after a while

Low-grade warning pain followed by a steady rise to a maximal degree with occasional waves of pain, gradually getting better after a while

Pain begins suddenly with maximal intensity and improves over time

Pain begins suddenly with maximal intensity and persists with waves of pain until it goes away

Rate level of maximal pain intensity by 100 mm visual analogue scale score-scale

Pain attacks are defined as suddenly appearing pain that is distinct from, and stronger than any continuous, steady pain or discomfort.

¹The pain occurrence in each area is rated as: not at all or rarely (less than 10% of the episodes), occasionally (less than 50% o the episodes), very often (more than 50% of the episodes) or almost always (more than 80% of the episodes).