Unknown cause of ascites

I'm a complex congenital heart patient with a Fontan circulation.  As a result I have grade1 chirosis. I had surgery 03/16 to replace abdominal pacemaker and wires, and an ablation. Because of my circulation this was open heart surgery. 

Post surgery I felt brilliant. I was strong, eating well, and walking within a week.  I was probably still in some strong painkillers.

Then someone asked me when my bowels last moved and I realized they hadn't for the past 7days since my surgery. Try as I could, my gut wouldn't wake up to even desire to go despite the huge meals I had been eating. On day 8 I was given laxitives. This bloated my tummy, caused pain - but not motion. Day 10 I had laxis, laxol and an enima. Still no motion just bloating and unbelievable pain. I was given morphine for the pain - which switched off my gut again. The pain return w vengeance once morphine wore off - but still no motion. My tummy was swollen and excruciatingly sore. Slowly the laxol began to work but the pain was unbearable. It lessoned slightly and I was discharged. My tummy was still q swollen. Over the coming month or two my tummy increased in size and the pain continued. I lost 10kg b4 beginning readmitted. I was daignosed w ascites. But my liver function tests had not changed, my heart was functioning well. I had a gastroscopy (?), was on a 1lt fluid restriction, was malnurished, and s***ting rocks. The liver and heart specialists couldn't agree on cause. I now have chronic ascites w weekly taps, and still a huge amount of gut pain and toileting issues.

We have tried addressing liver and cardiac theories for ascites but nothing has worked.

Can gut issues cause ascites? I did have inflammatory markers at the beginning, but no sign of infection. Inflammatory markers disappeared w antibiotics - but nothing else disappeared. This has been going on for over 18months and I'm exhausted. Where else can I go for help?

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