Bowel obstructions, doctors and I need some advice.

678 Views 11 Replies 2 Participants Last post by suki2, Apr 3, 2003

TechChick

Discussion Starter · Apr 1, 2003

Hi all. I have been dealing with partial small bowel obstructions for it what seems like almost 2 years now. I was in the hospital in January of this year for 4 days for one. I'm getting really desperate. The surgeon that saw me in the hospital in January was of no help, she just said live with it. I'm 28 years old and have had all I can about stand. I've lost about 10 lbs in 4 weeks,because I'm scared to eat anything. Since Jan, I've had 3 partial obstructions in the small bowel, the last one about a week ago happned on the weekend, started friday night. Went to the outpatient clinic to get some relief for the pain and vomiting. She wanted to call another surgeon because she felt a mass in my belly. Anyway getting to the point, I see another surgeon next week for a consult. My obstructions are caused by adhesions, since I've had 4 abd surgeries. I just want some releif, I understand my them cutting on me again, there is the risk for more adhesions. Each time my bowel obstructs, it gets worse, the last two times the throw up smelled like poop. I'm at the end of my rope, I'm depressed, and scared to eat anything, for fearing that I'm going to obstruct again. I just don't know what to say to this new doctor. Besides handing this physically and mentally, this is becoming a burdon on us finacially, er visits, hospital stays, outpatient clinic visits. Sorry this is so long, I just need some words of advice, and I needed to vent

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· #2 · Apr 1, 2003

One year ago I had 2 surgeries for small bowel obstructions. Have not had a obstruction since those surgeries and it was from adhesions. Ask your surgeon about adhesion techniques and anti adhesion products to use during surgery. I certainly would not go back to the surgeon that said live with it. It is good you are seeing another surgeon.Hope this helps, Char

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TechChick

Discussion Starter · #3 · Apr 1, 2003

Thanks, your comments helped me

Where your small bowel obstructions full or partial? They are so painful, and I'm glad to hear you got releif from yours. I'm going to have a heart to heart with this new surgeon, I can't live like this any longer. I get one to two partial obstruction a month now. Thanks

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suki2

· #4 · Apr 1, 2003

I, too, have had several abdominal surgeries and suffer with frequent psuedo-intestinal obstructions. I had to have surgery for one obstruction which turned out to be from adhesions. However, the surgery wasn't the cure for me since I still frequently get them. I'm six years out from when the obstructions first started, and my experience has been that I don't have to go to the ER any longer for the nasogastric tube for relief. I usually spend a day throwing up, feel crummy for a day or so later, and then things clear up. I usually lose six pounds during these bouts, and then people tell me how nice I look--Ha! If only they knew what I had just gone through! I feel for you. I hope your visits to the ER lessen, cuz I know how burdensome all those medical bills are. And the pain from these bouts is out of this world. Zofran has helped me with the vomiting in some of the bouts, but not always because sometimes the action of vomiting seems to relieve the pain. Anyway, just wanted to let you know that I share your pain and hope that these bouts of yours will lessen, too.

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TechChick

Discussion Starter · #5 · Apr 1, 2003

Thanks suki2 for your comments. I loose about 5-6lbs with my obstructions also. Mine seem to be getting longer, the last one started on friday night and the vomiting continued into Sunday afternoon. Did your doctor give you any advice on the obstuctions? All they have given me so far is an anti-nausia and pain killers to take at home, those are no good, if I can't keep anything down. I have another question for you, how often do you get them? I do agree, with you, the pain is out of this world, its worse giving birth and passing a kidney stone

Thanks

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suki2

· #6 · Apr 1, 2003

TechChick, I get the obstructions about every month. You're so right about the painkillers, I puke just at the thot of swallowing a pill when an obstruction is happening. The longest obstruction that I had went on for two weeks; the shortest one lasted for several hours. I also have frequent IBS-D and used to take Lomotil for it until I realized that the Lomotil was causing more obstructions. I take Immodium now, but have to even be careful with that or my digestive tract "stops". I agree with your assessment of the kidney stones & giving birth, because I've done those & the obstructions are much more painful. Do you spend many nights while everyone else is sleeping hanging over the toilet or doubled up in pain thinking you might die? I used to go to the ER so frequently with the obstructions that I would just tell them what I had, and to please put the IV & the nasogastric tube in AFTER the shot of Demerol! How long have your obstructions been going on?

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· #7 · Apr 2, 2003

Hey Girls,My 2 obstructions were full mechanical obstructions from adhesions and so far I have no others. In March it was one year since my surgeries and I celebrated by having diagnostic tests which showed all is functional. I stay away from Lomotil and Immodium, still have some urgency but no D. I take flaxseed and calcium which controls the D. The flaxseed puts bulk in the stool. Pain from adhesions are now my biggest problem as intestine is sticking to the inner abdominal wall. As in surgery the omentum had to be removed. Those adhesions feels like pulling, burning and stabbing in one spot.Having had 3 kids was easy compared to the obstructions and the afterward. I would rather have had 10 kids.Hope all ends well for both of you.char

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TechChick

Discussion Starter · #8 · Apr 2, 2003

suki2, I get about 2 a month now..lucky me

My first obstruction was in October of 2001, when they first started, I'd get one about every 3-4 months, now they avg about 2 a month now. It seems like your in the same boat I'm in. These things are so miserable.

quoteo you spend many nights while everyone else is sleeping hanging over the toilet or doubled up in pain thinking you might die?

I had to chuckle at that one. I've spent so many nights hanging over the toilet, its got my face print in the side. What seems weird, those obstructions seem to wait till its night time, that way we'd be be up all night worshiping the porcelian god. Its also funny you mentioned about feeling the obstruction comming on, I can feel mine starting to obstruct, that all to familiar labor pain in the gut and the hyperactive bowel sounds. My most recent ones, it felt like my gut totally shut down, belly so bloated, throwing up poop smelling vomit, and I could not even pass gas (sorry about that...LOL)Has your doctors ever told you anything to advoid obstructions or have offered you any usefull advice?Take Care

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suki2

· #9 · Apr 2, 2003

I am so glad to have heard from you two about the obstructions, not that I would wish the blasted things on anyone! But it's so good to know that there are others who've been there too. Techgirl, I haven't had much enlightenment from my doctors on the obstructions & their causes or prevention, except that any trauma to the abdomen, including surgery, radiation, or injury, can result in future pseudo-intestinal obstructions. I can never pass gas when I'm obstructed. In fact, as soon as a tiny bit of gas does pass, I know that the obstruction is resolving. Do you pass huge amounts of stool when your obstructions pass? Not always, but sometimes after an obstruction, I pass phenomenal amounts of stool. I wish the docs could trust us with a syringe full of demerol to inject ourselves when we have these, cuz there's no way to get a pill down when they come on. I had them 2-3 times a month for several years, but they're down to about once a month now at six years out, Techgirl. I do hope that yours will decrease in frequency and severity.

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· #10 · Apr 3, 2003

Hey Suki2,Even cortisone can cause adhesions to grow or become more numerous. Results in bowel obstructions.Anyhow before my surgeries I did not pass to much gas, now at times to much. But at least that shows me all is functional. Char

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TechChick

Discussion Starter · #11 · Apr 3, 2003

suki2, Thats strange about the gas thing, and when the obstrucion starts to go away, then and only then I can pass gas, but not till then.

quote: Do you pass huge amounts of stool when your obstructions pass? Not always, but sometimes after an obstruction, I pass phenomenal amounts of stool

Yes sometimes, after everything is said and done, I do. I wonder if its because our bowels are trying to flush everything out because of the obstruction. suki2, have they(doctors) ever offered to do any surgery on you to find out if you have more adhesions? I'm trying to collect as much infromation before I go to the doctor next week.

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suki2

· #12 · Apr 3, 2003

Drs. haven't recommended another surgery to see if adhesions are causing the obstructions, and I wouldn't go along with it if they had, since surgery in itself can lead to more adhesions. A double edged sword! So, I guess without really saying it, the docs more or less just figure that it's something that I'll have to live with. Char, I know what you mean about the gas, even tho it's so embarrassing, at least it means that things are working. Sometimes, I get so much gas that I'm afraid to walk cuz with every step I pass gas

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