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.
Posts by suki2
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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?
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.
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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