Re: bowel obstructions

From: Renee Madron (1renee2@gte.net)
Thu Jul 6 12:16:50 2000


When I found Dr. Howe, in Knoxville, Tennessee, I told him my problems, although they were very obvious. I weighed 80 something pounds, no color, and no life in me. He stated, that he would look by lap before he would do an open abd. My adhesions were so bad, that when trying to insert the instruments, he found that there was resistance, in all areas. He opened my abd. and later stated, that he was amazed at what he saw and could only imagine how I had lived and dealt with the pain and problems. The adhesions had adhered to the lower portion of my stomach and was pulling it down and stretching it, my intestines were completely engulfed and hidden, not to mention the adhesions were growing down into and through the vaginal area. At any rate, he called in other types of doctors to assist. His fears were, that my intestines would have to be modified, due to blockage and death of tissue, due to the constriction of the adhesions. Thank God for me, none of that had to be done. I had tubes going into every orifice possible. Not all adhesions could be taken down, I was back in the hospital 6 months later. I fear the same now, but where can I turn, no one in this area is willing to take on this task. I am constantly nauseous, and I have noticed that breakfast and lunch is about all I can handle in a days time, if I eat, say after 5 or 6 p.m., I become terribly ill. I have seen those doctors that check those things, and I feel like I have drank gallons of that nasty chalk stuff, but they say the same thing, "I couldn't find anything wrong with you"...My adhesions haven't been taken down in 2 1/2 to 3 years, but I have tried other types of procedures during that time, I can only imagine what kind of shape my internal organs are in. I hope to find someone soon.

Robin Hinks wrote:

> I am wondering if any one out there has these thoughts about bowel
> obstructions too.I never had anything wrong with my bowel before my first
> bwel surgery May 14th 1999 to create a new bladder for me.Since then my
> bowel obstructions started nd in the beginning were only about once every
> two months.Since then the time between them has gradually shortened so that
> before the ileostomy I was eating for about five days(only very light diet)
> and then a gut obstruction would form and back in hospital for fluids
> only.Just before the surgery I found that I couldnt go even those five days
> without it packing up.Now they think that it is the large bowel not working
> at all because when they did a defeacagram they could see that the large
> bowel was not moving.Well I had my ileostomy and now it seems that the
> stomach or small bowel is not pushing anything through to the stoma.I am
> luckier than some as I have a gastric tube as well and when the pain gats
> too much then I release the gastric tube and out pours everything that has
> been sitting in the stomach that was supposed to go down the small bowel.I
> am waiting on the dctor to come and see if he knows anymore since he did the
> endoscopy this morning.It just seems to me that if you re prone to bowel
> obstructions does your bowel say "hey weare sick of the trauma and handling
> and are going to go on strike". Can the bowel tire of interference? please
> let me know what you think.Love always Robyne.

>> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Sherry Marie <SMGNWV@aol.com>
> To: Multiple recipients of list ADHESIONS <adhesions@forum.obgyn.net>
> Sent: Thursday, July 06, 2000 10:49 AM
> Subject: RE: Steps to reduce adhesion formation...Anne
>
> > Anne, Thanks for your response. I asked my surgeon what his opinion on
> > second look surgery to take down the adhesions and he did not feel it
> > beneficial. He told me to call him when I started vomiting. I have had
> > acute bowel obstructions and the thoughts of that experience again
> > upsets me terribly. I have experienced several partial bowel
> > obstructions that seem to be getting more frequent. Due to the fact
> > that I have had a bowel resection, the odds are stacked against me. The
> > pulling sensation is non-relenting and I feel fullness under my ribs
> > esp. the left one. An urgent care facility doctor told me that since I
> > had the TAH the adhesions can also grow from the incision back onto the
> > intestines. Thanks to all, it means so much to be able to share. I
> > used to think I was the only one up against these aliens, now I know I'm
> > not alone. Sherry Marie
> >
>


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