Re: Preparing Myself for the Possible Return of Obstruction

From: Helen Dynda (olddad66@runestone.net)
Sun Jul 30 17:34:07 2000


Please feel free to email me for information about adhesions and adhesion-related concerns.

At Sun, 30 Jul 2000, anonymous wrote: >
>I am really glad that I came across this site. I have learned quite a
>bit during the last two days by reading and absorbing materials
>presented here. Thank you all for your time and effort to make this
>site possible.
>
>I went through two abdominal surgeries last month and spent almost the
>whole month of June in hospital for one complication after the other.
>Last week, just one month after the second surgery, I experienced severe
>vomiting for two days. Although vomiting stopped after the second day,
>I have been worried that adhesions may be back again. To face the never
>ending battle, I determine to better prepare myself before another
>attack arrives. Here is my story.
>
>I had a Bilroth II gastrectomy 13 years ago due to duodenal bleeding,
>and suffering from partial blockage of small intestine since. For most
>of the time, I have been functioning normal(no pain at all). The side
>effect from the gastrectomy, however, is the unpredictable attack of
>partial intestine blockage. The frequency of the severe vomiting
>arising from the blockage is about 4 to 5 times a year, and I had been
>hospitalized through emergency several times. But for most of time when
>attack comes, I stop eating for 2 to 3 days, and the blockage releases
>by itself. Finally, after 13 years of on-and-off suffering and
>frustration, the small bowel x-ray revealed a total blockage last month
>after I was hospitalized . I was then forced to take surgery measure.
>
>For the first surgery in June, my surgeon decided to use laparoscopy to
>relief the scar tissue/adhesion associated with the blockage. After
>some manipulation, he didn't feel comfortable with what he got(13 years
>of formation must be a real challenge), so he decided to open up a
>2.5-inch incision to fix the intestine. Initially, the operation was
>called a success. No more pain and vomiting. I was back on normal diet
>and discharged from the hospital on the fifth day. However, after
>staying at home for only five more days, I started to have severe
>vomiting and was sent to emergency room again. This time, the x-ray,
>CT, and small bowel series all indicated an obstruction near the
>surgical region. I stayed in the hospital with a NG tube in my nose for
>a week before my surgeon decided to operate on me. He was hoping that
>the blockage will be relieved by itself with time. The second surgeries
>in June was a full blown treatment of laparectomy to break all
>adhesion/scar tissues of the small intestine. My surgeon was against
>using any adhesion barrier due to his prior experience. After the
>surgery, I had an infection around the lower opening of the exterior
>incision, that was later clear. The recovery from the laparectomy has
>been a slow process. I stayed in the hospital for another 11 days with
>TNP, and the opening wounded eventually closed up this week. I am in
>normal diet and experience no obvious pain right now. However, the
>severe vomiting occurred a week ago raised a big concern of whether the
>adhesion is coming back.
>
>To better prepare my self this time, I have several questions that I
>hope you all can give me input and advice.
>
>1. The interval between my first surgeries in June and the reocurred
>intestine blockage was only a week. Is this common ? Or is this
>surgical procedure related ?
>2. I like to find out the best laparoscopy surgeon with adhesion
>experience in Phoenix area. Where can I find out the information ?
>3. What kind of exercise have people tried and found somewhat effective
>for controlling adhesion related symptom ?


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