Re: rx no longer working - need to just vent a bit . . .

From: Mary Wade (acbcsrt@kansas.net)
Sun Jan 28 16:43:22 2001


My latest method of getting enough water is to drink a gulp of water for every bite of food. I chew and chew and chew the food.

At 11:40 AM 1/28/01 -0600, you wrote: >Jill,
>The constipation alternating with diarrhea is a little concerning. There
>are a number of things that can cause this (such as irritable bowel
>syndrome), but it can also be a sign of partial bowel obstruction from
>adhesions. What happens is this: there is a narrowed area in the
>intestines that is not completely blocked, but which blocks larger food
>pieces as it is being digested. When a blockage occurs you experience
>constipation until enough force builds up behind the food to force it
>through the narrowed area, and diarrhea results. Then food gets stuck
>at the narrowing again, and stays until pressure builds up, and the
>whole thing starts over.
>
>This is probably why your doctor was concerned and recommended you see a
>surgeon, to prevent complete obstruction from occurring. Unfortunately,
>as others on the message board have mentioned, many surgeons do not
>recommend surgery until complete obstruction results, and it is too
>late. Fixing the problem before it becomes severe is generally better.
>The reason surgeons have waited to operate is because they know that
>surgery causes adhesions, so operating hasn't made sense - until the
>advent of laparoscopy which creates few new adhesions. Although many
>surgeons who perform basic laparoscopy consider adhesions a
>contraindication to laparoscopic surgery, there is a growing number of
>advanced laparoscopic surgeons who will deal with this. It may take
>some hunting, but you will probably be able to find an advanced
>laparoscopic surgeon willing to take your case near where you live by
>asking your doctor and friends and making some calls.
>
>One thing I will recommend to patients in the mean time is to eat foods
>LOW in fiber, and drink a lot of fluids. This reduces the amount of
>undigestible particles in the food passing through your intestines, and
>will generally make you stool smaller and easier to pass through narrow
>areas. Foods rich in carbohydrates (sugars, rice, potatos, pasta) are
>digested high in the intestinal tract, and become liquid quickly. You
>won't have any trouble finding these on your cruise! Unfortunately, high
>fiber diets are healthier for your intestines long term, and low fiber
>diets can lead to constipation (even without narrowed areas) so this is
>not a long term solution.
>
>By the way, enjoy your cruise. I avoided cruises for a long time
>because I was afraid of being sea sick. Finaly my wife convinced me to
>go (she drug me there), and we loved it! I am sure you will too. Have a
>great time!
>
>Dr. Gerhart
>http://www.generalsurgeryinfo.com
>
>--
>Dr. Gerhart
>


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