>----- Original Message -----
From: "Michelle" <focusonme2100005@aol.com>
To: "Multiple recipients of list ADHESIONS"
<adhesions@mail.medispecialty.com>
Sent: Saturday, February 23, 2002 10:13 PM
Subject: Re: Tina-How do I know if it's obstructed?
> At Sun, 14 Nov 1999, Christine M. Smith wrote:
> >
> >Hi Gina:
> >
> >How many times in your reading have you seen "adhesions" listed as the
> >possible reason for GI problems? Maybe a few lines (usually as a cause
of
> >obstruction, listed among other causes, with very little discussion)
> >Remember, they don't even list adhesions as a possible surgical risk on
the
> >informed surgical consent! My impression is that they like to keep some
> >things secret. :<)
> >
> >Chris S.
> >
> >Gina wrote:
> >>
> >> Hi Tina,
> >> In all my research thus far on constipation and
> >> impactment, nowhere have I seen the words "atonic colon".
> >> What is that? Why isn't it mentioned anywhere? Guess
> >> I have something new to look up now!
> >>
> >> I am having at least a week or more between BM's now
> >> and my Dr. doesn't seem concerned at all. Even with
> >> laxatives, high fiber, water, etc. BUT I also have no pain
> >> on BM's, no abdominal pain lately from this, no bleeding.
> >> I do still have some nausea, that's about it. Other than
> >> no BM I wouldn't even know I was constipated. Weird!
> >> Gina
> >>
> >> At Mon, 08 Nov 1999, Tina Shelby wrote:
> >> >
> >> >Hi Gina,
> >> >
> >> >I just wanted to take a minute and respond to your questions about
bowel
> >> >obstructions and the length of time between your BMs.
> >> >
> >> >Normally if someone is obstructed - there is a definite pattern on
x-ray to
> >> >indicate that an obstruction is present. I must also add - that no
test is
> >> >100% accurate and obstructions can be missed. From what I have
gathered
> >with
> >> >talking to GI surgeons - a patient may have a partial obstruction as
> >> >evidenced by the patients symptoms - ie vomiting, sudden onset severe
> >> >abdominal pain, fever, elevated white blood count, dirrhea at first
and
> >then
> >> >nothing - but x-ray may not show the partial obstruction.
> >> >
> >> >I don't remember if you have GI specialist - but if you are having
>4days
> >> >between BMs fairly consistantly - you need to have a colonic transit
test.
> >> >This consists of taking a capsule a day for several days. These
capsules
> >> >contain rings that are seen with x-ray. You get follow up x-rays each
> >day to
> >> >track the rings movement. If they do not pass in a specific lenght of
> >time -
> >> >you are also dealing with an atonic colon.
> >> >
> >> >I am sorry to say - but the treatment for this is having the colon
removed.
> >> >
> >> >Hope this helps some
> >> >
> >> >Tina
> >> >
> >> >At 07:01 AM 11/1/99 -0600, you wrote:
> >> >>Hi everyone,
> >> >>I am 7 weeks post-op from my 2nd surgery. I was Dx with
> >> >>adhesions a few weeks after the surgery (just from my
> >> >>symptoms, and adhesion-prone history). The pain I had
> >> >>associated with the adhesions is bearable actually, and
> >> >>not as bad as it was when it was Dx'd. I know I have them
> >> >>in my pelvic area and also some reformed adhesions on my
> >> >>upper right abdomen/intestine area (I can feel the pulling
> >> >>and pain in there more than anywhere else, and that's where they
removed
> >> >>the adhesions on my last OP).
> >> >>
> >> >>I have had severe bowel problems since this 2nd surgery.
> >> >>I have been in the ER twice because of no BM, yet alot of pain. Both
> >> >>times I was told I was constipated/impacted and sent home with enema
and
> >> >>laxative instructions. Eventually
> >> >>things would move again, but never back to normal and only for a day
or
> >> >>2, then I'd go another week to 10 days with no BM and the pain
increased
> >> >>with time.
> >> >>
> >> >>I don't vomit, but do feel nausea and lessening of appetite as time
goes
> >> >>on. I don't get fevers. I just get alot of pain which makes me
sweat
> >> >>almost constantly. I do pass gas, sometimes painfully sometimes not.
> >> >>
> >> >>Am I being a hypochondriac thinking I might have a bowel
> >> >>obstruction high in my upper intestines? I mean this long after
surgery
> >> >>my bowels should be working normally again, barring any problems
> >> >>correct? The last time I was in the ER I had an xray done. I hadn't
> >> >>moved bowels in 6 days. The xrays showed stool only in the upper
> >> >>intestines and nothing at all in the lower intestines. Why wasn't it
> >> >>moving down into the lowers? Why didn't they think it was obstructed?
> >> >>
> >> >>I get alot of pain when I eat, my stomach and chest hurts bad. I
have
> >> >>no heartburn yet they think I might have an ulcer because of the pain
> >> >>and nausea with all meals. Every time I eat, it's a struggle not to
> >> >>throw up, for hours after. The pepcid (40 mg a day) seems to help
with
> >> >>that, but not always.
> >> >>
> >> >>Just curious what your opinions are on this?
> >> >>Gina
> >> >>
>
> --
> I just had surgery 2-05-02 for a bowel obstruction caused by adhesions. I
woke on the 2-04-02 with some pain in my RUQ, I had had a BM on that Monday
and really had no concerns until Monday night when I started throwing up, I
threw up for 12 hours and finally had to go to the ER. I had an x-ray which
showed I had a bowel obstruction due to adhesions. I then had a cat scan to
confirm and went straight to the OR for surgery So there are not always
warning signs that something is wrong
>