Yes, I believe I understand the feeling & pain you are trying to describe. I have recently had a five and a half hour surgery, during which time the surgeons spent an enormous mount of time untangling and detachinh my bowel from paces it had no business being! In fact wo loops of bowel had some how managed to loop around the top of my vainal vault and collect fliud in the space in between. this lead radioloists and my doctors to believe I was experiecing problems with re-occuring cysts because of an ovarian remnant. So far they haven't found any evodence of an ovarian remnant.
I still have at least three and a half hours of surery left to do on my left side, my surgeons described it as "cement city" and it also involves several major blood vessels and felt in unwise to continue the surgery as my body was showing signs of reaching my "I've had enough of this" and the doctors also felt it best to start tackling that area refreshed .... the longer surgery takes, the greater the risk of human error etc.... I appreciated the decision to stop! :-)
I still have some bowel problems, but that I believe is due more to the amount of oxycontin & oxycodone I am taking. Since coming home from hospital I have been very careful to always make sure that I keep myself well highdrated with plenty of fluids (especially water 6 to 8 glasses a day is best), eat fresg fruit (pears are particularly good) and plenty of vegies. I know there are many others here who cannot tolerate that kind of diet, but my doctors told me that for my over all health, it is most certsinly THE best diet to follow.
When I have those "distended" feelings that can be both uncomfortable and painful I do two things (if I am at home) firstly, I lay on my bed in a comfortable position, usually with a pillow between my knees sort of in a feotal position with my knees drawn up slightly, then I do my breathing exercise: Breath in through your nose for a slow count of 6 or 8, then hold you breath for a slow count of at least 4 to 6, then let out the breath slowly again counting for at least 4 to six. It s also a good idea to take a couple of normal breaths inbetween, otherwise you will find that you become a little light headed.
It is an unpleasant feeling, and if you get caught "outside your home" when this happens, then at least you can do the controlled breathing. Try practising it before your next attack occurs, and by then you will be confident enough to give it a good try.
I am not sure if you know this, but after my six weeks in hospital and that surery, an hour after my release from hospital my family & I were involved in a car accident. My husband has sustained some pretty severe injuries from it as well as stirring up some old injuries too. I have been teaching him some of my methods and it is funny to see the llok of wonder on his face when something works! LOL He has a neck injury - I have been living wih one since a car accident seven years ago, he has some rib and chest pains as well as a much more serious neck injury than mine.... he also HATES me saying to him...I wouldn't do that if I were you...because it will make this happen.... he always gets real grumpy when he does it anyway & what I said will happen does! LOL
This isn't an easy thing to deal with Shali, and wat works for me, might not work for you, but the great thing about the board and our new chat room is, that we can find out what each other does to ease this or that...it makes SUCH a difference. I also think in some ways there is also comfort in knowing that someone else has had a similar experience to you....because when you try and describe it to your doctor or a family member they look at you as though you have two heads! LOL :-)
Hope that helps a bit Shali....let me know if the breathing works for you ok?
-- Love and gentle hugs, Joanne Eslick Founder Australian Adhesions Support Group http://www.bombobeach.com Australian Co-ordinator of International Adhesions Society http://www.adhesions.org
-- I am not a medical person, and all my messages are based on personal experience. I am a fellow adhesions sufferer reaching out to help others.