Re: At the end of my rope
From: dparsa@pol.net
Sat Jan 29 21:30:55 2005
My doctor calls me a "walking time bomb." Isn't
that wonderful?
I cannot have a colonoscopy or even a sigmoidoscopy
because my bowels are so tied up with adhesions they
can't get the instruments inside!
I have had problems since 1966 when I had a ruptured
appendix and peritonitis. Since then I have had multiple
surgeries for lysis of adhesions and have had many bowel
obstructions from adhesions. Sound familiar?
I've been told that any more surgeries for lysis of adhesions
is extremely risky and not recommended. My doctor said my
bowels can be compared to a garden hose stuffed in a barrel
and then cement poured over it. Trying to do surgery through
that cement is extreeeeemly difficult. My girlfriend's sister
had the same thing. When her bowel obstruction didn't open
after several days they had to do surgery and she died!
She was only 38!
I have learned two very important ways to control pain from
adhesions:
1)It is absolutely mandatory that you keep the bowels open
with stool softeners and also with diet! Metamucil does not
work on me at all.
Forget it. My doctor only has me taking DSS stool softeners.
I usually take 350 mg.(one 250mg plus a 100mg) at bedtime and
may take 250 again in the morning and in the afternoon.
Another way to keep them open is to eat nothing but juicy
fruit (no bananas) before lunch. Plus 250 mg. of DSS.
2) Avoiding any gas forming food will lessen my pain.
3) Also, taking BEANO with problem foods or lactase pills
for milk products. But, you have to take lots of it. Don't
think you can take 2 or
3 BEANO pills. I may take 7 or 8 with a meal plus several
lactaid pills as well AND a couple GAS-X on top of that!
Many people don't realize that as they get older they
often become intolerant to milk products (except for
yogurt or goats milk). Even some vegetables that didn't
cause gas when you were younger begin to cause gas (and
pain) as you get older. The reason being that as we get
older our bodies no longer create needed enzymes for
digesting certain foods and it creates gas instead. Gas
forming food on top of adhesions can result in terrible
pain and obstruction. Your pain is often because of the
food you are eating. Also, overeating can cause pain
as well.
One more thing: Have you noticed how old people prefer
to eat their big meal at noon? It's because as we get
older our bodies (and bowels) become sluggish as the
day wears on. When older people eat a big meal at
night they feel full all night, have indigestion,
bloated, etc. It's worse for those of us with
adhesions. Don't eat a big meal at night! All my
bowel obstructions have been at night!
Once I learned to take BEANO and Lactase (vegetable
and milk enzymes) and Gas-X, I no longer need pain
pills!! Besides, pain pills are so constipating
and that's the last thing anyone with adhesions
needs!
Be sure and take your stool softener at bedtime
with lots of water. Forget the surgery!!! It can
kill ya!
> Sender: molleebrown@verizon.net (Christina Brown)
> Subject: At the end of my rope
>
> I have had as many others here multiple operations.
> 27 to be exact.
>
> Most all laporoscopies, starting at age 15, I am now
> 36 I suffered from Endo, and ovarian cysts the size of grapefruits
> throughout my teens, and twenties.
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