Hi, I've just found this website. I'm 32 and have a permanent ileostomy
for Crohn's; in 1994 I had my large bowel removed and the following year
had a proctectomy. About 3 years after that, as I put on weight, I
began to get adhesions pain, and at first I didn't know what it was
until I asked a doctor. They seemed to get worse as I put on more
weight; at most I have weighed 12 stone but am now 10 stone, although
I've also had problems with very irregular periods which are apparently
due to 1) having a stoma 2) weight fluctuations- and now before and
during a period the adhesion pain gets worse. Cold weather makes them
worse, as does sitting on anything outdoors on a cold day, or on damp
grass, etc. Heat seems to help but I'm not sure which painkillers are
the most effective; sometimes mefanamic acid (ponstan) works, or
aspirin, although with Crohns you aren't supposed to take too many of
those type of drugs-the ones that can cause indigestion and nausea (I
think). One doctor said my period pain was due to "pelvic congestion"
but didn't explain if that was to do with the surgery or not. I always
suffered badly with period pain even before the crohns surgery and
several months ago I had the worst period pain I'd ever had. However I
wonder if this was due to being on Efexor for 5 years which I have now
stopped and am on Cipramil; the efexor also made me put on a load of
weight.