Bowel obstructions caused by adhesions following abdominal surgery

I think I have a bowel obstruction. My BM's are not normal. I'm really not constipated but I have to push & rock back & forth on the toilet in order to go & it is all the time. I had a MRI but everything is showing normal. I really believe it is an obstruction from my dense adhesion's that are plastered in every direction on the remaining organs that are left bc I have had a hysterectomy years ago. I also have history of endometriosis which has caused all the scar tissue from previous surgeries. Thank you for your info. I just worry all the time about a blockage.

Hi Lori, I’m new to connect and found this discussion group just doing a wide reaching search looking for answers. This past Friday I had an episode and recognized what was coming about 6pm. I knew because I was hospitalized in Feb for SBO. Never heard of it referred to as that and now after reading here for hours I realize that I’m a rookie compared to you and so many others here. I can’t imagine 35 episodes! OMG!!!
As a nubie here I emailed Theresa to ask her how to join this group and not hijack some else’s thread. I write around 4am so I haven’t heard from her yet. Maybe you can help me find the way to join and post here?
I would like to say to you as I will in my own thread that as incredibly informative everyone’s thread is I find it interesting that some of the things that I think are important and I’d like to know about are not included in anyone’s posts. Rest assured I drive doctors CRAZY with my questions, theories, stories, and speculations!
So not to hijack your post may I ask what your diet was like leading up to your first episode? And a little more personally ( you don’t need to answer if it’s too personal ) can you say something about your BM habits? I think this is an important piece of information. I’m blessed and cursed with a memory that freaks most people out. I told people that I could “ read “ my bowel movements and for years I was told that no one talked about BM’s more than me. That said, when I became “ a health nut “ my BM’s were 99% the same everyday and the one part that I’ll tell you here is that after my first sip of coffee in the am I got the call and was in and out in less than 1 minute. The bathroom never smelled. I NEVER need to go in public or at someone else home unless I was staying over. Then in the am my “ routine “ as I called it was exactly the same.
Things changed a great deal when I was put on oxycodone for chronic pain. But I even figured that out after a while and got back to my routine. If I didn’t have a morning BM once a day I knew I was off and had to do something.
May sound strange but I think this part of the story is critically important just my opinion
Hope you’re well

Hello Bentley33, I too am suffering from multiple scarring from so many surgeries ( Gall bladder, appendix, Nissen fundoplication surgery, endometrial ablation, removal of one ovary at a time due to cysts, hysterectomy, bladder mesh implant due to hernia on the neck of bladder with prolapse, rectocele implanted, bladder mesh removal, Botox injections in the bladder for 6 months therapy ( bladder uncontrollable spasms/contractions) Interstitial cystitis with unexplained hematuria) finally bladder removal and with Ileal conduit urinary diversion surgery) CT Scans show thickening of parts of intestine and fluid filled sacks???
The pain every day from eating anything is unbearable...It's a every day decision/? to either sleep for couple days and not eat or eat and spend hours upon hours in the bathroom and Stomach awoken yo up so big looks like I'm 7-8 months pregnant??!!Have been to several diff GI's then referred to Vanderbilt Digestive Disease Center in Nashville TN... Test after test..medication changes..diet changes.. They finally told me " We can't help you,and surgery isn't a option here at Vanderbilt" BUT... we will gladly give you referral to Mayo Clinic. Went to PCP about the referral..I was denied!! Well with my PCP persistent as I am to get some kinda help/relief Mayo in MN taking 2nd look at my medical records and history
I just pray they don't turn me down again 🙏🙏

Hello @amyp304 and welcome to Mayo Connect,

I certainly can sympathize with your problems. Multiple surgeries and scaring produce a lot of problems with digestion. I have had three surgeries for carcinoid cancer in the upper digestive tract and also have digestive problems. We do have some members who have had success in dealing with this. I'd like to invite @thull and @nancybev to post about their experiences as well.

@thull had surgery at Mayo within the past year that was quite helpful to her.

I am glad to hear that your doctor is pursuing a referral for you at Mayo. It sounds like a good plan.

In the meantime, could you share the type of dietary changes you have tried?

Dr has me on low residue/low fiber diet. They have also now diagnosed gastroparesis, so I have an appointment with the dietician at Mayo in a few weeks. I am not expecting her to change my diet recommendations much. I did massage on my abdomen with I was dealing with the blockages due to the adhesions. 5 surgeries all within 14 months caused a lot of adhesions! I lived on Boost Breeze, when I could only have the clear liquids. Doing fairly well now, have gained back about 8 pounds of the 17 I lost.
I hope you get into Mayo and get some answers and some relief!

Hello Amyp304, I have had 2 surgeries for perforated appendicitis and then small bowel obstruction, very painful experience, I know how you feel. You may try massage your abdomen and foot bottom (refer a foot reflexology chart), I do a few times every day, it does help me a lot. Hope you will get help from Mayo, good luck!

Have been on FODMAP diet
Every day I have to choose whether to eat and be in pain or eat and within 10-15 mins I'm perched back on my thrown for hours in pain

Mayo turned me down second time 😪
Reason being they thinking I'm still going to Nashville Disease Center TN My Gastro Dr referred me to Nashville because he didn't have the " extended colonoscopy scope" been scoped, tested .. Yada yada yada... Now Nashville said they would gladly give me referral to Mayo..Communication errors somewhere!!?
I made a promise to my husband, mother, children, and my PCP Dr.. That I would not give up fighting for a cure or at least little relief.. I have head several bouts of severe depression and gave up on life and even tried to take it from me.. Cause I felt like a human ginney pig.. Being past from one Dr to another cause they couldn't help me..But my PCP Dr told me he promised thank he wouldn't give up on me if I didn't give up either.. I AM GOING TO FIND SOMEONE who can tell me what's going on inside me and possibly help find a cure

Well I have tried to comply with providing all the documentation requested to comply with the first denial
I contacted Vanderbilt to comply with the second denial that Mayo said I was currently being treated by local agency, Got letter Faxed from Vanderbilt stateing I ah no longer able to be treated at their facilities. Still no good enough for everyone at Mayo..
Now I'm going to try Cleveland Clinic. Having all my medical records sent tomorrow morning
Why? Why doesn't anyone listen to us? We know it bodies better than anyone. Have kept in nfo from my family about bleeding from rectum when I have bowel movement. I'm not going to ER cause so that want to do it stick ring into your house into your stomach.. Tearing ultra from my barrettes esophagus.
I'm drinking or of options folks. Idk what or where to go from here

I am wishing everyone luck and prayers 🙏 for ask your ailments. Mayo Clinic said they can't offer me appointment at this time. My PCP Dr has worked very diligently to help me get appt and for prior approval with insurance to travel out of state for treatment..
But I did get appt @ Cleveland Clinic for the 27th of this month.. I'm hoping and praying that I will finally get some results and maybe some relief to finally be able to have dinner at home with my family and not have to be in pain 10-15 mins after eating and taking up residency in the potty for hours.
I don't know if anyone else has had these kinds of issues and unbearable pain for years and no answers... Just 1 Dr. passing a patient to many other Dr's (9 Gastro Dr's in last 4 yrs) Very Disappointing and depressing, feeling hopeless..!!?!!
But I am not giving up... Hope there is a light at the end of this tunnel for me this time
Take care of yourselves and god Bless