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← Return to Medications for Temporal Arteritis/Giant Cell Arteritis (GCA)
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Medications for Temporal Arteritis/Giant Cell Arteritis (GCA)
Polymyalgia Rheumatica (PMR) | Last Active: Jul 7 8:52am | Replies (353)Comment receiving replies
@tootstilbury As you just mentioned adhesions from GI tract surgery, I'd like to invite @thull to this conversation. She has had a specific surgery at Mayo Clinic for that problem. Perhaps she can fill you in on that.
Was your surgery in the colon or in the upper digestive tract?
Replies to "@tootstilbury As you just mentioned adhesions from GI tract surgery, I'd like to invite @thull to..."
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I had 4 abdominal surgeries within 12 months. After the second one to reverse a temporary colostomy, I got a blockage in my small intestine from adhesions. I was in the hospital for 17 days.They opened me back up on day 11 to try and get to the blockage but the surgeon said the adhesions were so bad, it looked like a bottle of white glue had been poured over my intestines. They couldn’t do anything but close me back up. By day 15, they did another enema with contrast and that seemed to help open things up some, but I went home with a PICC line, on TPN and a drain coming out of my stomach. Not fun. Finally after about 10 days, and doing some gentle abdominal massage, things literally blew open, and I was totally cleaned out! I really believe the massaging of my abdomen helped kind of unstick my intestines and get things moving. I was very gentle, though, as I had a giant incision to deal with.
Unfortunately, about 2 1/2 months later, the diverticulitis came back, went to ER, got antibiotics, then home. 2 weeks later, back in ER and blockage was so bad, I had to be admitted. In for 7 days, then got to come home for Christmas on clear liquids only. Boost Breeze was a great find, good tasting, 250 calories and 9 grams of protein per serving.
I had to order it from Amazon. I would highly recommend it for the times when you need to just do clear liquids, but need some good nutrition. After Christmas was over, they brought me back in for more surgery and ended up doing Deloyers procedure. The adhesions were still so bad, they had to switch from laparoscopic to opening me all the way back up. They spent 2+ hours laising all the adhesions and perforated the small bowel in the process. Surgery ended up being 6+ hours. 5th surgery was March 1, 2019 to do a scar revision where they had closed the colostomy site. With the 3 & 4th surgeries, it had started pulling and buckling that area and it became uncomfortable. Luckily, that was outpatient.
Feeling pretty good now, just careful with the diet. Low residue is what works best for me