1. < Digestive Health

SBO due to Adhesion

Posted by 19630831 @19630831, Sep 21, 2018

This is my first time reaching out to such an outlet but my frustration with my reoccurring issues is completely distressing me. I am a 55 year old woman who has just experienced an eighth SMO due to adhesions. This has happened throughout a ten year period. My first surgery was at 17 and mid life many additional surgeries. Has anyone gambled on having adhesions removed (even though the risk for more is high) as an attempt to curtail these episodes? It has been discussed each time I have been hospitalized yet when I sultatioday arrives I am convinced to waito for the time. I find theNG tube traumatic and have only had it placed once. I would appreciate any advise or thoughts from your experiences.

Thank you,

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Mentor
Teresa, Volunteer Mentor | @hopeful33250 | Sep 21, 2018

@sita
Good addition to this discussion, thank you!

REPLY
Mentor
Teresa, Volunteer Mentor | @hopeful33250 | Sep 22, 2018
In reply to @michrn "Yes thank you so much for your suggestions. I make smoothies with veggies and protein powder..." + (show)
@michrn

Yes thank you so much for your suggestions. I make smoothies with veggies and protein powder in the morning but need something I can take with me. The Atkins shake is a great suggestion. I dont have a GI doctor right now. Had one years ago but werent very helpful with IBS. Im trying a new drug called Constella for Chronic Idiopathic Constipation but maybe the barium test is a good idea. Thank you for taking the time to reply.

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@michrn I would encourage you to connect with a GI doctor again. Remedies suggested by others will not help you if your diagnosis is different. Will you make a call to a GI specialist?

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michrn | @michrn | Sep 22, 2018

Yes Ill have to get my family md to refer me..

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nancybev | @nancybev | Sep 28, 2018
In reply to @michrn "Question about bowel obstructions. I went to ER with all symptoms nauseau, vomiting, abdominal pain no..." + (show)
@michrn

Question about bowel obstructions. I went to ER with all symptoms nauseau, vomiting, abdominal pain no BM for over 1 week. CT was negative in April. Happened again for over 1 week . .can bowel obstructions be missed on CT? I've been ill since April and all tests and bloodwork are normal. Maybe I should try the liquid diet for several days? I have had stomach problems all my life but this year everything has escalated. Constant avdominal back pain is exhausting. Next step colonoscopy?

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@michrn , there is something called ideopathic bowel obstruction--I believe it mimics the symptoms of a mechanical bowel obstruction, but with no discernible actual blockage. You may want to google it. Good luck, and I hope you find some relief and answers!

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nancybev | @nancybev | Sep 28, 2018

@19630831 , I have had at least 30 adhesion-related small bowel obstructions from various surgeries over the past 45 years or so. So far I have refused the NG tube in the hospital, because all of the sbo's, although severe and horribly painful (and, of course, dangerous), have fortunately tended to resolve by themselves overnight. In the ER I just get pain meds, Zofran for vomiting, and fluids. I hope that I never HAVE to get the tube!
I had regular surgery when I was 12 or 13 to try to deal with the adhesions I'd gotten as an infant from surgery for an intusseception (I can never remember how to spell that!). That was in the mid-1970's, and probably eventually just made things worse.
Then, a few years ago, a laparoscopic surgeon pretty much assured me that he could permanently solve the issue with laparascopic lysis of my adhesions. I was desperate, so I went for it. Afterwards, he told me that he didn't think I'd have any more sbo's. However, I have had at least three or four since then. Perhaps results are different for different people, but based on my experience I wouldn't endorse surgery. For me, it was a waste of time and money, and my heart was broken when I realized that it had done no good!
There HAS to be a better solution...I wish someone would do the research and find out soon.

REPLY
1 reply
nancybev | @nancybev | Sep 28, 2018
In reply to @hopeful33250 "Hello @michrn I am sorry to hear of your current symptoms. I can understand that you..." + (show)
@hopeful33250

Hello @michrn

I am sorry to hear of your current symptoms. I can understand that you want some answers and a way to treat those symptoms.

Your question about whether a bowel obstruction can be missed on a CT scan is not something I could answer. You should really contact your GI doctor to see what he/she thinks about that. It would be a good thing as well to discuss your current symptoms.

Regarding the liquid diet, it has helped many of us, but there is no way to be sure it would work for you, especially since you do not know what is causing your problems. If you do decide to try it, get a lot of nutrition with a liquid nutrition product like Ensure, which will be high in protein. I also use the Atkins shake because I'm pre-diabetic and it is lower in carbs than some of the other liquid nutrition products, yet high in protein.

It sounds like a call to your GI doctor's office is an important next step for you. Having nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain and constipation for long periods of time does make it difficult to maintain weight as well as nutrition.

Will you post again and update me on your progress?

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@hopeful33250 , may I ask if you are on a permanent liquid diet? I've gone mostly liquids, smoothies, and soft, easy-to-digest foods, but I have been desperate enough to consider trying to stay on a liquid diet altogether--I know that diet doesn't actually prevent or cause sbo's caused by adhesions, but heavy meals of solid foods definitely make things a LOT worse if an sbo starts while the food is still in my stomach. I sometimes wish I could survive on nothing at all, so that I don't have to go through the misery of having food bumping up against a blockage!

REPLY
2 replies
Mentor
Teresa, Volunteer Mentor | @hopeful33250 | Sep 28, 2018
In reply to @nancybev "@hopeful33250 , may I ask if you are on a permanent liquid diet? I've gone mostly..." + (show)
@nancybev

@hopeful33250 , may I ask if you are on a permanent liquid diet? I've gone mostly liquids, smoothies, and soft, easy-to-digest foods, but I have been desperate enough to consider trying to stay on a liquid diet altogether--I know that diet doesn't actually prevent or cause sbo's caused by adhesions, but heavy meals of solid foods definitely make things a LOT worse if an sbo starts while the food is still in my stomach. I sometimes wish I could survive on nothing at all, so that I don't have to go through the misery of having food bumping up against a blockage!

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No,@nancybev.I only use liquids when I'm having a lot of pain. I do keep my diet light, both in the amount of food I eat and the type of foods.
It is different for everyone to find what works for them. Your doctor can help.

REPLY
sita | @sita | Sep 28, 2018
In reply to @nancybev "@19630831 , I have had at least 30 adhesion-related small bowel obstructions from various surgeries over..." + (show)
@nancybev

@19630831 , I have had at least 30 adhesion-related small bowel obstructions from various surgeries over the past 45 years or so. So far I have refused the NG tube in the hospital, because all of the sbo's, although severe and horribly painful (and, of course, dangerous), have fortunately tended to resolve by themselves overnight. In the ER I just get pain meds, Zofran for vomiting, and fluids. I hope that I never HAVE to get the tube!
I had regular surgery when I was 12 or 13 to try to deal with the adhesions I'd gotten as an infant from surgery for an intusseception (I can never remember how to spell that!). That was in the mid-1970's, and probably eventually just made things worse.
Then, a few years ago, a laparoscopic surgeon pretty much assured me that he could permanently solve the issue with laparascopic lysis of my adhesions. I was desperate, so I went for it. Afterwards, he told me that he didn't think I'd have any more sbo's. However, I have had at least three or four since then. Perhaps results are different for different people, but based on my experience I wouldn't endorse surgery. For me, it was a waste of time and money, and my heart was broken when I realized that it had done no good!
There HAS to be a better solution...I wish someone would do the research and find out soon.

Jump to this post

Visceral massage done by a good PT can gradually break up the adhesions. That worked for me for about 20 years. Good luck!

REPLY
Mentor
Teresa, Volunteer Mentor | @hopeful33250 | Sep 29, 2018
In reply to @nancybev "@hopeful33250 , may I ask if you are on a permanent liquid diet? I've gone mostly..." + (show)
@nancybev

@hopeful33250 , may I ask if you are on a permanent liquid diet? I've gone mostly liquids, smoothies, and soft, easy-to-digest foods, but I have been desperate enough to consider trying to stay on a liquid diet altogether--I know that diet doesn't actually prevent or cause sbo's caused by adhesions, but heavy meals of solid foods definitely make things a LOT worse if an sbo starts while the food is still in my stomach. I sometimes wish I could survive on nothing at all, so that I don't have to go through the misery of having food bumping up against a blockage!

Jump to this post

@nancybev
I would also like to add that while my diet isn't completely liquid, even the foods that I do eat are high in liquid content. Fruit like watermelon is high in water content. Here is an article from the internet regarding foods high in water content, https://oureverydaylife.com/286640-list-of-water-rich-foods.html

Do you have soups, etc.?

REPLY
1 reply
nancybev | @nancybev | Sep 29, 2018
In reply to @hopeful33250 "@nancybev I would also like to add that while my diet isn't completely liquid, even the..." + (show)
@hopeful33250

@nancybev
I would also like to add that while my diet isn't completely liquid, even the foods that I do eat are high in liquid content. Fruit like watermelon is high in water content. Here is an article from the internet regarding foods high in water content, https://oureverydaylife.com/286640-list-of-water-rich-foods.html

Do you have soups, etc.?

Jump to this post

@hopeful33250 , so far I haven't found a doctor who can answer my questions--that's why I'm here! 🙂 My diet at present consists mostly of juices, smoothies, soups, tofu, ice cream/popcicles, fruit, and gluten-free bread that I try to chew really well. (I seem to have a sensitivity to gluten, and I think it might make the sbo situation worse). The only real meal I eat is in the morning. I will keep your good advice to try to eat "watery" foods as much as possible too!
The problem is that when I get an obstruction even water doesn't seem to get through. If I have anything at all in my stomach when an obstruction starts, it's a bad situation (as I'm sure you all know!). So I try to eat stuff that can be digested quickly, to lessen the possibility that anything will get stuck behind an obstruction before I realize one is starting.

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