Bowel obstructions caused by adhesions following abdominal surgery

how did they was adhesion di they surgery to find out?

I continue to have sbo's post resection of bowel and want to know what Mayo in Rochester MN can do for me, as I have been transferred there multiple times for treatment.

Hi @kag13, sorry to hear about your multiple bowel obstructions. Connect is filled with other members just like you, who have questions about treatment or want to share there medical journey. Unfortunately, the members here aren't qualified to diagnose conditions, provide second opinions or make specific treatment recommendations through this platform.
If you would like to seek help from Mayo Clinic, please call one of the appointment offices (Arizona: 480-301-8484, Florida: 904-953-0853, Minnesota: 507-538-3270) or request an appointment online: http://www.mayoclinic.org/appointments.

Can you share a little more about your predicament and I could perhaps introduce you to some members of the community, like the one on this discussion?

Hello I'm new here and I too have been looking for answers for some time. I had intestinal surgery in 2015 and I though I was good as new but that was not the case, the first year was tough I was in the ER all the time for bowel obstruction and I was getting frustrated I had to learn how to eat and how much thru out the day. I still visit the ER aleast once a year. This past March I was in for 7 days for obstruction again but now I also have some sort of oral auto immune have that for two yrs nobody knows what type so again I'm on my own doing research and taking tips here and there and applying it to my situation. I'm just looking for support and tips and trying to survive.

I, too, had a bowel obstruction following hip surgery and after numerous other abdominal surgeries. I was hospitalized for several days and had an NG tube inserted…yikes most awful!…before the doctors decided to do surgery. That proved to be successful but I now have a Lumbar/ Flank hernia which I attribute to the previous issues. I take Miralax daily which is helping to control things. The doctor does not want to do surgery on the hernia as that type if hernia is very difficult to repair. Any new information about either the bowel blockages or the lumbar hernia would be helpful.

Hello, I was in shock when I read your message. I too have been having bowel obstructions since 2013 after Uterine Cancer Surgery. I had to go to the ER in January as the pain was so bad from the obstruction. It is just so strange that I also have Oral Lichen Planus, which is an auto immune disease. I am now wondering if the Oral Immune Disease is related to have all those bowel problems. Just weird that both of us are suffering with both problems. I would really like to keep emailing you to see how you are doing. I too have been unable to get any answers. My Dermatologist gave up on me as nothing was helping my Oral Lichen Planus. Take care, Judy.

I had a bowel instruction out of the blue when I was 25 years old. It was extremely painful and I had to have emergency surgery (NG tube and all!) Many adhesions were removed. I had never had previous surgery except for a shoulder repair for a dislocation. So these adhesions were a big mystery to me and my doctors. Where did that scar tissue and those adhesions come from? No one knew. I recovered fully and did fine until 4 years later almost to the very day when I had another obstruction, again followed by emergency surgery. I got very good care at Johns Hopkins and they seemed to think that this obstruction resulted from the first surgery. That made perfect sense to me and I recovered uneventfully once again.
I had GI problems off and on since high school which included intermittent nausea and diarrhea accompanied by malaise, Fast forward many years after the 2nd SBO surgery and I started having many days at a time where I was very sick with nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. This started in about 2013. In 2016 I had to stop working (as a psychiatric nurse) because of this. I was miserable (hospitalized several times where nothing was resolved) until about the end of 2017. I finally went to Mayo Clinic (Phoenix) and went through many different tests. I am still being seen there and am receiving excellent care from my doctors. The doctor I have had an idea that I might be suffering from Crohn's Disease! Since Crohn's is an autoimmune disease, that could very likely account for the mystery of the initial scar tissue in my small intestines as well as all the GI problems I had for so long. I am presently taking Entyvio which I receive at the clinic (Infusion) every 8 weeks and my symptoms are considerably better. Incidentally 2 markers for Crohn's were identified in a test at Mayo Clinic.
It is wonderful to at least be able to put a label on what was going on with me and to have the mystery of my etiology of those initial adhesions solved! I am happy to say that I am doing well. I do have scar tissue but I will take it as it comes.!

Thank you so much for messaging. I am so glad that you finally had some answers from the Mayo Clinic in Phoenix and now doing well. Would love to try going there or the Mayo Clinic but I live in Canada, so not sure if any of the medical bills would be covered. I have a terrible diet as I am always afraid that some type of food is causing my obstructions. I live on chicken and carrots all week as I think that those two don't bother me. On Saturday I usually treat myself to a plain pizza, no sauce. I wish that I knew if is something I am doing wrong is causing all of these obstructions. I have no idea, even after all these years. I have diarrhea all the time, this has been going on for almost ten years. How is your diet right now. Do you restrict most foods or are you able to eat a variety of foods. Thanks again for messaging. Hope that you are doing well. Judy.

Try this therapy …

I have suffered from this condition for more than 30 years, the result of numerous abdominal surgeries. I have been hospitalized (with NG tube etc, but no surgical intervention) a few times, and I have had many, many attacks that I've managed on my own. I am very sympathetic to your condition - it is awful.

Things I have done to prevent attacks: 1. I follow (mostly) a low residue diet and I have stopped eating things like fibrous vegetables and fruit, meat, whole grains etc. 2. When I feel like I may be getting into trouble (eg feeling bloaty, constipated, or in mild abdominal pain -- my signals that I am headed for trouble) I switch to clear liquids for a day and then start to add in a few more solid foods. I also reflect on what food may have caused my issue. I discovered, for example, that I can't eat sesame seeds when I had a particularly nasty attack. They are now on my DO NOT EAT list...3. I move around A LOT... exercise, walking, stretching... 4. I use a heating pad on my abdomen every night to relax... 5. I try to eat very slowly and chew well. I also eat small meals more frequently so I don't feel like I am overdoing it.

I hope these tips may be helpful... I am sure that others who suffer from SBOs will have more advice. Good luck.. and at least you know you are not alone!