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Bowel obstructions caused by adhesions following abdominal surgery
Digestive Health | Last Active: Jan 18, 2023 | Replies (48)Comment receiving replies
Beginning in Sept. 2013 I started having horrendous abdominal attacks. Finally one landed me in the hospital with a small bowel obstruction.They inserted an NG tube and watched me for 3 1/2 days. Avoided surgery, but I have an attack almost every month now.
I went for over 2 years undiagnosed (saw 5 GI doctors). Finally in Oct. 2015 I went to the ER by ambulance, they finally found I have small bowel adhesions. This is what caused the obstruction.
I had 30+ pelvic radiations back in 2003.
They say surgery can cause even more adhesions. I'm at my wits end. Living in fear of an episode every day.
I even went to Florida (I live in NJ) for a week to try Clear Passage. It's a non invasive therapy for this problem. Sadly, I had an attack within 5 weeks of coming home. I will continue trying the exercises etc I learned, but I'm terribly disheartened.
Has anyone had any luck with anything?
By the way I've had 21 attacks in 32 months.
Replies to "Beginning in Sept. 2013 I started having horrendous abdominal attacks. Finally one landed me in the..."
Welcome back @idnas. I really appreciate your coming back to comment on Connect. We've updated it a lot since you were here last and the discussions in all the groups are very active. Hope you'll have a poke around and join in again.
how did they was adhesion di they surgery to find out?
Completely sympathize as after multiple ectopic pregnancies and surgeries I found myself in the same situation. I have had multiple attacks, hospitalizations and the dreaded NG. I try to follow a low residue diet, have given up most foods I love, eat small meals... and slowly... I exercise, I use a heating pad on my abdomen every night... and pray that I haven't accidentally done something wrong to trigger another attack. It is not fun. I haven't found anyone who can suggest alternatives ... thought about Clear Passage, but I was unsure and you've confirmed that it is not a guarantee... My only consolation is that with this group, I am not alone.
My heart goes out to you. You are a mirror image of me. I live in Australia & also had radical radiation treatments 30yrs ago for cervical cancer. My bowel is a mess from radiation. Have had several bowel obstructions over the past 2 yrs. Recently had to have ngt put in to help unblock it. My specialist suggests to have exploratory surgery to see if the adhesion can be taken from the bowel to give some quality of life. Have lived miserably for years. Hope they find they can actually remove adhesion so I can at least eat more than soup, bread & crackers!!
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I have great sympathy for your situation. Even though I've been lucky - since I was hospitalized 16 months ago - and not had an episode since, I get scared every time I feel the slightest discomfort in my belly. The thing I find so frustrating is that I have gotten such a wide variety of advice: eat more fiber; avoid greens and fiber; eat 6 small meals a day. Then, I've have 2 doctors tell me that what I eat, or don't eat, if I'm going to have an obstruction, I'm going to have one - it's just bad luck. I hope you will find what works for you!