Reoccurring Bowel Obstructions due to adhesions

Hi, thank you for replying. I'm sorry to hear that you're going through this. It's no fun.
Thanks for the tip about acupuncture.
I can't believe you and I are the only ones with abdominal adhesions.
All the best.

I am catching up with these posts; I think there have been multiple threads discussing SBOs, and what to do about them. I have gone to a pelvic floor specialist, who has suggested other PTs, since she did not feel that she could be helpful. I will look into her recommendations... Through a chain of recommendations, it has been suggested that I consider consulting a surgeon for lysis of adhesions, which, as you can imagine, scares me. Meanwhile, I watch what I eat all the time... I have occasional "pre obstruction warning pains" when I know I may be headed for trouble and immediately stop eating solids. This is not fun, but I am not sure what else to do. ... I wish all my fellow sufferers good luck and I will let you know if I find abdominal massage successful... if I can find the right person to do it.

Unfortunately, if they try surgery to remove your adhesions, it will just create more. After weight loss surgery, gallbladder removal and internal hernia surgery, I had so many adhesions that a reconstructive surgery was done. It took 7 hours and 4 pints of blood. I haven’t had a bowel obstruction since then.

I am so sorry to hear that. I am nervous/worried/skeptical about surgery... having had 10 or so abdominal surgeries over the last 30 years, you can imagine that it is something I don't really want to consider... but I will go through with a consult, at least, just to hear what they say.

I had abdominal lysis seven weeks ago and as far as I can tell I have gotten worse. There are fewer things that I can eat and I have more pain. The surgeon did tell me to wait six months before deciding if we were successful or not so I guess I would just be cautious about have lysis of your adhesions. I wish you all the best of luck in this weird journey.

I would appreciate it if anyone can tell me if they have had success with abdominal self-massage in relieving pain and loosening up adhesions. Thank you.

My gastroenterologist offered to refer me to a massage therapist who specializes in adhesion care. He is with a university medical center (OSU Wexner.) Maybe you could check into something like that. I’ve had bowel obstructions and extensive adhesion repair surgery, and know it’s not fun.

Oh my gosh, thank you so much for responding. I’ve never talked to anyone who has the same problem we have. I live in Alaska, it is a very unique state but medically we have few specialists. I am being referred to Seattle and will look for options there. Thank you so much for responding I don’t feel quite so alone.
Edith

Hello everyone. I had a bowel obstruction nine years ago because of malrotation of the intestines, which required Ladd's band surgery. It is, esentially, a birth defect (undetected until my late 50's). I have been hospitalized four times since then, not requiring surgery. But oh, the pain! And the ng tube! I just got out of the hospital five days ago and am now afraid to eat anything other than jello, hard boiled eggs, cream of wheat and Ensure - in very small amounts at a time. Has anyone else experienced malrotation, and if so, how are you doing? I am afraid this is going to be a lifelong struggle.

I had a bowel obstruction following a botched internal hernia repair. I have also had several partial obstructions. I feel your pain over the NG tube. I hate them! I’m now seeing a gastroenterologist for a pancreatic condition called EPI. He suggested that I see a massage therapist who specializes in massage of adhesions. I haven’t done it yet.