Reoccurring Bowel Obstructions due to adhesions

Posted by elewis23 @elewis23, Feb 8, 2021

I had pelvic surgery roughly 10yrs ago, in August 2019 I had my first bowel obstruction caused from adhesions. I’m May of 2020 I had my second bowel obstruction due to adhesions, this surgery was much worse. My surgeon tried laparoscopy but had to stop and do a mid line incision because of how dense the adhesions were. She accidentally nicked my intestines which caused a infection, long story short I spent two months in the hospital. Fast forward to January 2021 I had appendicitis and once again another surgeon knowing I had adhesions tried avoiding the area we thought was the worst. But he made several small incisions and nicked my intestines. I ended up with abcsesses and spent almost a month in the hospital very sick.
My question is are their other people going through similar problems? Did anyone ever warn you about the possibility of adhesions when you had your first surgery? Does anyone know about anything that will help stop the recurring bowel obstructions caused by adhesions?

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@susanh824

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.

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I'm very sorry to hear that you are suffering with adhesions too. Please let me know if you go to a massage therapist, and if it helps. I'm going with my daughter to SF for a short trip, and asked my doctor which was the best hospital there. Better safe than sorry!

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Thank you. I probably won’t go to one because I’m already swimming in copays that I can’t afford. But it’s nice to know that there are massage therapists who specialize in adhesions. Have a wonderful trip!

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Hi susan824,
I'm sorry to hear about your bowel obstructions, I've been there and it is certainly not fun.
Can you tell me how you go about finding a massage therapist who treats adhesions. I'm interested in doing this and I don't know where to start. Good luck and I hope your situation can be improved.

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@elewis23

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

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I have had two obstructions after my appendix ruptured and sepsis in 2015. I have also had many obstructive episodes that didn’t require surgery. In 2017 I had adhesiolysis. Now I have a mobile cecum with bascule probably due to adhesions.
Adhesions are very strong. They are basically scar tissue. Most professionals don’t believe massage can remove them or cure the adhesion issues.

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@judychurch

I'm very sorry to hear that you are suffering with adhesions too. Please let me know if you go to a massage therapist, and if it helps. I'm going with my daughter to SF for a short trip, and asked my doctor which was the best hospital there. Better safe than sorry!

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Thank you, I’ve been trying to find a PT who treats people with adhesions. In Alaska I have not found anyone. I’m still searching. I will keep you posted!
I hope your trip to SF is enjoyable. I’m going Las Vegas in May also, I’ve never been… I don’t even gamble but there is so much to do besides gamble. I also plan on knowing where the best hospitals are. It’s sad we have to travel this way and just can’t enjoy!
Edihj

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@elewis23

Thank you, I’ve been trying to find a PT who treats people with adhesions. In Alaska I have not found anyone. I’m still searching. I will keep you posted!
I hope your trip to SF is enjoyable. I’m going Las Vegas in May also, I’ve never been… I don’t even gamble but there is so much to do besides gamble. I also plan on knowing where the best hospitals are. It’s sad we have to travel this way and just can’t enjoy!
Edihj

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There is a place called Clear Passage in Florida. I am not convinced that it works. Insurance will not support them and their fee is upwards of $5000.
My feeling is if this worked, wouldn’t insurance be covering this instead of surgery?

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I actually read about Clear Passage and have talked to several professionals about them. But I don’t know about you but I’ve been told straight up that adhesions don’t hurt?!’ They obviously have not been in my shoes.
I am trying as many different things to relieve pain..yoga, tai chi, acupuncture..I’m looking fir professionals who understand. I will be traveling down south this fall and hope to find a Dr or Dr’s in Seattle who can help. I may have something similar to a stint put in a narrowing spot in my intestines to hopefully help with blockages. I’m just learning about this so I’m not really knowledgeable about it yet.
I’ll post more information as I learn more.

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@docmeehan

Hi susan824,
I'm sorry to hear about your bowel obstructions, I've been there and it is certainly not fun.
Can you tell me how you go about finding a massage therapist who treats adhesions. I'm interested in doing this and I don't know where to start. Good luck and I hope your situation can be improved.

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My gastroenterologist offered to refer me to one. He is with a big university (Ohio State). Perhaps you should contact doctors that are affiliated with large universities. Good luck!

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I am new to this forum and feel compelled to share my experience. After hysterectomy in 2016 I was back a week later for SBO emergency resection. Which was followed by many complete and partial blockages at home and various hospitals. A few while away on vacation. I get the angst of it all. The mental stress the ng tube!! And the pain!! No longer having the luxury of eating what is considered healthy for most but may cause another trip to the hospital. So much time looking into solutions which may or may not help. One new thing I am doing since my last complete obstruction which did thankfully clear up on its own is Castor Oil Packs. External. With organic cotton cloth and heating pad over that for an hour and the cloth still overnight. Load it on. Slow transit is something I work on daily. Yoga really really does work to help ease the adhesions. Nothing but surgery will fix but that is the conundrum ~ as you all know it causes them too. My plan is if I have to do surgery again (last one was 2020) but I did recently have a complete block out of nowhere plan is to right away start with the pelvic manipulation with a really great therapist which I haven’t found yet. I think it’s really important to do right after surgery well maybe the 6week wait or whatever. Just not years later. But idk maybe it helps them too. Still trying to figure it all out. Clear passage has been on my radar just the cost of it is a deterrent. Would love to hear if it has worked. Like an MRI before and after this treatment. Wondering also if this could make it worse? Idk. Different for everyone I’m sure.
This is so helpful to know I’m not alone!!

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