Adhesions affecting digestion and causing pain

Posted by Suzanne @suzanneb, Jan 6, 2020

Has anyone had a laparoscopic procedure at Mayo (Rochester) to explore and see what the extent of their adhesions are? Anyone have success having them removed? If so, who did you see?
It makes me very nervous to think about surgery since that is likely what caused them, but my quality of life 4 years in has gotten to be poor as pain keeps me from basic activities. I'd love to talk to a doctor about it to see what they think.

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nooral | @nooral | Jun 28, 2023

In reply to @nooral "Hello, I am 39 years old female with a history of malrotation, bowel obstruction and adhesion...." + (show)

Also can anyone with adhesion tell me if they can exercise or not? What kind of exercises they can do please?
Thank you

llcc8800 | @llcc8800 | Jun 29, 2023

In reply to @nooral "Hello, I am 39 years old female with a history of malrotation, bowel obstruction and adhesion...." + (show)

I just met with a surgeon to see about laparoscopic adhesions removal (I’ve had multiple abdominal and pelvic surgeries and I just had a total hysterectomy last year with hours of adhesion removal). I’m in more pain now and the surgeon I met with said that the risks far outweigh the benefits, with the chance of developing a fistula very high and the chance of having bowel cut accidentally (I had my bowel injured during a past surgery). He also said that even if they remove the adhesions, they will reform.
It seems very bleak

lisag03 | @lisag03 | Jun 30, 2023

In reply to @llcc8800 "I just met with a surgeon to see about laparoscopic adhesions removal (I’ve had multiple abdominal..." + (show)

I had a SBO caused by adhesions about 3 months after my second bowel resection surgery (I had one and then another 10 days later due to a leak). They waited a week for it to resolve and it didn’t; so surgeon did a laproscopic repair. During that repair, he thinks he nicked my small bowel and I developed an abscess. This eventually turned into a fistula and they just couldn’t do any more surgeries as my body needed a break. I “lived” with the fistula for three months (it was an enterocutaneous fistula) and it was very hard in my body and my skin. I lost a lot of weight and felt awful all the time. It ultimately broke loose and perforated the bowel requiring emergent surgery. I became septic and needed a ventilator and was hospitalized for five weeks. Even though laproscopic is less invasive, they need a lot of space. I had more complications from that surgery than any of the other three open surgeries I had during that six months. My point is, don’t get fixated on avoiding open surgery if you have more chance of success with it.

llcc8800 | @llcc8800 | Jul 1, 2023

In reply to @nooral "Hello, I am 39 years old female with a history of malrotation, bowel obstruction and adhesion...." + (show)

Wow I’m so sorry that you had to deal with that. That sounds awful. How are you now?

I don’t even want surgery, I’ve had 9 previous ones and I don’t want another. I’m also basically living on liquids and in 24/7 pain. It just sucks to be told that it’s too much of a risk.

nooral | @nooral | Jul 1, 2023

In reply to @nooral "Hello, I am 39 years old female with a history of malrotation, bowel obstruction and adhesion...." + (show)

Sorry to hear that. I am on pain too but I do not take pain killers as it has lots of side effects. Honestly I get used to the pain it is weired for me if I did not have pain for hours! I think I will try to get used to my new life accepting to be on fluid and not exercsing. It is difficult but I will try to get used to it. Thank you.

judithclark | @judithclark | Jul 1, 2023

In reply to @nooral "Hello, I am 39 years old female with a history of malrotation, bowel obstruction and adhesion...." + (show)

This is indeed a sticky wicket. Who knew! My appendix ruptured on a cruise ship on the Atlantic Ocean in 2015. Upon being airlifted to the Azores, I had 5 hours of open surgery. Since then I had 4 more surgeries for this very reason and incisional hernias. After leaving the Azores, I had no idea what my life would be like.
Now my cecum is up by my left liver lobe. It should be in my lower right are. It could be that the adhesions have pulled the cecum out of place. I had an obstruction a week ago. Living in Reno, no surgeon has the expertise to handle my surgery since I have 2 meshes for hernias. I have an appt at Stanford with a surgeon in two weeks.

nooral | @nooral | Jul 2, 2023

In reply to @nooral "Hello, I am 39 years old female with a history of malrotation, bowel obstruction and adhesion...." + (show)

Sorry to hear that. I hope you will be fine.
Adhesion is complicated and the problem no one knows it is origin and no treatment yet the more surgery the more adhesion and it is very dense. I decided to go home and no more surgery to be done. Waiting for another obstruction or anything else. As long as there is faith and God, all of us will be fine. Take care of yourself. God bless you.

nooral | @nooral | Jul 2, 2023

In reply to @nooral "Hello, I am 39 years old female with a history of malrotation, bowel obstruction and adhesion...." + (show)

Can anyone please who is suffering from adhesion tell me please is he/she can exercise? I want to go back to the gym even if I have pain but I don't know what kind of exercises suitable for adhesion? Thank you.

judithclark | @judithclark | Jul 3, 2023

In reply to @nooral "Can anyone please who is suffering from adhesion tell me please is he/she can exercise? I..." + (show)

You can exercise all you want. In fact stretching can help. My issues is when I jostle my abdomen, I get nauseous. My cecum has also been pulled up by my liver.
If it doesn’t hurt to much, go for it!

dustindepp | @dustindepp | Jul 5, 2023

In reply to @nooral "Hello, I am 39 years old female with a history of malrotation, bowel obstruction and adhesion...." + (show)

I understand that this is frustrating for you, but it is important to remember that your doctor is trying to do what is best for you. They do not want to operate on you unless it is absolutely necessary, because surgery always carries some risks.
If you are not satisfied with your doctor's advice, you could always seek a second opinion from another doctor. However, it is important to find a doctor who is willing to listen to your concerns and work with you to find a solution that is right for you.
Regard: Crackshere

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