Bowel Obstruction Surgery Expectations

What is his diagnosis? Difficult to respond without more detail.

Bowel obstruction ?

Hi @crn , Does your brother have an ostomy while his bowel is healing? It takes some getting used to. and is rather awkward at first. You all should initially be prepared for "accidents" and mood changes. He most likely will have received some nutrition guidance which is important to adhere to. I may be going down the wrong path, but I wish him - and you - well!

I had a bowel obstruction in 2005. My surgeon found that I had a genetic defect called Malrotation of the Intestines. This is when the bowels and other organs of the fetus do not turn the correct way to turn into the fetus. Simply put, they went in backwards. This required quite extensive surgery. Since then I have been hospitalized three times with a blocked bowel that did not require surgery. I have learned to eat mostly soft foods and never, ever eat meat unless it is ground meat, like hamburgers or sausages. Fruits and vegetables are fine, it's hunks of meat that will block me up. I have adjusted just fine to my new diet. The doctors told me I could eat anything, but I soon found out that was not true. Hence the three visits to the hospital.

Thank you so much for your comments. Sorry you had to go through this obstruction so often. I have been through it once, myself, without surgery. It resolved itself. In my case and my brother’s case, it was determined the obstruction was caused by an adhesion of scar tissue to the stomach lining causing a small intestine blockage. Mine resolved on its own, but he had to have surgery. Good to know your dietary restrictions. Thank you.

He does not have an ostomy but I do appreciate your comments.

I'm so happy you didn't have to have any surgery! I hope your brothers' operation fixed the problem!

I had a full colectomy 4 years ago after a perforated bowel emergency surgery from years on struggling with UC. I know have a J pouch and have had 8 bowel obstructions since then. I have a minor surgery 4 months ago to clear a kink in my bowel. Since then I have been hopsitalized once with a bowel obstruction and recently in the last week have had 2 that have passed while at home. The last time I was in the hospital they talked about surgery to clean up scar tissue. I am 35 and a very active person and am very tired of this happening every 3-4 months. Would you suggest the surgery to clean up the scar tissue?

Hi, mjohnson37 @mjohnson37, I had the same experience. The J-pouch was new in 1981. My doctor trained at Mayo, and Mount Sinai in NY. I had my J-pouch for 36 years until it finally gave up the ghost. Bowel obstructions were my nemesis as well. The obstructions were primarily food-related. I ended up in hospitals in Chicago and the big island of Hawaii. I learned not to fear having an NG tube inserted. A year or so after the surgery, my surgeon tweaked the pouch. I don't know if he was concerned with scar tissue at that point. If scar tissue can be cleaned up, I would recommend it. I always thought that messing around with scar tissue and adhesions brought on more of the same. Scar tissue has been an issue for me when it came to prostate cancer, cardiac bypass surgery, and while hoping to be a candidate for a kidney transplant. I'm twice your age, and while I've had these issues, I'm still living a strong, vital life and wish the same for you.