Adhesions

LindaK. said:

admitted to hosp with bowel obstruction, x-ray showed it
Trouble posting from my nook. X-ray this afternoon showed small bowel obstruction, most likely due to adhesions. Nasty Zng tube again for belly rest. Just in room an hour or so, we'll see what happens tomorrow if any more tests are ordered. Durgeon came in and didn't think anything was needed for emergency surgery now. Ct scan a month ago was clear and colonoscopy 12/17 was also clear. I wish the onc had ordered a pelvic x-ray a month ago and we could have addressed it then and he wouldn't have to suffer so much. I'm glad he's here, I figured we'd end up here sooner or later. Thanks for the info. Linda

hippiechicks said:

Hi there Linda .. I am sorry

Hi there Linda .. I am sorry to hear of your husbands discomfort and pain.  Hope the NG tube does its thing and helps with comfort.  

I did have a study while I had a small bowel obstruction.  I remember it not being very pleasant, and I was not able to get much of the contrast down.  The nurse was kind and understood.  I did the best I could.  It was good enough as they were able to see what they needed.  I did in fact have an issue with adhesions.  Belly rest and the NG tube plus TPN for weeks and weeks.  I did eventually end up with another very very long surgery to finally get things working again.  

My understanding is often with belly rest the obstruction will resolve without surgery needed.  The study will show what exactly they are dealing with for blockage. 

Keeping you both in my prayers for relief.  

Annabelle41415 said:

Adhesions

I'm sorry you ended up in the hospital but at least now they can determine what is best.  Adhesions can be very painful and cause major problems.  I've never had the study done but have had some adhesions which ended up resolving themselves.  Hoping that he feels better soon.

Kim

Well, we waited 4 hours this morning for the surgeon.  Plenty of useless (in my opinion) residents coming in and out and not doing a darn thing.  Finally the nurse called down to the surgical desk to see if he was on the schedule today.  Within a few minutes, a PA for the surgeon came up and said "You're on for 2:00 today"  Great, finally some action.  I left the hospital to come into work for a few hours. I barely got in the office and my husband was calling to say the surgeon stopped up and got on the computer in his room.  He said "I can't find the CT" and was having a fit saying "You've been here 6 days and no one has ordered a ct?"  Well, today's surgery is off until they do a new ct and he can look at it.  I guess it "may" be on for tomorrow.  Poor guy is getting so weak and still having lots of pains. Well, 3 different surgeons from his group have seen him EVERY day since last Tuesday and none of them ordered a ct.  I have asked just about everyone who comes in "How about some new scans?"  I have been sitting here seething but getting lots of work done.  I am waiting for the next call to say "You're husband's in surgery" or some other stupid thing.  I am so frustrated with the care (or non care) he has been getting.  This morning a resident came in and said "You're going to get prepped for the small bowel study" and he said "The hel%l I am" We looked up some info on it and I can't believe they would expect him to pass that concrete barium when he's having so much pain with no food or drink AND an ng tube.

Wait until they ask about the follow up survey.  He's had some great nurses, but several sub-par nurses also.  I just don't even know what to do anymore.  I'm hoping by tomorrow at this time, something will actually get done and he'll have some relief.  This morning our GP came in and said "Maybe it's a tumor" which kind of threw both of us for a loop.  He gets so loopy on minimal meds, I feel like I have to be there as much as I can.  I don't know how people do it alone or if they are really bad shape.

Thanks for letting me vent....

Linda

PatchAdams said:

Surgery for adhesions

Surgery for adhesions will just cause new or more adhesions.  I did read that stretching or PT can help in some cases but it hurts like crazy!  

Adhesions begin to form 3 -5 hours after surgery and 93% of people who've had any abdominal surgery have adhesions. They will not show up on any scans.

for today at 1 pm, that's the latest story anyway.  When I got back to the hospital yesterday all heck was breaking loose.  Darn residents were back in telling him again he was going to have the small bowel study.  No ct scan was scheduled yesterday afternoon and when he asked when he was going to have the test, they said the residents wanted him to have the small bowel study instead.  My husband demanded the darn "purple" team come back in.  They came in and he told they were fired, he wasn't going to deal with them anymore.  I said "We want to talk to the surgeon not you people" and the resident said "Well, I have a call in to the doctor and if he calls me back,,,,"  I said "We are demanding to speak to the surgeon, so you better call back and tell him that"  The surgical PA came back up within a few minutes.  Of course the surgeon was gone.  She tried explaining what was going on, which still isn't totally clear.  In the end, she said the results from a ct scan or a small bowel study will basically show them the same result.  My husband said he was willing to do whatever would help them the best to prepare for surgery.  They said they would do the small bowel study this morning and the surgery this afternoon.  I'm no doctor, but I can't imagine they would cut into him with all that crap in his system from a few hours earlier.  Anyway, he decided on the ct scan, which they did last night.  This morning 5 minutes after I left another surgeon came in and said the contrast almost stopped at his surgical point (from his colectomy 13 months ago) so they couldn't see much past that.  He is having the severe pains on the other side, but that could be referred pain. 

I don't know how much more my poor husband can take.  He is extremely weak and feeling so lousy.  He's ready for the surgery just to get some relief.  I guess if everyone thinks this is best and he's not getting any better, it has to be done.  How long can he be so weak and have that NG tube?  He needs some treatment to get him better.  I see him wasting away and I'm feeling so frustrated because I think the hospital care is sub-par.

After all the doctors come in and poke and prod his belly, he needs the pain meds because it becomes so painful.  This is a guy who doesn't even like to take Advil at home, so I know he's in a lot of pain.  He has said he's been in more pain this past week than his entire tumor blockage and colectomy surgery.  I just feel awful for him, no one should have to go through all this.  I just hope he's on the road to recovery soon.

Thanks for all the info

Linda

wolfen said:

Linda

So glad the surgery is over & all went well. Just sorry your hubby was in pain for so long as they dragged their feet.

Proud of you for not punching someone as you waited patiently. I truly never hit anyone, but did a lot of screaming over the years.

Luv,

Wolfen

herdizziness said:

Linda

I'm glad they went in and did the surgery and not the study, the study would have been comepletely useless, good call on needing the surgery.

So glad it appeared to be a dead tumor.

Hete's to you getting him home soon.

Winter Marie

 

I am at a loss for words for the treatment he received the first 7 days there, I am so sick of talking about it.  He is now in good care and will hopefully be feeling better every day.  He told the residents on the "Purple Team"  You Lost!  Now to wait for path results and next appointments with oncologist.

Thanks