Anyone had adhesions?

FAPMom47
FAPMom47 Member Posts: 68
edited March 2014 in Colorectal Cancer #1
I am having severe abdominal pain and I went to the ER. They did a x-ray and found nothing but some gas spots. But the pain is no better. I had someone ask me about adhesions and I have never heard about them. I have had a perm. ileostomy since 2006, so I am confused. I go to a cancer center on the 16th of April, I will ask them to found out why I am hurting. The doctors around here just let me hurt, because they can not give pain meds when they can't find what is causing it.




Much Love and Hugs
Jackie
«1

Comments

  • Monicaemilia
    Monicaemilia Member Posts: 455 Member
    #2
    Another opinion
    Jackie: You should not be in so much pain and have nothing done about it. How about speaking to the surgeon that did your original surgery? Monica
  • PhillieG
    PhillieG Member Posts: 4,866 Member
    #3
    Adhesions
    I did have a bowel obstruction caused by adhesions following an intense surgery back in the Fall of 04, about 2-3 months after my initial surgery. You could try giving it a Google and a second opinion is a good idea too.
    -p
  • FAPMom47
    FAPMom47 Member Posts: 68
    #4
    Monicaemilia said:

    Another opinion
    Jackie: You should not be in so much pain and have nothing done about it. How about speaking to the surgeon that did your original surgery? Monica

    Monica
    Thank you for responding, I have seen the surgeon and he can't find anything wrong. It is really getting on my nerves how they did this and can't fix it. I will probably be better of with the cancer center. I live in a small town, and the drive to the center will be worth it. They will give me something for the pain until they find out what is causing the pain.



    Much Love and Hugs

    Jackie
  • FAPMom47
    FAPMom47 Member Posts: 68
    #5
    PhillieG said:

    Adhesions
    I did have a bowel obstruction caused by adhesions following an intense surgery back in the Fall of 04, about 2-3 months after my initial surgery. You could try giving it a Google and a second opinion is a good idea too.
    -p

    Phil
    Thanks for the advice I am to the point of giving anything a try. I get so mad at the doctors for not helping me. They say I should not hurt, but I do and I just don't know what to do. I am going to a cancer center where I have gone before. The town I live in is small and the doctors have no idea what they are doing.




    Much Love and Hugs


    Jackie
  • neon356
    neon356 Member Posts: 137 Member
    #6
    I was plagued with adhesions
    I was plagued with adhesions and blockages for four years after my initial surgery and permanent colostomy. My surgeon was reluctant to do surgery for them as he felt that additional surgery to remove adhesions could just as easily lead to more adhesions. His thought was that adhesions often fix themselves with exercise and time. The constant blockages were caused not only by the adhesions which cause the bowel to kink and constrict flow of fecal matter, but that the radiation had caused a few sections of bowel to not have proper peristalsis. I finally did have surgery to remove the damaged bowel and adhesion and no problems after that. It doesn't sound to me that you're having blockage. That causes not only severe pain but terrible vomiting as well. Since the body can't get rid of bowel contents the normal way it tries to get it out the way it went down. It's been 3 years since your surgery and it seems to me that if you do have adhesion it's not going to go away by itself at this point. When you're having one of your bouts with this, a cat scan of the intestines with the barium cocktail should show any kinks or restrictions if any are present. I don't see why they're not giving you any pain meds. Percoset certainly can't do any harm except to cause constipation if you take too many. I'd definitely pursue the problem and try to get an answer. Good luck, .....Carl
  • FAPMom47
    FAPMom47 Member Posts: 68
    #7
    neon356 said:

    I was plagued with adhesions
    I was plagued with adhesions and blockages for four years after my initial surgery and permanent colostomy. My surgeon was reluctant to do surgery for them as he felt that additional surgery to remove adhesions could just as easily lead to more adhesions. His thought was that adhesions often fix themselves with exercise and time. The constant blockages were caused not only by the adhesions which cause the bowel to kink and constrict flow of fecal matter, but that the radiation had caused a few sections of bowel to not have proper peristalsis. I finally did have surgery to remove the damaged bowel and adhesion and no problems after that. It doesn't sound to me that you're having blockage. That causes not only severe pain but terrible vomiting as well. Since the body can't get rid of bowel contents the normal way it tries to get it out the way it went down. It's been 3 years since your surgery and it seems to me that if you do have adhesion it's not going to go away by itself at this point. When you're having one of your bouts with this, a cat scan of the intestines with the barium cocktail should show any kinks or restrictions if any are present. I don't see why they're not giving you any pain meds. Percoset certainly can't do any harm except to cause constipation if you take too many. I'd definitely pursue the problem and try to get an answer. Good luck, .....Carl

    Carl
    Thank you for your advice, I totally agree. I go see one of my surgeons April 16th in Winston-Salem N.C.. Which is a 4 hour drive from where I live. The doctors around here really have no clue what to do for me. And I am tired of them getting nowhere. The cancer center has to deal with these kind of things, so they will hopefully know what to do.

    Much Love and Hugs
    Jackie
  • PhillieG
    PhillieG Member Posts: 4,866 Member
    #8
    FAPMom47 said:

    Phil
    Thanks for the advice I am to the point of giving anything a try. I get so mad at the doctors for not helping me. They say I should not hurt, but I do and I just don't know what to do. I am going to a cancer center where I have gone before. The town I live in is small and the doctors have no idea what they are doing.




    Much Love and Hugs


    Jackie

    What should be and what is.
    Hi Jackie,
    I've had trouble with pain dating back to the first of my five operations. I still have residual pain. My Oncologist seems surprised. I just look at her and say "I've never had five operations before, how SHOULD I feel?" I never have gotten a straight answer. Whether it hurts less or I am just more used to it, I'm not sure but for crying out loud, I've been sliced and diced, should I feel euphoric? The thing that you have to try to keep in mind is that we are all different and we all react and respond differently to operations, chemo, pain meds...whatever. See if you can narrow it down but also remember that anyone can put anything on the internet, even if it's false information so be wary of what you read or what a friend of a friend of a friend said...
    Be well Jackie
    -phil
  • msccolon
    msccolon Member Posts: 1,917 Member
    #9
    FAPMom47 said:

    Carl
    Thank you for your advice, I totally agree. I go see one of my surgeons April 16th in Winston-Salem N.C.. Which is a 4 hour drive from where I live. The doctors around here really have no clue what to do for me. And I am tired of them getting nowhere. The cancer center has to deal with these kind of things, so they will hopefully know what to do.

    Much Love and Hugs
    Jackie

    Adhesions
    Jackie, I see you are going to Winston-Salem... I had my last surgery at Baptist in June '06. I will be going back for IPHC in May, Dr. Levine will be doing the surgery. I know I have a lot of adhesions, and I really have to be careful that I don't twist my abdomen around and tear them ... no taebo for abs! Other than that, I don't have any problems. As Dr. Levine said, when they open me up the third time, they will have to cut away the adhesions "of which there will be many" and I agree. They removed my omentum the last time, along with lots of other various organs, so I am sure there's a lot of stuff stuck together in there. I don't have any issues with bowel obstruction, nor do I have any pain from anything specific. I would definitely chase down what is causing the pain. Especially after reading what happened with Shayenne recently, where she was in the hospital with a bowel perforation; not saying you have one of those, I'm just saying don't let your doctors ignore it!
    mary
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    #10
    This comment has been removed by the Moderator
  • tootsie1
    tootsie1 Member Posts: 5,044 Member
    #11
    Me, too
    Hi. My surgery was in Nov. 2007. I was hospitalized several times in the year following the surgery for severe pain. I also had a couple of trips to the emergency room or doctor's office for the aame thing. Just in the last couple of months I've seen a gastroenterologist (at Baptist Hospital in Winston, by the way), who seems to feel the problem is caused by scar tissue trapping nerves near the incision site. She suggested capsacain cream. That really burned me, so I've stopped using it. She also said that if it didn't get better, I could have abdominal injections. Not really opting for that! Her office just sent me a postcard with another appointment time, and I'm debating. Think I'm going to call my family doctor (who referred me) and see his opinion about me not going. This gastro said that surgery would not be advised unless it causes a blockage, because surgery could cause more scar tissue. So there's the dilemma, and I'm basically trying to just deal with it.

    So, Jackie, I (literally) feel your pain. I'm so sorry. I just keep telling myself it beats the heck out of having cancer!

    *hugs*
    Gail
  • msccolon
    msccolon Member Posts: 1,917 Member
    #12
    tootsie1 said:

    Me, too
    Hi. My surgery was in Nov. 2007. I was hospitalized several times in the year following the surgery for severe pain. I also had a couple of trips to the emergency room or doctor's office for the aame thing. Just in the last couple of months I've seen a gastroenterologist (at Baptist Hospital in Winston, by the way), who seems to feel the problem is caused by scar tissue trapping nerves near the incision site. She suggested capsacain cream. That really burned me, so I've stopped using it. She also said that if it didn't get better, I could have abdominal injections. Not really opting for that! Her office just sent me a postcard with another appointment time, and I'm debating. Think I'm going to call my family doctor (who referred me) and see his opinion about me not going. This gastro said that surgery would not be advised unless it causes a blockage, because surgery could cause more scar tissue. So there's the dilemma, and I'm basically trying to just deal with it.

    So, Jackie, I (literally) feel your pain. I'm so sorry. I just keep telling myself it beats the heck out of having cancer!

    *hugs*
    Gail

    capsaicin cream
    yea, it would burn cause it's the acid from hot peppers! I was trying that for my knee pain and it totally burned like heck! Have you asked about Voltarin gel? I was given some for my osteoarthritis in my hands and knees and it really helps, but it's messy since you have to let it dry for an hour before you can wash it (not a problem on the knees, but definitely the hands!).
    mary
  • tootsie1
    tootsie1 Member Posts: 5,044 Member
    #13
    msccolon said:

    capsaicin cream
    yea, it would burn cause it's the acid from hot peppers! I was trying that for my knee pain and it totally burned like heck! Have you asked about Voltarin gel? I was given some for my osteoarthritis in my hands and knees and it really helps, but it's messy since you have to let it dry for an hour before you can wash it (not a problem on the knees, but definitely the hands!).
    mary

    Haven't heard of it
    Hmm...haven't heard of that. But since it has to dry for an hour, it might be annoying. I'd have to sit around naked for an hour while my cream dried. Don't mind me, Honey. I'm not looking for action, just waiting for this stuff to dry! *L*

    *hugs*
    Gail
  • msccolon
    msccolon Member Posts: 1,917 Member
    #14
    tootsie1 said:

    Haven't heard of it
    Hmm...haven't heard of that. But since it has to dry for an hour, it might be annoying. I'd have to sit around naked for an hour while my cream dried. Don't mind me, Honey. I'm not looking for action, just waiting for this stuff to dry! *L*

    *hugs*
    Gail

    LOL!
    Too funny! I can picture you sitting in your birthday suit, whistling, with your husband eyeing you from across the room!
    mary
  • FAPMom47
    FAPMom47 Member Posts: 68
    #15
    unknown said:

    This comment has been removed by the Moderator

    babs211
    I am not in pain daily, but hours at a time. If I do rest it does ease the pain some. But for some reason lately it is constant pain. I will find out more on the 16th I go to the cancer center in N.C.. Thank You fpr you time


    Much Love and Hugs
    Jackie
  • FAPMom47
    FAPMom47 Member Posts: 68
    #16
    msccolon said:

    Adhesions
    Jackie, I see you are going to Winston-Salem... I had my last surgery at Baptist in June '06. I will be going back for IPHC in May, Dr. Levine will be doing the surgery. I know I have a lot of adhesions, and I really have to be careful that I don't twist my abdomen around and tear them ... no taebo for abs! Other than that, I don't have any problems. As Dr. Levine said, when they open me up the third time, they will have to cut away the adhesions "of which there will be many" and I agree. They removed my omentum the last time, along with lots of other various organs, so I am sure there's a lot of stuff stuck together in there. I don't have any issues with bowel obstruction, nor do I have any pain from anything specific. I would definitely chase down what is causing the pain. Especially after reading what happened with Shayenne recently, where she was in the hospital with a bowel perforation; not saying you have one of those, I'm just saying don't let your doctors ignore it!
    mary

    Mary
    When I go to Baptist I see Dr. Howerton and Dr. Waters. They really explain things better then the Drs. in Shelby N.C. Where do you live? If you don't mind me asking?


    Much Love and HUgs
    Jackie
  • CherylHutch
    CherylHutch Member Posts: 1,375 Member
    #17
    msccolon said:

    capsaicin cream
    yea, it would burn cause it's the acid from hot peppers! I was trying that for my knee pain and it totally burned like heck! Have you asked about Voltarin gel? I was given some for my osteoarthritis in my hands and knees and it really helps, but it's messy since you have to let it dry for an hour before you can wash it (not a problem on the knees, but definitely the hands!).
    mary

    Voltarin Gel?
    I haven't heard of this either, Mary... is it a prescription cream and if so, what's in it (in case it goes by a different name up here)? Did you find it did help with the osteoarthritis in your knees or just so-so?

    Thanks!

    Cheryl
  • FAPMom47
    FAPMom47 Member Posts: 68
    #18
    tootsie1 said:

    Me, too
    Hi. My surgery was in Nov. 2007. I was hospitalized several times in the year following the surgery for severe pain. I also had a couple of trips to the emergency room or doctor's office for the aame thing. Just in the last couple of months I've seen a gastroenterologist (at Baptist Hospital in Winston, by the way), who seems to feel the problem is caused by scar tissue trapping nerves near the incision site. She suggested capsacain cream. That really burned me, so I've stopped using it. She also said that if it didn't get better, I could have abdominal injections. Not really opting for that! Her office just sent me a postcard with another appointment time, and I'm debating. Think I'm going to call my family doctor (who referred me) and see his opinion about me not going. This gastro said that surgery would not be advised unless it causes a blockage, because surgery could cause more scar tissue. So there's the dilemma, and I'm basically trying to just deal with it.

    So, Jackie, I (literally) feel your pain. I'm so sorry. I just keep telling myself it beats the heck out of having cancer!

    *hugs*
    Gail

    Gail
    I am sorry you are going through this. It's had to find people in my area that have the same "Cancer" I do. They are so crazy, they have told me to go to a breast cancer support group. I really don't see why? I have different problems. Thanks for the info I really appreciate it.

    Much Love and Hugs
    Jackie
  • msccolon
    msccolon Member Posts: 1,917 Member
    #19
    FAPMom47 said:

    Mary
    When I go to Baptist I see Dr. Howerton and Dr. Waters. They really explain things better then the Drs. in Shelby N.C. Where do you live? If you don't mind me asking?


    Much Love and HUgs
    Jackie

    digging out my paperwork
    to see if those doctors work with Dr. Levine ... I don't see them on the appointment sheet. There must be a TON of oncologists there, though! I live in Hudson!
    mary
  • msccolon
    msccolon Member Posts: 1,917 Member
    #20
    CherylHutch said:

    Voltarin Gel?
    I haven't heard of this either, Mary... is it a prescription cream and if so, what's in it (in case it goes by a different name up here)? Did you find it did help with the osteoarthritis in your knees or just so-so?

    Thanks!

    Cheryl

    Voltaren gel
    "Each gram contains 1% w/w diclofenac sodium". It did help quite a bit with my knees! I don't use it, though because really with my knitting, I have more problems with my hands than I do with my knees! In fact, I have a 100g tube that I haven't even opened! I never finished the samples my doc gave me since he must have given me 10 sample tubes!
    mary
  • msccolon
    msccolon Member Posts: 1,917 Member
    #21
    FAPMom47 said:

    Gail
    I am sorry you are going through this. It's had to find people in my area that have the same "Cancer" I do. They are so crazy, they have told me to go to a breast cancer support group. I really don't see why? I have different problems. Thanks for the info I really appreciate it.

    Much Love and Hugs
    Jackie

    support groups
    I'm with you there, breast cancer support and colon cancer support are completely different beasts! While the ladies are all very nice, the issues they face are so different than we have!
    mary

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