Bowel Obstruction Again

Hey Don....

I went for almost four years without a blockage, and now
I've had five within 3 months.

I have an ileostomy, but they can occur after any abdominal surgery.

They're usually caused by hernias or adhesions. Both of those
can keep the intestines from "floating" freely within the abdominal
cavity. When the intestine can't flex, it will twist or kink, and
that's where you get that lousy blockage.

Surgery will do that.... it's all the poking around in there, that
bruises the intestines and other neat squishy things. The bruised
areas try to "heal" and mend, and stick to other things that they
shouldn't oughta' be sticking to... ya'know?

Most of us that go through this crapola, have found ways to relieve
the obstruction ourselves. You can try massaging different areas
around the stoma, the belly, under the rib cage, etc.

I found that lying on my left side, or almost flat down on my
stomach, will sometimes start the gas flow process. Massaging
various areas will produce gurgling sounds, followed by the
filling of the pouch and the relief of the pressure inside me.

It's a matter of experimentation; you'll have to figure out what spot
to press on, that will start the process. If you can manage to find
the spot where the intestine is "hung up", you can often relieve the
kink quickly.

Once you've had abdominal surgery, you're forever prey to the
intestinal blockages. Things will move to where they don't belong,
and there just isn't too much you can do to stop that from happening.

Sometimes it's lifting the wrong way, or lifting too much weight,
sometimes a cough or sneeze, or sometimes it's just age....
and sometimes.... nothing is the immediate cause.... It's just
that adhesion or hernia that's finally keeping the intestine from
doing what it should.

Oh.... and surgery to "fix" an adhesion or hernia usually produces
more adhesions and hernias.... so try to manage this yourself, as
most of us have, until it gets so bad that you absolutely have to
get something done.

Me? I'm checking with a few surgeons next week (maybe). My
condition is becoming really annoying. I can't eat soup without pain.
I have gas all the time, pain 80% of the time, and I've become afraid
to eat anything. I fear more surgery, but there's a limit to how much
anyone can put up with. I truly hope you don't get this bad.

As far as cancer being the cause? Well..... if you have had abdominal
surgery, the chances are slim; the blockages, 95% of the time, are
caused by adhesions and hernias.

Welcome to the club!


Better health wishes for you!

John

John23 said:

Hey Don....

I went for almost four years without a blockage, and now
I've had five within 3 months.

I have an ileostomy, but they can occur after any abdominal surgery.

They're usually caused by hernias or adhesions. Both of those
can keep the intestines from "floating" freely within the abdominal
cavity. When the intestine can't flex, it will twist or kink, and
that's where you get that lousy blockage.

Surgery will do that.... it's all the poking around in there, that
bruises the intestines and other neat squishy things. The bruised
areas try to "heal" and mend, and stick to other things that they
shouldn't oughta' be sticking to... ya'know?

Most of us that go through this crapola, have found ways to relieve
the obstruction ourselves. You can try massaging different areas
around the stoma, the belly, under the rib cage, etc.

I found that lying on my left side, or almost flat down on my
stomach, will sometimes start the gas flow process. Massaging
various areas will produce gurgling sounds, followed by the
filling of the pouch and the relief of the pressure inside me.

It's a matter of experimentation; you'll have to figure out what spot
to press on, that will start the process. If you can manage to find
the spot where the intestine is "hung up", you can often relieve the
kink quickly.

Once you've had abdominal surgery, you're forever prey to the
intestinal blockages. Things will move to where they don't belong,
and there just isn't too much you can do to stop that from happening.

Sometimes it's lifting the wrong way, or lifting too much weight,
sometimes a cough or sneeze, or sometimes it's just age....
and sometimes.... nothing is the immediate cause.... It's just
that adhesion or hernia that's finally keeping the intestine from
doing what it should.

Oh.... and surgery to "fix" an adhesion or hernia usually produces
more adhesions and hernias.... so try to manage this yourself, as
most of us have, until it gets so bad that you absolutely have to
get something done.

Me? I'm checking with a few surgeons next week (maybe). My
condition is becoming really annoying. I can't eat soup without pain.
I have gas all the time, pain 80% of the time, and I've become afraid
to eat anything. I fear more surgery, but there's a limit to how much
anyone can put up with. I truly hope you don't get this bad.

As far as cancer being the cause? Well..... if you have had abdominal
surgery, the chances are slim; the blockages, 95% of the time, are
caused by adhesions and hernias.

Welcome to the club!


Better health wishes for you!

John

John
I am sorry to hear you are in so much pain.

You can join my club if you want...
9 obstructions by my last count. One bad enough to be hospitalized and surgery followed.

But, for the others, I took a page from their book: Drank fluids (to stay hydrated), and walked and walked...pushed like having a BM thru a spasm...lol...my childbirth training from 2 kids really helped on this...

I HATE NG tubes!!! Even the doctors hate them...lol...NEVER want another if I can help it!!! But, I agree with John...it's more likely to happen after any abdominal surgery (even C-section patients can get them). The bowel HATES to be messed with!!!

Hugs, Kathi

Sorry
So sorry that you aren't feeling well. Hoping that you get some relief soon. Good luck on the upcoming scan.

Kim

Glad You're Home
Hey try drinking hot tea and maybe putting a semi-warm heating bottle on your tummy. Another thing is sitting in the bathtub with the water covering your tummy. You are right, sometimes we just know what to do with ourselves better than the doctors. Glad you are feeling better though. Hot tea sometimes has a lot to do with getting things moving again. I drink Smooth Move Traditioanl Medicinals every day. It helps keep me regular even though sometimes I have the runs. At least I know I'm getting rid of my waste. It helps me big time. Good luck and hoping you feel better each and every day.

Kim

John23 said:

Hey Don....

I went for almost four years without a blockage, and now
I've had five within 3 months.

I have an ileostomy, but they can occur after any abdominal surgery.

They're usually caused by hernias or adhesions. Both of those
can keep the intestines from "floating" freely within the abdominal
cavity. When the intestine can't flex, it will twist or kink, and
that's where you get that lousy blockage.

Surgery will do that.... it's all the poking around in there, that
bruises the intestines and other neat squishy things. The bruised
areas try to "heal" and mend, and stick to other things that they
shouldn't oughta' be sticking to... ya'know?

Most of us that go through this crapola, have found ways to relieve
the obstruction ourselves. You can try massaging different areas
around the stoma, the belly, under the rib cage, etc.

I found that lying on my left side, or almost flat down on my
stomach, will sometimes start the gas flow process. Massaging
various areas will produce gurgling sounds, followed by the
filling of the pouch and the relief of the pressure inside me.

It's a matter of experimentation; you'll have to figure out what spot
to press on, that will start the process. If you can manage to find
the spot where the intestine is "hung up", you can often relieve the
kink quickly.

Once you've had abdominal surgery, you're forever prey to the
intestinal blockages. Things will move to where they don't belong,
and there just isn't too much you can do to stop that from happening.

Sometimes it's lifting the wrong way, or lifting too much weight,
sometimes a cough or sneeze, or sometimes it's just age....
and sometimes.... nothing is the immediate cause.... It's just
that adhesion or hernia that's finally keeping the intestine from
doing what it should.

Oh.... and surgery to "fix" an adhesion or hernia usually produces
more adhesions and hernias.... so try to manage this yourself, as
most of us have, until it gets so bad that you absolutely have to
get something done.

Me? I'm checking with a few surgeons next week (maybe). My
condition is becoming really annoying. I can't eat soup without pain.
I have gas all the time, pain 80% of the time, and I've become afraid
to eat anything. I fear more surgery, but there's a limit to how much
anyone can put up with. I truly hope you don't get this bad.

As far as cancer being the cause? Well..... if you have had abdominal
surgery, the chances are slim; the blockages, 95% of the time, are
caused by adhesions and hernias.

Welcome to the club!


Better health wishes for you!

John

Good Answer
"I politely declined and explained I could not eat at home just fine."
;-)

yep
I have now had 4 that I had to be admited into the hospital for in the last 6 months. Then I had two that I just stuck it out at home for. They sure do hurt like heck!!


Brooks