This is way helpful. Understanding can reduce the
fears. This sounds exactly like what happened to me
last night. My husband was crying asking me where it
hurt, (when I was on the latreen with my head in the
can) I could barely tell him. I said, "I don't know if
I have to poop or vomit, and I can't do either. That's
when the clam chowder came up (smelt worse than that).
I past out on the floor. My husband said he wshed the
vomit out of my hair. He was going to take me to the
hospital. But I was in too much pain to be treated
like a herd. Sit in a chair vomiting. I told him to
carry me to bed, then 2 hrs. later, It was better.
Till after dinner, (felt good enough after that to
eat). Then dinner bloated me to constipation again.
But, I passed that at midnight. woke up this morn and
had a bowel movement and a good day. less pain.
recuping well. Ate dinner tonight, then the bloating,
constipated feeling. It hasn't passed yet. It seems to
take a long time. Do you still think I should be
concerned. I figure if I can pass tommorrow morn,
too...then I won't worry about it. My husband insists
I tell the dr even though. He's maybe right? What's
the point if I feel better tomorrow, too? But, then
you say it happened two or three times to you. Within
what kind of a time period after surgeory? I'm keeping
this note for my medical reference folder. Thankyou
Sooo Much. And thanks to Kathy R., too. I appreciate
your thoughts and wishes. Love and hugs...Marianne.
--- Ginny Halpern <gingin99@home.com> wrote:
> Hi Marianne > > If I am reading your questions correctly, an "ilius" > or often referred > to as a "paralytic ilius" is very similar to a bowel > obstruction in the > type and intensity of pain.The symptoms also mimic > an obstruction in > that there is often no BM or passing of gas for > several days, bloating > and severe vomiting. But unlike an obstruction, > where there is an > actual blockage of the bowel by adhesions wrapped > around it or the > inability for air and stool to move through, it is > the part of the bowel > itself, referred to as the ilius that simply stops > functioning. > It literally becomes paralyzed. There is No > peristaltic movement to > help the food pass through and allow the gas to > escape. When you have > an "ilius" your bowels simply stop functioning. > There is often a backup > of stool into the stomach which is vomited out. The > pain can be > horrific and very similar to the pain of a complete > obstruction. I am > not sure what the actual reason is, but many > surgeons blame the long > term use of narcotics and opioids as well as > adhesions and other chronic > bowel diseases. > The treatment for an ilius is medical rather than > surgical, as would be > with an obstruction. usually you are admitted to > the hospital and an NG > tube is inserted to suction out any stool and bile > that is in the > stomach, as well as to keep you from vomiting. > You are also given IV fluids and pain meds and you > are not given any > food or liquids by mouth until peristaltic activity > resumes. > basically, they want the bowel to have complete rest > and once it has > rested for several hours to several days it simply > begins functioning > again and you feel 100% better and usually go home > shortly afterwards. > I have had 3 ilius episodes and no operations were > required. Bed rest > and the NG tube and pain meds was the extent of the > treatment. An ilius > can usually be seen on x-ray by a good radiologist. > > Laparatomy is the more major of the two bowel > procedures you are asking > about. It involves an inscision (under general > anesthesia) most often > from the naval to the pubic bone or slightly above, > for the express > purpose of examining your entire bowel and pelvic > region thoroughly. The > surgeon manipulates every inch of your bowel and > examines it for lumps > and irregularities. If you still have your uterus > and/or ovaries, all > of these organs are examined carefully as well. If > repair work is > needed the surgeon has complete access to the entire > abdominal region. > The inscision can be as long as 12 inches and > requires suturing or > stapling afterwards. Because of the extent of the > surgery you are > usually kept in the hospital for 3-5 days. Post op > pain is often more > intense because of the inscision and healing > process. Infection risk is > greater because the abdominal cavity has been > completely exposed to air. > > A Laproscope or Laprascopy is different. The > surgeon makes several tiny > slits in your abdominal area. As few as one or two > or sometimes four or > more, depending upon what he needs to do. The > inscision is only about a > half an inch or less in length. Then he or she > inserts the trocanter or > scope, inflates you with carbon dioxide until your > belly is roughly the > size of a basketball, giving him complete ability to > see inside a hollow > belly and visualize all of your organs without > having to open you up > from stem to stern. If surgery is required, he can > insert his surgical > instruments through the scope opening and operate > under microsurgical > techniques. Afterwards, the carbon dioxide is > removed from your belly > and with a few quick sutures, you are closed and the > operation is over. > Most usually you go home the same day after you have > fully awakened from > anesthesia and providing there is no medical or > surgical problem. > > This surgery is much easier to heal from and takes > less time and causes > less discomfort. But in the case of advanced or > severe adhesions, many > surgeons cannot perform a laprascopy because the > adhesions get in the > way of the tube insertions and the ability to > visualize all of the belly > is greatly reduced. > > I hope this helps. > > Hugs > > Ginny > > At Wed, 4 Jul 2001, marianne bolding wrote: > > > >What is an ileus, and what is the difference > between a > >laparotomy and laproscopy? I had a laproscopy for > an > >endo search and ended up with surgeory for an > >intestinal attachment to the ovary. Does that make > it > >a laporatamy? I guess after I ate a bowl of clam > >chowder tonight. I got really sick, vomited, (butt > on > >the can, head in the trash-graphic, but reality). > That > >pain was the worst pain I've had since recupe. My > >insides still feel twisted when I walk, and the > >stitches really hurt, if I sneeze or cough. I > really > >thought I was better. Now I'm a little worried...A > >rectal or intestinal problem? The ob is sending me > to > >a gastroinologist. I just don't want it to be so > soon > >after surgeory. But, I just can't believe I'm not > >farther along in the healing process. Does any of > this > >sound like normal recupe to you. I will call my dr > >tomorrow. When I called Monday he said that he > didn't > >touch my intestine, and that I shouldn't be having > so > >many bowel problems, that the foods I ate sounded > >fine. He put me on a liquid diet then. I weigh > 100lbs, > >and am very weak (I lost 10 lbs. 2 weeks before > >surgery from being sick). So, since I felt better > and > >had a bowel movement I felt I could eat more solid > >foods, I want to get the weight up. Yet, it's > futile > >if I have to play the milk of magnesia-pepto game. > I > >use to poop every morning...those were the good ole > >days....funny, what we cling to now, huh?...nice to > >meet you. thanks for replying. We should all bond > >together and start petitioning our local (govt?) > with > >letters and documents stating that this problem > isn't > >so "rare & few", and to plead for better medical > >coverage for these issues (I'm lucky I have > insurance, > >I didn't pay a dime. One woman at this site has to > pay > >$1,00's of dollars for a lap), and for better > medical > >awareness, compassion, and prescription drugs. > Chronic > >pelvic pain is a disease...not a sickness. It's to > >have stomach pain that lasts longer than 6 months. > It > >is as much a disease as chrone's, and demands the > same > >respects. Love you all, after only 3 days on this > >site. I have a feeling that Lynda in AZ enjoyed > some > >fireworks with her husband and children for the > >4th...I hope so...let us know...it'll make me feel > >good to picture the kids playing, people laughing, > and > >you feeling good, too. (lynda, you have a > beautiful > >way with words) Marianne > >--- toni welsh <twelsh1@hotmail.com> wrote: > >> At Wed, 4 Jul 2001, marianne bolding wrote: >
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