Re: Tina-How do I know if it's obstructed?
From: Michelle (focusonme2100005@aol.com)
Sat Feb 23 21:11:22 2002
At Sun, 14 Nov 1999, Christine M. Smith wrote:
>
>Hi Gina:
>
>How many times in your reading have you seen "adhesions" listed as the
>possible reason for GI problems? Maybe a few lines (usually as a cause of
>obstruction, listed among other causes, with very little discussion)
>Remember, they don't even list adhesions as a possible surgical risk on the
>informed surgical consent! My impression is that they like to keep some
>things secret. :<)
>
>Chris S.
>
>Gina wrote:
>>
>> Hi Tina,
>> In all my research thus far on constipation and
>> impactment, nowhere have I seen the words "atonic colon".
>> What is that? Why isn't it mentioned anywhere? Guess
>> I have something new to look up now!
>>
>> I am having at least a week or more between BM's now
>> and my Dr. doesn't seem concerned at all. Even with
>> laxatives, high fiber, water, etc. BUT I also have no pain
>> on BM's, no abdominal pain lately from this, no bleeding.
>> I do still have some nausea, that's about it. Other than
>> no BM I wouldn't even know I was constipated. Weird!
>> Gina
>>
>> At Mon, 08 Nov 1999, Tina Shelby wrote:
>> >
>> >Hi Gina,
>> >
>> >I just wanted to take a minute and respond to your questions about bowel
>> >obstructions and the length of time between your BMs.
>> >
>> >Normally if someone is obstructed - there is a definite pattern on x-ray to
>> >indicate that an obstruction is present. I must also add - that no test is
>> >100% accurate and obstructions can be missed. From what I have gathered
>with
>> >talking to GI surgeons - a patient may have a partial obstruction as
>> >evidenced by the patients symptoms - ie vomiting, sudden onset severe
>> >abdominal pain, fever, elevated white blood count, dirrhea at first and
>then
>> >nothing - but x-ray may not show the partial obstruction.
>> >
>> >I don't remember if you have GI specialist - but if you are having >4days
>> >between BMs fairly consistantly - you need to have a colonic transit test.
>> >This consists of taking a capsule a day for several days. These capsules
>> >contain rings that are seen with x-ray. You get follow up x-rays each
>day to
>> >track the rings movement. If they do not pass in a specific lenght of
>time -
>> >you are also dealing with an atonic colon.
>> >
>> >I am sorry to say - but the treatment for this is having the colon removed.
>> >
>> >Hope this helps some
>> >
>> >Tina
>> >
>> >At 07:01 AM 11/1/99 -0600, you wrote:
>> >>Hi everyone,
>> >>I am 7 weeks post-op from my 2nd surgery. I was Dx with
>> >>adhesions a few weeks after the surgery (just from my
>> >>symptoms, and adhesion-prone history). The pain I had
>> >>associated with the adhesions is bearable actually, and
>> >>not as bad as it was when it was Dx'd. I know I have them
>> >>in my pelvic area and also some reformed adhesions on my
>> >>upper right abdomen/intestine area (I can feel the pulling
>> >>and pain in there more than anywhere else, and that's where they removed
>> >>the adhesions on my last OP).
>> >>
>> >>I have had severe bowel problems since this 2nd surgery.
>> >>I have been in the ER twice because of no BM, yet alot of pain. Both
>> >>times I was told I was constipated/impacted and sent home with enema and
>> >>laxative instructions. Eventually
>> >>things would move again, but never back to normal and only for a day or
>> >>2, then I'd go another week to 10 days with no BM and the pain increased
>> >>with time.
>> >>
>> >>I don't vomit, but do feel nausea and lessening of appetite as time goes
>> >>on. I don't get fevers. I just get alot of pain which makes me sweat
>> >>almost constantly. I do pass gas, sometimes painfully sometimes not.
>> >>
>> >>Am I being a hypochondriac thinking I might have a bowel
>> >>obstruction high in my upper intestines? I mean this long after surgery
>> >>my bowels should be working normally again, barring any problems
>> >>correct? The last time I was in the ER I had an xray done. I hadn't
>> >>moved bowels in 6 days. The xrays showed stool only in the upper
>> >>intestines and nothing at all in the lower intestines. Why wasn't it
>> >>moving down into the lowers? Why didn't they think it was obstructed?
>> >>
>> >>I get alot of pain when I eat, my stomach and chest hurts bad. I have
>> >>no heartburn yet they think I might have an ulcer because of the pain
>> >>and nausea with all meals. Every time I eat, it's a struggle not to
>> >>throw up, for hours after. The pepcid (40 mg a day) seems to help with
>> >>that, but not always.
>> >>
>> >>Just curious what your opinions are on this?
>> >>Gina
>> >>
--
I just had surgery 2-05-02 for a bowel obstruction caused by adhesions. I woke on the 2-04-02 with some pain in my RUQ, I had had a BM on that Monday and really had no concerns until Monday night when I started throwing up, I threw up for 12 hours and finally had to go to the ER. I had an x-ray which showed I had a bowel obstruction due to adhesions. I then had a cat scan to confirm and went straight to the OR for surgery So there are not always warning signs that something is wrong