At Mon, 30 Aug 1999, Tina Shelby wrote:
>
>Hi Jennifer,
>
>I have been out of town for a few days and am trying to get caught up on
>e-mail. I am so sorry to hear about your history. You have been struggling
>with this for a long time. I just wanted to reaffirm your findings that
>fruit/veges especially the raw/gas causing ones increasing the symptoms and
>obstruction. From my own personal experience - I have found that if I stay
>away from them my symptoms aren't nearly as bad. I have learned with dealing
>with this over the years that the doctors don't know all there is to know -
>even if they present themselves to be all knowing. If they are not familiar
>or have never heard of something before the in there mind it must not exist
>or be real. I would encourage you to look hard and long for a pcp that is
>open to what you say makes the symptoms worse or better. You have lived with
>this condition longer than they have - you are obviously the more educated
>about your condition and what helps and what hinders. We are here for you -
>most of us are going through some similiar problems as you - so we are a
>good place to vent and compare experiences with this condition.
>
>I'm sorry you need us but am glad you found us!
>
>Tina
>
>At 07:51 AM 8/24/99 -0500, you wrote:
>>Hi everyone,
>>I can't believe I have finally found this site after months and months
>>of surfing the web for information. I don't know anyone else who
>>suffers from this problem, and I'm hoping perhaps someone out there can
>>identify with this:
>>
>>I am a thirty-year old female who underwent surgery as an infant, to
>>remove an obstruction in my small intestine.
>>Since then, I have suffered unbearably painful episodes of intestinal
>>obstruction, which doctors have diagnosed as "adhesions of scar tissue."
>>These episodes are characterized by vomiting, swelling and tenderness in
>>the obstructed area, extreme, agonizing cramping which occurs every few
>>minutes, and a feeling of bloatedness in the stomach. (probably from
>>all the food that is not going through.) usually, when this happens, I
>>have to go to hospital where they hook me up to an IV and shove a
>>Nasogastral tube down my nose to "decompress" me. It typically takes
>>about one to two weeks for the obstruction to clear on its own.
>>
>>I have noticed, (and no one doctor I have discussed this with believes
>>this,) that these obstructions only occur when after I've eaten
>>vegetables or fruits, especially those high in fibre, such as
>>cauliflower, broccoli, celery and oranges where the pith has not be
>>removed. I have this idea in my mind that the fibre from these foods
>>gets "tangled" in the scar tissue in my small intestine, thus "blocking"
>>and "restricting" the passage of other substances. This has never been
>>diagnosed (because all x-rays and barium enemas and all those newfangled
>>tests I've endured all declare that my intestines are "normal.") But
>>surely, it cannot be pure coincidence that each time I eat something
>>fibrous my intestines become obstructed.
>>
>>anyway, i have been told numerous times that there is no cure for my
>>condition, as surgery to remove the scar tissue would only result in the
>>formation of more. i am now at the end of my tether. doctors continue
>>to tell me that nothing can be done, and nobody understands just how
>>horrifically painful this condition is. i weigh only 95 pounds, even
>>though i'm 5'4". people always assume I'm anorexic, when in fact, i
>>have this rare condition i cannot even begin to explain.
>>
>>i hope someone out there can relate to this, and tell me if there's any
>>hope.
>>
>>jennifer
>>