Re: Tina-How do I know if it's obstructed?

From: Gina (gina@maine.rr.com)
Tue Nov 9 15:33:12 1999


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
>>


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