Re: Tina-How do I know if it's obstructed?
From: toni welsh (twelsh1@webtv.com)
Wed Nov 10 07:40:37 1999
At Tue, 9 Nov 1999, 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
>>>
Hi gina,
I to do not have a BM unles it is induced by laxatives, except as the
other night I was woke up with IBS attack, but when this happens it
don't last long. I think the laxatves have just made my bowel dependant
on them, now I do not know how to get them to move normally. It was a
relief not needing to take all the senekot to las night, b/c I think
that it causes alot of the cramping.
I am waiting now til my dr gets back from vacation, and I will talk to
the general surgeon, but the pain center yesterday feels like maybe I
should try to wait for the new barriers, something they know FOR SURE
will release adhesions. I think I was so confused, the last time I went
I see a different doctor every time first, then my pain dr I see
everytime, she comes in and verifies what they will do. The last time
the first dr cut me back, and se did not see it.''
I have been making things worse for myself, tho. I weaned the meds down
myself, b/c I was curious to see what happened if I did, not thinking
the meds were helping much, and my the early afternoon I could not do
ANYTHING, my fault. I was told to increase the Neurotin, and to take
ALL meds as I was, and when I got home did that. I did feel better, and
now I know they are making life bearable. I am going to make sure I
take them as they said, and hopefully the surgery can wait a few months.
if the surgeons could get in through the scope to release them off the
bowels, would not hesitate, but another laparotomy is not exactly what I
am looking forward to. I hope this can wait, at least til they know the
barriers will help us.
As far as the bad appetite, and the reaction to redmeat, I will stay
away from all that. It has been almost 2 years since I have ate a whole
lot of meat. I only ate very little the night hadthe bad pains and
diarreha. at least I know there is nothing left in there for now!
Sorry so long, needed to get a few things out.
Gina, I too, do not understand what the atonic bowel is, and was
wondering did she say what test
? I too do not want those bowels tests,like you said it makes things
worse for me too, I better stop, boy, this is too long...sorry! Your
sypmtoms sound so close to mine, tho!