Adhesion Blockages

I just spent a few days in the hospital for an adhesion blockage. Or at least thats what I said it was and the doctors agreed with me. I love that I know more than the so called experts, but whatever. I have had these spells for years. I get maybe 5 a year (not really sure, cause I've never kept track, but I guess I should). All of a sudden, I get intense pain and my belly swells up like I'm 8 months pregnant, and all things stop moving. No belly sound, no gas, no D. Usually it passes in 6 to 8 hours. Most of the time I can even stay at work, 2 percocet and I'm able to function until things start moving. Thats not to say I'm not in a ton of pain, but I'm a CDer who refuses to let CD win. I continue to take water but nothing solid, and once things start going again, I keep to a very soft diet for a few days and then things are ok.

But this time, the blockage lasted a good 24 hours maybe a bit longer, and I couldn't take water. Every time I would take a sip of water I would get really nauseaus(?). I didn't throw up much, cause I just stopped drinking altogether. Finally I was afraid I was getting dehydrated so I went to the ER. 3 days later, they let me come home. I have told my doctors about these episodes before, but they've never really said much. But the Hospitalist thinks I should have a surgeon consult about having my adhesions taken care of. I'm not really sure what all that entails and wouldn't that just make more adhesions?

Does anyone else deal with this and has anyone else done anything to resolve it. The more I think about it the more I wonder if I under play how often this happens and if I really should be looking in to solutions rather than just dealing with it. Any advice would be welcome.

I would definitely get something done. That doesn't sound healthy or even safe to suffer thru till the next one. Blockages can cause serious problems and make things much worse. I wouldn't want to wait till the next one and see if I make it thru...or rupture...or fistulize to get around...etc. Get your doc to find some solution weather it be resection or something to remove the adhesions. Don't wait!

I had three similar attacks in Feb and March of this year. They did catscans out the wazoo and couldn't find a blockage, but I know what obstruction pain feels like and that was what I was having. When I had my last resection in 2005 the surgeon had to spend the first 2 hours just cleaning up my adhesions. I know that they don't like going in and cleaning up adhesions as this just creates more of them. They already know I now have more, because last summer they tried to do a colonoscopy and the left side of my colon is now adhered to my body cavity by "adhesions". I have put myself and kept myself on a low residue diet and things have improved. I would rule out other things first, like the others have suggested, and if it is the adhesions causing all your problems, you can decide how you want to handle it going forward. Good Luck to you.

Suzanne you are right, having more surgery just creates more adhesions. After my last attack in March is when I started the low residue diet. I know my obstructions (just me knowing) are from the adhesions and I think they cause my bowel to get kinked by adhesions or something, because the pain is really bad. You sound exactly like I did afterwards too. I was so weak and shaky for awhile. I also had to do a round of Pred too. I think they just gave that to me in case there was some inflammation going on somewhere they couldn't see.

I am so sorry you are going through all this Suzanne. we are sharing a seat on the roller coaster, yes?? yp

yes, the surgery helped some. my colon was stuck to the inside of my body and folded over itself, so some of the pain stopped. that said, of course surgery can cause more problems, but I was living on oxycodon and really a mess, and now I am having more manageble pain. the surgeon who did it is "the god of laparoscopies" and he told me he wouldn't do it again, so I hope the humira helps and my adhesions stay under control.

it was from my colonscopy that the doc suspected adhesions, because he had such a hard time with the scope as nothing moved. if it is hurting your quality of life i would consider surgery.
send me an email and you gotta be better for disneyland; I am a disney freak! Betz