Well -- I'm Home!!!

I had emergency surgery Saturday morning for a bowel obstruction.....OMG -- the pain -- I swear another kid was supposed to be coming out!!!  So I found out that only about 2% of patients 7-9 months out (I'm at 8 1/2 months), or a weight loss of around 70 pounds (I'm at 105 pounds) are candidates for the obstruction.  Organs move around enough that lessions and scar tissue form on the bowels and get pinched off.  I had the bulge on the bowel but it had NOT burst -- or things would have been a lot worse. Things I noticed were not right and led me to the hospital: Ever since surgery -- I'm regular -- every morning -- hmmmm, nothing Thursday morning. Thursday night the grandson and I went to Taco Bell and I had the insides of a cheese rollup.  Just the cheese.  Felt like something was stuck the rest of the night -- puking, pain, puking, pain.  Normal routine for when something is stuck but what the hell it was cheese -- why isn't it unsticking!!!  Took my sleeping pill and after 4 hours of puking and pain, passed out.   Felt okay the next morning, but still no bowel movement.  Just tired and sore from all the puking.  Furnace guys were here to clean furnaces in both places, ducts, dryer vents.  Felt sore but kept drinking water after having my cream of wheat for breakfast.  Ran from house to house with furnace guys, helped the daughter pack up a few things while the guys were working on the furnaces (took 6 hours for two houses).   Got home to shower and eat lunch around 2 p.m.  Had a few beef sticks and some cantaloupe.  Then the pain was really back.  Sat around for another two hours and the pain was just getting worse, puking was in high gear.  So I thought, I'm going in.  I drove myself to the hospital because it would have taken the hubby 20 minutes to get home and then 20 minutes to the hospital, or I could cut that in half and be there in 20 minutes.  I drove myself to save time and pain....... When I got to Methodist, I sat in the parking lot for a few minutes to see if the pain was still as intense because now adrenalin has kicked in because I'm truly scared and I'm feeling nothing.  That's when I puked up 1/2 quart (I had a pitcher with to puke in while I was driving) -- Amazing what the bowels will spit BACK UP through the pouch when they can't get out the other end.  Then I felt better.  Hmmmm, had it finally losened up?  Nope, 10 minutes later I tried water and the water alone caused pain and puking.  I know enough that if you can't keep water down, you're doomed.  So into the ER I went -- even after I saw the sign that it was a 2 1/2 hour wait.   They got me back in 15 minutes, X-rayed (which showed a dark spot in the bowels) and an hour later a cat scan to show the blockage.  Admitted me and surgery would be scheduled in the morning.  At least I got out of my ER co-pay!!! So Dr. Svendsen worked his miracles hands again and fixed me up.  I think Darla once said that once you have an obstruction, you know if you have another.  Oh yes -- I totally believe that one.  Being stuck is totally different than this pain so don't always assume that is what it is.  And especially if the pain returns after one round and then goes away only to come back stronger.  And it was the entire length of my abdomen -- just not the pouchy.  It hurt all the way down, but that may have been because that is where my blockage was -- in an area to cause pain there.   So I'm on a darvocet party for the next few days and away from work for a few weeks.  Sitting in the sun with my crystal light, soaking up rays on pain meds ..... good times!!!  I'll wear plenty of sunscreen -- it's just that there is sun!!!

That's horrible... it sounds very, very painful. I hope everything is better and smooth-sailing from this point on!

OMG Barb!  I'm *so* glad to hear that you're doing ok!  That would have completely freaked me out!  You're a real trooper driving yourself to the hospital and putting up with all of that puking - and having cleaning done and keeping up with your routine!  Ack!  You deserve an award.  Me, I would have just put my head down and cried!  I hope that you have a quick recovery.

Hey barb, glad you got that taken care of quickly!!!!!  welcome home!  relax and heal

Sounds like you had a heck of a weekend.  Glad everything is taken care of and you can soak up a few rays this week.  Take care and I'll be thinking about you.  I think someone just did a post on bowel obstruction that was really unpleasant also.  Thanks for sharing the details Barb, it may help someone else who has an issue with this. Bonnie

Barb! So sorry to hear of your week.  Thank God they figured out what it was quickly and you went in when you did!  Relax and heal.... Hugs, Debi

Oh Barb you poor thing! My mom suffers those as a result of chemotherapy and other surgeries a few times a year so I know how painful that is! No surgeries for her, she just has to wait it out. I am so glad you went in right away and were able to have it taken care of. I hope you are feeling better very soon! Take Care!

Man I'm glad that is over and you are home on the mend!  What a painful nightmare, thanks for sharing so people get an idea of what to look for if they begin to feel pain post-op.

Barb~I am glad to hear that you were able to get the obstruction taken care of before it burst and that you are now back home and healing.  Thank you also for the warning signs, being that I am 6 months out and down 103 pounds I will keep these things in mind.  Enjoy the time off and the sun and happy healing!  ~Nicole

Barb!! I will keep you in my prayers for a really speedy recovery... I always say trust your instincts!! Our bodys know. God Bless. Kimberly