URGENT: Internal Hernia????

Hi All, I saw my surgeon today (8 months post-op) and told him about these intense (VERY intense....like 20 on a scale of 1 to 10) pains I get on occasion. They can last a few hours to a few days. Once, I ended up in the ER for it, but they found zero on the CT scan. Well....now he feels it may be an Internal Hernia...and he wants to operate! He said it that internal hernias (IH) do not show in CT scans or any tests and the only way to know for sure is laparoscopic surgery! He will also look for adhesions, and so an endoscopy to check for ulcers.....but he feels pretty sure it's an IH. He said that IH's can happen due to rapid and severe weight loss following Lap-RNY. HELP! I wasn't prepared for this at all! He said that leaving an IH can end up deadly...but I can't imagine another surgery. I'm a mess and would like any and all feedback ASAP as they want to do this now! Thanks in advance, Karen

Karen, Is that were your small intestine is causing a problem? I wish you the best of luck and I hope it is nothing to serious. Sheila

OMG, Karen. I don't even know what to say. I don't quite get why a cat scan can't detect it. Being only 8 months out, I don't blame you for not being prepared to have surgery again. I know that you have a lot of confidence in your surgeon so maybe you have no choice but to follow his advice. (Second opinion?) Easy for me to say, but if it comes down to that, you'll get through it just like the other surgery. We are ALL here for you. I'll be saying some prayers. Take Care~~ Diane

Thanks Diane...you're a doll. I thought about getting a 2nd opinion but....it's a sticky situation. I'd have to see another WLS Surgeon and say, "My Doc wants to operate now....do you agree?". I feel like these surgeons all compete with each other...and to be honest, I'm not even sure another one would be willing to see me being they didn't do the initial surgery. What do you think????? Help!!! Hugs, Karen

Good morning, Karen. I had a similiar problem 4 months after surgery. I had severe pains for a couple of hours and my son took me to the er in Utica. My surgeon also couldn't find anything on the ct, however, he wanted to do exploratory surgery, so they admitted me and did a lap exploratory surgery and found a small hernia and adhesions. The adhesions were not from the lap rny, but from a surgery that I had 20+ years before!. The recuperation peroid was short, I felt great and no more pains. The removal of the adhesions also relieved my constipation, if you can believe that, I sure can because after the Dr. explained where the adhesions were and how they pulled my intestines out of shape it was very logical. We are never prepared for more surgery, but you have to trust what your surgeon tells you. God bless and good luck in your decision. Cathie

WOW Cathie...this helped me so much, because I, too, suffer from terrible constipation and have since my initial WLS! In fact, my surgeon sent me to a Gastroenterologist for it, and I take a medicine called Amitizia twice a day. It really BARELY helps...so maybe it's all linked to the pain??? And you're right: we are never prepared for surgery. I just was shocked when he said he would do it last night! My appointment was at 3:30 and all the sudden I wa**** with, "We can do it today!" I just wasn't ready; not prepared....but today I have the pain and I sort of wish I had done it. I'll keep you posted; thanks for your input. Hugssss, -Karen

Well you have more notice than I did on April 9 my dr's office told me to go straight to the ER. I was thereby 7:00PM and admitted by Midnight, in surgery as soon as my Dr arrived the next morning. I had 2 hernias and a mass of scar tissue. Nothing to mess with. I know someone who just died because she had pain and because she had a high tolerance for pain she blew it off and ended up with major complications that may have been avoided if taken care of sooner. And my mother in law also had similar complications. Betty Jo Lap RNY 7/11/03 -Dr Graber Gallbladder out 6/23/04 -Dr Graber Hernias 4/10/07 -Dr Fitzer 399.5/210/150

all i can send you is (((((hugs 2 Karen))))))) my friend keep me posted please I wish you the best health always

((((HUGS)))) I don't have any advice just wanted to give you my prayers and support.

Hi Karen, Wow, I can surely understand your shock. Just wanted to let you know that you are in my thoughts. Keep us posted and be well. Take care, Beth