Internal Hernia & Intestinal Twisting/Blockage
Wow, sorry you went through this.
I have an abdominal hernia now, but no pain or issues. Mine is going to be repaired in April when I have my tummy tuck. I have been cautioned by my doctor that any pain means bee line to the hospital.
Band-RNY revision age 50 5'4" HW 260 SW: 244 (bf healthy range 23-35%) bf 23.7% (at 137lbs) cw range 135-138.lbl with butt lift and mastoplexy March 23, 2018...2.5lbs removed.
Pre-op-16lbs (size 18/20...244) M1-16lbs (size 18...228) M2-15.6lbs (size 16/18...212.4) M3-10lbs (size 16..202.4) M4-11.4lbs (size 14...191) M5-10.8lbs (size 12...180.2) M6-8.4 (size 8/10...171.8) M7-6.4 (size 8...165.4 lbs) M8-11.6 (size 6...153.8) M9-5.6 (size 4/6...148.2) M10-5.8 (size 4....142.4) M11-4 (size 2/4...138.4) Surgiversary -1 (size 2/4...137.4) M13-2.6 (size 2/4...134.8) M14 (size 2/4...134.8) M15 (size 2...135) M16 (size 2...131.4) M17 (size 2...135) M18 (size 2...135) M19 (size 2...138) M20 (size 2...135) M21 (size 2...138)
It's not perfectly clear why it happens to some and not others. Basically you are at risk for an internal Hernia (a small hole really) then your intestines can get wrapped around and through that hole which causes them to get twisted up like a bunch of string
It it can actually happen to anyone, but you are at higher risk after having any abdominal surgery. And the RNY is the highest risk of any WLS for this complication due to mucking around with your intestines. And it can happen shortly after surgery or years after surgery.
As an update, yesterday was a bit rough. I was running a low grade fever (which makes you feel like crap anyway) then switched painkillers from IV Dilaudid to Norcos which have not been as effective in managing the pain.
Im happy to report I am feeling much better today. Fever is completely gone (this is a very good thing) and the soreness in my abdomen is somewhat reduced. All in all I'm feeling pretty good.
Just need a speedy recovery so I can get up to East Lansing to watch my Spartans this Saturday!! Go Green!
I had a very similar thing happen to me October 12, 2014 (The day before my bday). I had been to a college football game and then was at the state fair. I felt fine and then the pain started, like you I thought it was gas because with my IBS I have chronic gas pain. But after taking my medication and trying to wait it out the pain became unbearable. My boyfriend rushed me to the ER and I was taken for an emergency exploratory laparotomy where they found my small bowel to be completely strangulated because it was twisted and tucked up somewhere it did not belong. The surgeon told me that I was very lucky that I came to the ER when I did because it could have been deadly. I spent a week in the hospital (which happened to be out of state and sucked really bad)
I know the pain you are in but just stay strong and know that you are blessed and life will be back to normal soon.
I'm glad you are doing better. I have a question tho, has anyone had what seems to be a tightness or a cramp, I'm not sure if it's intestinal or not. It has happened to me when I have laughed really hard or sneezed. It is the weirdest thing. It happens when I am sitting and I usually have to stand up to kind of stretch out or so it seems???? It has happened maybe a half a dozen times over the years. I am just wondering if anyone else has experienced this.
Thanks
