Adhesions & Hysterectomy after RNY

I had a hysterectomy (uterus removed ovaries left) in 2001,  and then RNY in 2007.  In the summer of 2008 I had to have my ovaries removed because of a mass that was seen on my left ovary during a CT scan and ultrasound testing.  During the surgery to remove the ovaries the doctor could only find one ovary (the one on the right side not the left one) and removed it saying that it was found across my abdomen and that had to be what was showing up on the CT and ultrasound as it did have a non-cancerous small complex cyst.  She thought the missing one from the left side had to have been removed during the original hysterectomy.  She said that she searched my abdominal cavity high and low and no other ovary could be found but that there was an enormous amount of scar tissue from the gastric bypass and other abdominal surgeries.  I have been having abdominal pain and from testing it has been discovered that I now have a mass on what the test are showing is the missing left ovary.  (Yes the very one that was to be operated on the first time.)  The same doctor is going to the surgery but is afraid to do the surgery because of what she found when she went in for the first ovary removal surgery.  She says that what is showing up as an ovarian mass is probably scar tissue from the RNY surgery.  She has me scared to death!  She says that in order to get to the ovary (which she doesn't think is really an ovary -- 3 other second opinion doctors do in fact believe it is an ovary and should come out) she has to peel away the adhesions and look for the ovary.  She says that at any point a tear could be made in the intestines that could cause a baterial infection.  Anyone have abdominal surgery after RNY where adhesions are involved? 

I have had three surgeries post RNY that involved cutting out adhesions.  I noticed on another post you mentioned you had spasms also.  Can you believe my first surgeon told me that adhesions didn't cause pain?  I thought I misunderstood him, so I took my mom to my next appointment.  I was told for years that my adhesions were the cause of my spasms, it ended up being only part of the problem. 

I had constant abdominal pain after my original RNY.  About one year post op I had surgery to repair a  hernia and cut out adhesions.  My doctor did knick my bowel causing a leak.  So I had surgery the next morning to repair the leak and they cut out even more adhesions.  But I also had a leak after my RNY.  There is always that small chance.  But the chances that it happens twice are very small and by two different highly qualified surgeons are even smaller, I say it's just my body. 

After the surgery to remove adhesions I was pain free for about six months before more complications returned.  My adhesions would cause my bowel to kink causing numerous partial bowel obstructions.  My last surgery was in August.  They went in to remove a blind loop of bowel and cut out numerous adhesions.  This time they removed a lot more adhesions than the first two times.  There is a chance of course that they might grow back, but there's always that chance that they might not or might not be so bad depending on their location!

I wish you the best of luck!

Stephanie E

Stephanie:

Thank you so much for sharing your story.  I am sorry to hear that you have gone through so much.  I hope that all continues to be well with you and that you stay pain free.  ((((HUGS))))