FYI PETERSEN'S HERNIA
What is it? It could kill you!!
I have a horror story for you.
I was having abdominal pain about 4 years after surgery and I actually had intestinal malrotation caused by a Petersen's hernia where weight loss causes extra space in the abdomen. The small intestine wrapped around the large intestine and strangled the large intestine. I was about 2 hours from death when I had emergency bowel resection surgery losing 20 cm of small intestine and additional weight loss to 30 pounds BELOW my goal weight. I have recovered somewhat but my nutrition is all messed up. Apparently there is a fairly common problem with Petersen's hernias that I never imagined I'd have to deal with.
Get an MRI or a scan of your abdomen if pain persists at all but be aware the Petersen's hernias are usually not seen in an MRI or a scan. Mention your WLS to your doctor and mention a possible Petersen's hernia. I thought my pain would magically go away after a few days but it didn't and waiting almost killed me.
I wish I knew about Petersen's hernias when the pain first started that's why I'm posting here to raise awareness of this complication.
Good luck & God Bless!!
Dave
317/165
I have a horror story for you.
I was having abdominal pain about 4 years after surgery and I actually had intestinal malrotation caused by a Petersen's hernia where weight loss causes extra space in the abdomen. The small intestine wrapped around the large intestine and strangled the large intestine. I was about 2 hours from death when I had emergency bowel resection surgery losing 20 cm of small intestine and additional weight loss to 30 pounds BELOW my goal weight. I have recovered somewhat but my nutrition is all messed up. Apparently there is a fairly common problem with Petersen's hernias that I never imagined I'd have to deal with.
Get an MRI or a scan of your abdomen if pain persists at all but be aware the Petersen's hernias are usually not seen in an MRI or a scan. Mention your WLS to your doctor and mention a possible Petersen's hernia. I thought my pain would magically go away after a few days but it didn't and waiting almost killed me.
I wish I knew about Petersen's hernias when the pain first started that's why I'm posting here to raise awareness of this complication.
Good luck & God Bless!!
Dave
317/165
Thank you for posting. I too am post petersen hernia repair survivor (bowel obstruction) but not until after I watched a friend die screaming in pain in the ER of a large Medical center where they had no idea this was a possible WLS surgery complication.
And yes my hernia did not show up on 4 xrays, 5 catscans and an MRI. Exploratory surgery was the only way to diagnose the problem
Keep getting the word out. Hope you are doing better too
And yes my hernia did not show up on 4 xrays, 5 catscans and an MRI. Exploratory surgery was the only way to diagnose the problem
Keep getting the word out. Hope you are doing better too
I too had surgery this past Wednesday for a Petersens hernia, where they found a small bowel obstruction due to adhesions!! I also wish more people had talkwe dabout thsipossible complication! I would get these horrible stomach cramps/spasms and had no clue!!! glad I decided to check it out!!
Thanks for sharing,
Thanks for sharing,
Yep.. I lost my remnant stomach and almost my life. Mine strangulated my small bowel and strangulated, necrotized and perforated my remnant. This all happened in two hours, and no one knows how I survived. I was in ICU for weeks. Pneumonia, sepsis, tubes, drains, pancreatitis.. He said he has never seen anyone so close to death. This was 7 years after RNY with zero prior complications. I had JUST turned 30.
RNY:11/2006
Emergency Gastrectomy: 9/2013
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