Recovering from bowel obstruction

its been a week since my bowel obstruction emergency surgery. Doing well, but the bowel sounds and grumbling are exactly like I remember my original RNY surgery being. Also, even tho my pouch wasn't involved, I am eating like I did right after RNY. Not starting with just liquids, but eating very small amounts and feeling full. This is a good thing since I had bounce back weight gain. Down 8 lbs since surgery. I'm coming up on 2 years surgiversary in August and this is really the only major complication I have had. It gave me a wake up call RNY is a very serious decision and there can be long term complications that we may need to deal with. I appreciate my health and hope to get back to the fitness level I was at before last week's surgery. Time heals.

Hope you have a speedy recovery!!  What were your symptoms? How did the surgery come about?

Severe pain, dry heaving and passing no gas. Went to ER, they performed a CT scan and found twisted intestine. Got me into surgery within a couple of hours.

Glad to see you around, stranger! I wi**** wasn't because you needed surgery, but it's good to see you all the same.

I hope you get back to 100% soon.

Thank you. I really want to spen more time on the forum but we are in the process of moving to another state. Selling one house, living in RV and buying another house. It's hectic, but at times of emergency like I had last week, it is comforting to know that I can always come here for advice.

Please share any more details to help learn from you.  What were the earlier warning signs something was wrong?  How long did you wait before seeking medical help?  Did you have a problem with constipation or getting enough water leading up to the obstruction?  Did the doctors offer any tips for preventing further problems?  Was there anything you wished you had done or are you doing anything differently now?  Thank you, tdbull.

I have had a few bouts of eating some dinner, then getting severe stomach pains for a couple of hours. Last Thursday it felt the same way, except that after 9 hours, the pain had gotten worse, I started dry heaving and wasn't even passing any gas. Surgeon found I had a few perforations in my intestine that he repaired, and a hole where the bowel had twisted into. Tried to fix laparoscopically but the bowel wouldn't stay out of the hole, so the opened me up, fixed everything, and did remove some scar tissue. Currently at home on the mend, after spending 5 days in the hospital. Surgeon said that there was no blood supply going to intestine but none of it had died. He reminded me never to wait that long when or if I ever get these types of pains again.

Good advice from your doctor to not wait if it happens again. Once you have had one, you are at an increased risk of a repeat. 

Sorry you had to go through this - it totally sucks, been there done that. I went through this 3 years ago myself and landed myself in the hospital for a week. I didn't end up having surgery, however. They inserted a NG tube, which drained the build up of swamp water and sewage from my gut/intestines in the hopes that the twisted intestine would correct itself - which it eventually did, but man that was a week from HELL. 

Good reminder to remain vigilant with possible health issues. We do have an increased risk to develop a bowel obstruction, as does anyone who has had any sort of abdominal surgery. 

Happy healing! 

Tdbull,

I have a fear that will happen to me as well. I know it's a lot of TMI, but how did you know that was happening to you? Do you have a good method of being regular? Never been the situation for me and my Dr. won't give me a prescription. Thanks for the help.

Love to you,

Robin