Bowel Obstruction

I missed this response...just saw it.

Were your hernias present when you had your bowel obstruction?  It could happen again because of your hernias or other factors?  I did not get to speak with my surgeon at my discharge.  While in the hospital I was so incoherent due to the narcotics I rmember little and have so many questions to ask.  I don't see him until the 30th of May.  I have slight pain when eating and drinking...I never had that before.  Did you experience that after your emergency surgery?  Crackers are the most solidi thing I've eaten since this happened.  I actually ate some ice cream last night just because it was soft.  I'm still only drinking/eating shakes, yogurt and soup.  I don't think my body is ready for any solid food yet.

 Dasie - glad you were taken well care of - and sorry to hear about the bowel obstruction.

I too have had no complications, and think "I'm in the clear" - but reading stories of those several years out, I now have to accept it could happen to me too.

Thanks for sharing - you never know...

Thank you...That was my reason for sharing.  We need to be informed.  This week has been surreal.  I'm so thankful I have such a great surgeon and staff.  I sincerely feel I received excellent care from all involved.  I need to decompress from this.  I am a little skittish about going too far from Houston in the event this could reoccur. 

Daisie, I am so sorry that you had to go through this. Bowel obstructions are not only very, very painful, but can be life threatening. So glad that you received immediate and appropriate care. Lots of hugs and wishing you a speedy recovery.


Gail

Thank you Gail...I greatly appreciate the kind words. 

Oh my goodness.  I am so glad you are home and ok.  Were there any early signs?  What do we need to look for?  I have felt pretty bullet proof but I know any of us can have problems and I know I am a champ at making scar tissue.

Hi Price...there were no warnings.  I had been constipated, but took an extra dose of Miralax and actually had 3 in one day the day prior which I never, ever do.  So I actually felt fine.

It was only after I ate peanuts earlier in the morning that my pouch was a tiny bit uneasy.  But on a scale from 1 to 10...it was a 1. 

ER was great.  At shift change one ER doctor said they could insert an NG tube and try to suction out, I guess, the issue.  I was told in Houston as RNY patients that can NEVER be the solution.  We must have CT scan then surgery.  This info is not being filtered to ERs like it needs to be.

I am so grateful my husband was forceful enough in callin my surgeon and insisting the ER docs consul with my surgeon.  The local hospital is part of the system where I had surgery, so my surgeon could see the CT results real time. 

Like you, I figured I would never have any complications.  I'm as compliant as possible.  I do eat off plan on occasion, but I monitor my weight carefully. 

I will feel better when I have my follow-up.  I need some reassurance from my surgeon on what to look for...if there is anything I might have missed.  I don't think so though.  It was just another normal day for me.

One of the things that I remember about bowel obstructions, is that they can occur very rapidly, so there may not have been very much that you could have done. Getting to the ED and receiving the appropriate care was the best possible outcome.

gail

You are right.  They told us we did all the right things by first going to our local ER and then contacting my surgeon immediately.  The pain was so severe, I did not have a choice actually.

Dasie,
I am so glad they took great care of you and did not send you home.  So many times they send people home and this is very serious.  Take care of yourself and hope your healing is quick and painless.

Obstruction has been one of the things I have worried about the most, because you just never know when it might happen and there is nothing you can do to prevent it.  My surgeon is 4 hours away.

Swinging for you!!

Linda