Question:
What are adhesions? Please read important!

I just got home from the hospital after a four night stay and no one can tell me what's wrong. HELP! OK Here goes: Monday morning I woke up with a little pain. During the day, it got progressively worse. I had a bowel movement and some diarhea. After that, the pain increased. I had a hard time eating, yet I did feel hungry. Throughout the day, the pain got worse. I eventually wound up in the emergency room (This pain was worse than any other pain I've ever experienced). The pain was constant with pangs of more severe pain. I went to the emergency room and they gave me some xrays. I FINALLY got some pain meds and the pain decreased. For the next three days, I had every test you could imagine (Utlrasound, CT scans, Barium, endoscopy..) All came back perfectly normal. The pain went away. My doctor, (whom I believe was extremely thorough and competent), believes that it could have been some sort of bug that's gone away or adhesions. The only way to tell if I have adhesions is through exploratory lap surgery. So, he sent me home and said that if this pain did come back , I'd have to go in for the surgery. Has anyone else had any experiences similar? Any comment or info would be appreciated. I highly doubt that it was a "bug" and I am going to have no problems, though I seriously hope so. I am 14 months post op and down 115 pounds (at goal)! Thanks    — [Anonymous] (posted on October 12, 2001)

October 12, 2001
Glad to hear I am not the only one.I am three months post op and I have had pain like that two times but it happen after eating apple.Imediately. The pain is very strong and it last for 10 or 12 hours.Then diarrea. I called the dr. and he wants me to have some test if it happens again. I am concerned. Let me know your outcome. Congratulations on your weight loss.
   — maureenmosti

October 12, 2001
I know just what you mean. I'm three months post op and the pain started about two weeks ago. After about 5 days of horrible pain I finally called the doctor. They asked the usual questions, are you eating, going to the bathroom, keeping food down. I answered yes to all the questions so we knew it wasn't a blockage. The doc said I probably had adhesions and that they would go away in time. He said even though it hurts, we should try to keep moving because things inside have adhered where they should'nt and as we lose weight, things go back to where they should be. He was right. I felt something pop the other day and all the pain is gone. Ofcourse, there are always severe cases that do require surgery to correct. If the pain continues be sure to let your doctor know. Good luck
   — RENEE D.

October 12, 2001
I just went thru something like this myself...LAP RNY 8/28/01. I was curled up in a ball for 5 days, throwing up everything - even water. My stomach hurt so bad. Thought it might be pancreatitis...tests came back ok, so now doc thinks gastroitis (sp) a viral "bug." I am scared to eat.
   — Helena R.

October 12, 2001
This sounds familiar to me. For the last few months, I had what you described and I thought it was dumping. As it turns out, I had an undetected internal hernia, a bowel blockage and pancreatis. My doctor believed that the hernia started it all. I had surgery to fix all of the above and am perfectly fine now. Please ask your doctor to check you for a hernia.
   — Mavis C.