Question:
adhesions-blockage- help not really sure what it is?

on friday about noon, my stomach hit me like a rock, seems almost like gas, only ten times worse, the pain was unbearable i had to leave work and ended up in the ER. They said it was adhesions, and gave me pain med. I called my bypass doc that monday and they said i needed to make sure i am regular at which i had been, up until that Sunday, so i took a softner, however i am still having the pains not as bad, seems worse after i eat or drink. Has anybody had this happen? My stomach gets so bad it hurts to touch it. I am about 8 months post op down about 112 pounds with 22 to go. the thought of another surg scares me, since i had to have a hernia repair 3 months after my bypass any help would be sooooo appreciated.    — Barbara R. (posted on June 19, 2001)

June 19, 2001
Based on the bazillion bowel obstructions my hubby has had following every abdominal surgery he has had (about 5 now), it certainly sounds like an obstruction. If your stomach is distended and hurts just to touch, that's a sure sign. It only gets worse. When the docs say it is adhensions, that's probably true too since adhesions can cause a blockage. If you cannot pass gas, do not have any bowel movements and begin vomiting - go back to the ER immediately - it's at a critical stage at that point. My hubby hates it so much, he frequently waits until it gets to that point before going to ER - it can sometimes take a day or two and then you feel like you are going to explode! Good luck and I hope yours is NOT an abstruction but it sounds so familiar!
   — Anika R.

June 19, 2001
Sorry to post again but I forgot one thing. The sooner you go to the ER and get a proper disgnosis, you may be able to avoid surgery if it is an obstruction. If you wait until it's critical, surgery is the only option. When it first starts and if the obstruction is only partial, at times they have avoided surgery on my hubby by putting an NG tube in for a day or two and it relieves the pressure on the bowels and allows a kink or partial obstruction to pass. However, if you wait too long and keep eating and drinking, it will only add the obstruction. Again, GOOD LUCK!!!!!!
   — Anika R.