Question:
Has anyone had a problem with scar tissue building up in their small intestine?

I am 14 months post op and at 9 months post op I had scar tissue build up in my small intestine and block it, I had emergancy surgery to remove it, well 5 months later it came back in a partial blockage and thats where I'm at now, most likely looking at another surgery pretty soon to get this blokage corrected. I can't keep having surgerys one after the other, does anyone know anything about this or have any info on this ? I need help. Thanks so much, Judy    — Judy M. (posted on June 24, 2002)

June 24, 2002
Hi Judy, Bless your heart, I feel for you, as I myself have been where you are are still am. I had my surgery in 1991, a total bowel obstruction 6 mos. later, then a revision a year after that due to malnutrition. I went from Jan. 1994 until Nov. 2001 with no major problems other than weight gain, but developed abdominal pains in spring of last year that put me in the hospital for an explorotary laparotomy 11-15. They told me they found "wads" of adhesions that had to be taken down. Again on January 30 I was put into the hospital in an emergency situation, had surgery 2/5/02 for the same thing, but this time they took out the majority of my stomach. We thought that might take care of the problem, but it didn't. I had yet another surgery April 29th for lysis of adhesions due to loops of small bowel. They wrapped everything in a product called Seprafilm in order to try to protect my intestines; the only problem is it's only good for 28 days then your body absorbs it. Within 4 or 5 days after that 28 day period, I started a nagging pain in 2 different spots, that are increasingly getting worse. My family physician took an xray this week and said it's probably adhesions again. I love my surgeon and feel like he is at no way responsible for my body's behavior, however, I cannot continue this vicious cycle of surgery every 12 weeks. I hope someone has an answer. I just want you to know you are not alone in your battle, and I hope if there are others, we can get some information on someone who specializes in adhesions who can help. God bless you. Hang in there!
   — Denise H.

June 24, 2002
Wow! I had no idea they could be that bad. On May 3, 2002, I went in for lap RNY. When my surgeon got inside of me, she found serious scar adhesions from a c-section I had had about 10 years ago. She said it was like someone poured glue in my intestines, that they were all stuck together. She said that eventually it would have become a bowel obstruction. Anyway, after consulting with her partner, they converted my surgery to open in order to clean out my intestines and to do the RNY. It took her 2.5 hours to work on my intestines before she could even begin the RNY. But I had no idea the adhesions could return that quickly. Now I'm slightly worried. Good luck to both of you.
   — Jennifer A.

July 1, 2002
Judy, I feel so bad for you and just want you to know that I am in the same boat that you are. I had my initial WLS surgery on 2/7/00. I was constantly nauseated and had several "scopes" done. I had emergency surgery in August 2000 due to a bowel obstruction caused from adhesions. My small intestine was attaching itself to my liver. The doctor operated and tried to protect my liver. I stayed nauseated and sick to my stomach for a few more months and in March 2001, I had another emergency surgery due to a bowel obstuction cause from adhesions. It was a 7 hour surgery. The dr's found that a piece of fat had broken off from my body and wrapped itself around my intestine and made it collapse. The cut the dead fat off but they did not remove the intestine (which they should have). In August 2001 I had yet another emergency surgery due to adhesions causing bowel obstructions. I went several months feeling pretty good, still got sick to my stomach once in a while but figured that came with the territory. I developed a hernia behind my belly button and decided to do a tummy tuck at the same time. When the dr opened me up he found another bowel obstruction. A simple two hour surgery turned into a 7 hour ordeal. This was in April 2002. I have lost 152 pounds and am trying to gain weight. I had a picc line put in my arm to gain weight (ironic isn't it). The picc line got infected and I got a severe blood infection and almost died. I was in the ICU for a few days and DOU for the rest of the week. The dr's are telling me that there is not much they can do about scar tissue. It is just how our body heals. I wish you lots of luck and please keep in touch. Things like this we need all the support we can get.
   — Tabitha W.

March 10, 2004
3/10/04--I have just had emergency surgery to remove some adhesions, that were causing small bowel obstruction. I sure to God hope they do not come back. I know my doctors didn't really want to do it, because they said they are afraid that they will come back, and may be worse than before. Please keep me posted on your situation. I am feeling alone out here...Thanks Karen
   — Karen P.

March 10, 2004
I think I'm scared now after reading these replies. I had a bowel obstruction at 10 months post op. Scar tissue wrapped around my colon. I had to have emergency surgery. Boy was that horrible. I don't want it again either. My surgeon did say that if you have trouble with it once it's an increased risk that it will happen again. I'm hoping it doesn't though. Carrie
   — Carrie D.