Question:
What causes bowel obstructions -- post op

I have read about a few people who end up having bowel obstructions. Some as far as 1+ years after surgery. If you are not eating as much as you use to...what causes the obstruction...I am confused????    — SARose61 (posted on January 31, 2002)

January 31, 2002
I often wondered the same thing. At last night's support group meeting I got an answer straight from the surgeon. If I'm remembering this correctly, a bowel obstruction happens when scar tissue builds up on the bowel. Sometimes this scar tissue causes the bowel to curl up around itself. I don't think there's really anything we can do to prevent it, other than what we're supposed to be doing, eating a healthy diet. I hope this helps!
   — Becky H.

January 31, 2002
I actually just had surgery to correct a bowel obstruction. I am 6 months post op, and it just happened. I started having terrible pains and couldnt keep anything down. It turned out to be scar tissue in my "old" stomach that had kinked and coiled and was causing inflammation. my dr. said there is nothing I could have done to prevent it, it just happens sometimes. But I am feeling great now.
   — Cindy M.

January 31, 2002
I am 15 months post op from an OPEN RNY and down 140 pounds so far. I am also 6 weeks post op from having bowel obstruction surgery. The pain started suddenly one late night around my belly button and radiated all over my stomach. I went to a local ER and was sent home after getting some pain medicine and phenobarbital to stop the intestinal cramping. One more day was all I could handle and headed to the ER at the hospital I had my surgery at. You can read my profile for the whole story. Mine was caused by adhesions (scar tissue) from the original RNY, but this can happen with any type of abdominal surgery, i.e. c-section, appendectomy, gallbladder removal. Some people are just more prone than others to develop scar tissue. I am feeling great now, and still do not regret having my surgery. DOn't worry about something that may or may not happen. Good luck,
   — enjo4

August 25, 2003
I had a open RNY and two weeks later had to have surgery for a bowel obstruction. There was nothing I did to cause it, nothing that could be done to prevent it - it just happened. It's your body trying to heal itself, and scar tissue forming in a bad place.
   — Leora F.

August 25, 2003
I had a hernia- a opening in the muscle along my rny incision line, my bowel got pinched in the hernia causing a bowel obstruction and unfortunately an emergency hernia repair surgery. Luckily no permanent damage to my bowel.
   — **willow**