Bowel Obstruction

There weren't any...that is why it was so unnerving.  When it hit, it was immediate, intense pain that I could not cope with.  I have a high pain tolerance.  I've had all 3 children by natural childbirth.

Do a search on OH.  There is an excellent article written by a contributing physician about this.  It was written following the death of a member several years ago. 

The only symptom I guess was an ever so slightly upset pouch after eating a handful or 2 of peanuts.  That was all I had that day.  I don't think I had even had my morning shake or yogurt.  I was sitting down, eating a sandwich when the pain hit. I could not sit, stand, lay...It was incredibly intense.  I'll admit, I am a little rattled by this.  I know I will feel better once I speak with my surgeon at my follow-up appointment.

Wow, Dasie!! I am so sorry about this!! I hope you feel better soon!!

Hugs!!

Laura

Thanks Laura....I've read the more abdominal surgeries we have, the greater the risk for this.  I now wonder if I should have my LBL.  I'm going to discuss this on my follow-up.  If it puts me at risk again, I won't have it done.

 Thank you for sharing your story.  I'm so sorry you had to go through this.  I shared a few days ago, but I had a friend who is further out than we are (I noticed that you and I had our surgeries a few weeks apart) and had her bowel rupture just a month or so ago.  She nearly died.  This is so scary!
You brought up something that I had never considered when you said your husband advised the ER doctor that you needed to consult your bariatric surgeon.  I honestly don't know if my husband would know to do that.  Would you mind if I share your story with him so we can have a talk about what he should need to know in case of an emergency? 

Absolutely.  I  know my husband's actions made all the difference..  I was already going into the don't bother the doctor mode. I tend to do that with authority figures.   But when the shift changed and the new attending said he would put the NG tube into my pouch,  my husband spoke up and said NO that my bariatric surgeon was standing by for all test and lab results.  My surgeon spoke with both attending doctors.  I arrived at ER 2 pm and I was transported by ambulance around 9 pm.  My surgeon's chief resident was waiting when I arrived.

I cannot say enough about how well everyone responded.  There was a chance I would be taken into surgery immediately, but when the Houston doctors reviewed the CT scans, they got me settled, my pain under control...if it was ever under control....and I had surgery that morning.

When I was discharged, my surgeons fellow who assisted him during surgery, reiterated an NG tube is never the solution.  She said CT and surgery has to be performed.  She said they were concerned I may have already lost bowel which meant and open incision and bowel resection, which is far more serious.

There is an article on this site, written by a contributing physician after a member died from this several years ago.  I would do a search and read the information.  I stumbled upon that article either right before or right after I had my RNY.  When I arrived in the ER I told the first attending I was a RNY patient ans was concerned I had a bowel obstruction based upon what I had read and what I was experiencing.  I have no doubt that contacting my surgeon is what sped the process for the CT scan, etc.

What makes a bowel objection happen that far past the surgury?   I am new and I am pre-op and excited but alittle worried about everything.  I have done my 6 months of meetings, and am waiting for the approval from the insurance company.

Ellen

Ellen...there are thousands of us who never have one single issue.  This complication can occur following any abdominal surgery.  It is not specific for gastric bypass.  The more abdominal surgeries one has, the greater the risk.  Scar tissue can be a factor. 

I do not want this to frighten anyone.  I want to once again remind everyone we need to be educated.  If you have not chosen the type surgery you are having, and this concerns you, consider having the sleeve.  This particular issue occurs with one of the connections specific with RNY.

Once again, please do not let this frighten you.  I would not change one aspect of my journey.  As with any surgery there can be complications...no matter the type of surgery.

Talk with your surgeon about this and other concerns. you may have, however, like I said, I would not change anything about my journey, my surgeon or my choice of surgery.

Dasie: Thanks so much for your sharing and for the support. I spent some time on Web MD today and feel little better.   I guess I was thinking once I get past the 1st year I was safe, but now I realize it is something to keep learning and taking care of yourself and knowing what has to be done. This is for life and you have to listen to your body.   Did you have an opened or a Lap procedure.

Ellen

I was very fortunate.  I had a Lap procedure.  My surgeon was telling me the possibility existed I might have an open procedure with bowel resection.  Everything is a blurr.  The narcotics they were giving me made it very difficult for me to gather my thoughts.  I could not communicate clearly.  I have no doubt getting to ER like I did and the response by them made all the difference.  And, above all, I believe God gave me grace in this.

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