Crohn's Disease Support Group

I'm curious what other members have experienced from partial bowel obstructions: what's your story?

I've been lucky throughout the years to not have had too many, which is surprising considering how many adhesions I have from multiple abdominal and pelvic surgeries. In fact, I've gone over half a year with nary a symptom. This past week proved difficult, however, and I knew I was in trouble when I was brought to my knees during an evening visit grocery store with an intense pain low in my belly. It took three days of eating one small meal of solid food per day (and drinking a lot of water) to pass. The pain and fatigue was mind-numbing, but now that it's out of me, I feel almost back to normal! Since it was such a severe experience, I'm wondering if it would behoove me to have exploratory surgery later this year to peek in on how my innards are doing?

Well Zaftig I am recovering from ventral hernia or incisional hernias. It has been one panful experience. The surgeon said my stomach looked like swiss cheese, must account for the 7 holes from the laproscopic surgery. I'd say if it ain't broke don't fix it. Ouch! I had the surgery on the 10th and still have quite a bit of pain. I guess it was pretty scarred and looked bad. He used about 4 feet of mesh. Its not anything I'd recommend going thru unless absolutely necessary.

OUCH, libit! Have you had the mesh before? I requested it be used for my last two surgeries, but the doctors weren't comfortable using it. I had a complete bowel obstruction and open surgery (laparatomy) in 1986...but I was all of four years old and don't really remember the symptoms. Did you have an open surgery for the hernias and "installation" of the adhesion barrier/mesh?

I had a partial obstruction at the end of last July. After what our friend Libit has been through it's hard to disagree. On the other hand, had I not insisted on the surgery, they would not have found the two feet of scar tissue causing the obstruction and therefore the CD. Good surgeon but not too many functional brain cells.

I am sorry you had such a rough period. So don't do that again, you hear?!

You know.....i would stay away from any surgery if i could..the thought of i t scares me sooo much...but maybe it would make you feel better emotionally to know what is going on inside you....what does your gut tell you to do???????????? I have been looked at from every angle there is ...not to mention with what....etc. etc.

No Zaftig they did laproscopic surgery. I had a hernia benath my breastbone and the suregon thought maybe another hernia beside my ostomy. I guess once he got in there he seen lot more. Anyway it ended up being 7 incisions with the surgery and the pain has been horrific. I see the surgeon this Wednesday so I can get some more info from him then. I have had 5 major surgeries and this has been the most painful by far. I turned 51 last Decemeber and I believe I am just to old to go thru anymore surgeries again. Takes to long to recover. So hopefully tis will do me for a very long time.

Hey Zaftig, I have had at last count about 30 or 40 partial or full bowel obstructions and only one has required surgery. I have had a few partials which has not required me to be in hospital and usually if I have one I try to leave it for a few hours before I go to Emergency at hospital. If they don't correct themselves they put you on a drip to give you fluids and you can have ice chips to keep your mouth moist and then morphine or in my case petherdine for the pain. Hopefully then it rights itself and after that you have days of diaharrea which is horrible because you're so tired and weak all you want to do is couch or bed time. Usually in hospital 3 to 5 days. I haven't been in hospital now for about 18 months for this so all good. I had surgery to separate the adhesions which has greatly cut down on these obstructions but as we all know any surgery can give you more adhesions so it was risky but for me but all good because the pain I was in all the time was greatly reduced. Most of this happened before I was diagnosed with Crohn's. They can be caused by inflammation, adhesions and I've even had them from constipation. When I feel one coming on I cut out all solid food and have meal replacements and hope that will do it. I would say if you think you have one you should get it checked because you can get a perforated bowel from them. All the best

I just recently experienced my first partial bowel obstruction after having Crohns for almost 20 years. The sensation to me was pretty obvious.. I'd look at my stomach and see a lump during a pain I was having.. I'd put a little pressure on the lump with my fingers which would immediately cause the lump to disappar, and get lots of gurgling noises and the pain would subside.

I went to hospital and got IV steroids which brought it under control. Essentially, the narrowed bowel caused by my crohns disease caused back pressure which brought on the pains, and lump.

If anyone is interested, i've written a little about the experience of both my Crohns Disease as well as my partial bowel obstruction experience.

http://www.blog.gleff.com/2012/04/partial-bowel-obstruction- experience/

http://www.blog.gleff.com/2012/04/my-crohns-disease- experience/

gleff - Thank you for sharing. I found your attitude and strength very touching. Hang in there and lets hope that steak sandwich is still aways to go.

Post edited by: libit, at: 04/07/2012 08:00 PM

I also had a ventral hernai repair in a previous bowel resection incision. with Mesh, I have a very large peice holding me together. My surgeon told me, they more they open you up the more adhessions grow increasing your chances of obstructions. They also wrapped my bowels, what is left of them, in a speacil mesh to prevent adhessions. I have been wondering where you have been Zaftig! Missed your posts!