Endo Revenge - adhesions are blocking my bowel, any alternatives to laxatives as a longer term option?

[Barnyowl]

Hi Ladies,

I'm almost 11 years down the line of of Stage 4 endometriosis, where I had a complete hysterectomy, both ovaries removed and extensive dissection of my bowel. After the amazing work of my gynae and bowel surgeons, I was blessed with gaining 9 years of life.... that was until the pain came back with vengeance.

In the last couple of months, I've been in hospital for a CT Colonoscopy, and a call back for a Sigmoidoscopy and more biopsies.

With the latter, I received a call at 4:30 on a Friday afternoon and was called in on the Monday as the scans showed significant thickening, and didn't have the knowledge that sedation is usually recommended! I classify myself as a strong person, but I actually screamed during this procedure.

My consultant called me last week to say my bowel is so narrow that I now need to take prescribed laxatives daily for anything to pass. I said I already have diarrhoea, which he said was 'overflow'?

As I mentioned in my earlier post, I have a daughter with a tumour in her skull, so not working, isn't an option. I have a 40 - 90 minute (depending on traffic) drive to work (no jobs locally - even worse with the current climate).

I made the mistake of Googling - please don't do it, it sends you over the edge! If I leave a blocked bowel, apparently I'll be dead in three weeks. If I take laxatives for more than 3 weeks, the bowel stops working.

All surgeries have been suspended with the Coronavirus, but he also said it was too risky to operate given how difficult my previous surgeries were. He finished by saying he will 'hopefully' see me in 6 months. That's without the biopsy results.

Clearly, I'm still trying to process all this. I can't sleep which exacerbates the pain. I'm honestly in a bit of a mess - that's without all of the Coronavirus worries with my daughter.

Any suggestions would be gratefully received xx

[Moon_maiden]

Sorry, probably not going to be a huge help, I can only empathise at present. Currently taking laxatives, no one has mentioned three weeks, so will ask about that. Thank you for mentioning.

Have you looked into types of diet? Could be somethings will digest easier than others and maybe natural foods such as prunes. I’m sure you probably have though.

It must be so hard with your daughter being ill, is the prognosis good for her?

I hope the biopsy comes back ok for you.

Difficult in this climate, have you tried massage? Sometimes this can keep digestive tract moving.