Twisted bowel, gosh the agony 😫

[Kazzh]

Hello ladies

Well I'm back in a hospital bed 4 weeks after being declared NED 🙄

Woke up Thursday in agony with tummy cramps then severe vomiting 🤢

Rushed to A & E and had a twisted bowel so here I am recovering after, thankfully, only laparoscopy surgery 🤞

My surgeon was flabbergasted he didn't have to open me up as is often the case, it was only 1 small adhesion causing all the problems. So the god's have been on my side

once again for sure 🙌

Time to rest up & not go too fast, its a frustration when you just want to go!

Any of you had similar bowel issues? What was your recovery like?

XxxxX

[ZenaJ]

Hi Kazzh, I had the same but a couple of years after surgery. Apparently, it can happen at any time. I was in hospital for four days until it cleared and told to eat a low fibre diet. I vomited so much I couldn't believe there could be that much in me. I've been okay since, luckily. Take care. x

[Kazzh in reply to ZenaJ]

Tell me about the vomitting it was non stop! 😩I need advice on diet going forward now. Glad you're doing ok 👍

[ZenaJ in reply to Kazzh]

I didn't really get any advice from the hospital but Ovacome do a booklet on it and you can order it to be posted or I guess see it online. x

[SuffolkJen]

Hi Kazzh

I haven’t experienced this myself but just wanted to wish you well with recovery xx Jen

[DebMac1]

So unfair. I still get intermittent abdominal pain 7 months after surgery in a few spots and cross my fingers that it doesn't escalate. Take care and let's hope this is the last of it.

[SopSinger in reply to DebMac1]

I too had twinges for months after surgery - it's basically everything settling down after being disturbed, nothing to worry about. My oncologist said any new symptom that appeared and persisted for two weeks should be checked out, but otherwise not to worry.

[JustKBO]

yes I have!!!! My sympathy is with you in spades. Be careful I have adhesions too and have been hospitalised 3 times. As you say it is agony. It can also be very dangerous. You must eat little and often. Avoid foods that trigger it and drink plenty of water. Ovacome have a good leaflet explaining what you should eat and avoid. Good luck.

[Kazzh in reply to JustKBO]

Good morning. How horrible for you to be admitted 3 times with this! Do you know what caused it each time or is it simply new adhesions after each surgery? I just wondered if you were given any advice on preventing return of adhesions, for example, massage or specific exercises. I can't find any information on this. Do you still have a low fibre diet? My dietician has advised introducing fibre slowly & eating little & often as you say. The insoluble fibre is the issue, seeds, nuts, skins on fruit & veg etc. I am keen to help myself as much as possible xx

[Motiva]

I wish you a swift recovery. ❤️‍🩹

[SopSinger]

Oh how horrid! Sending hugs!

[Bandung]

Thinking of you, take care. Speedy recovery for you 🙏

[Schnauzer19]

That’s all you needed! 😫 Hope you get well soon ❤️

[Barmycharm]

Hi I had this the year following initial diagnosis full op and chemotherapy. Absolute agony as you say. I was vomiting dark brown coffee granule stuff and had high temperature it was worse than the full debaulking operation. I was in hospital for 3 weeks and had to have emergency surgery in the end, it had twisted and got stuck in the scar tissue. I empathise with you completely and hope you’re feeling well soon The dietary side of it I found hard to balance as they tell you to eat all the bland carbo type food completely opposite to healthy diet of fruit vegs and grains. Also had those milky drinks they give you which was all I could get down me for several weeks. It’s very scarey when the surgeon says it can happen again at any time isn’t it? Touch wood though since then 4 years ago it hasn’t happened again although the cancer has metastasised. Take care xx

[Kazzh]

It's grim isn't it. My surgeon was convinced I'd need open surgery again & have to do alot more so I'm so fortunate it was just keyhole & a few snips to remove adhesion squeezing my bowel. I'm hoping to go home Thursday so here a week in all.The sad fact is that anything can happen anytime & Im so sorry your cancer has come back. Are you in treatment once again?

K xx

[Sunsetime]

Sorry to hear your in hospital, sounds horrible and scary, particularly just after finishing treatment and NED. Wishing you a speedy recovery , sending virtual hugs. Xx

[Emcee71]

Oh Kazzh what a horrible setback. Sending a healing hug. Xx

[Lara1]

Hi Kazzh,

What an awful experience, so sorry for you! When I was in hospital post op I had an awful episode of vomiting and nausea and they were afraid I developed bowel obstruction. They were also speaking about surgery. Luckily, in my case it was a digestive issue which got resolved by emptying my stomach through a tube and not eating for a few days. Ever since I am very careful what I eat.. I also have ileus which I manage with laxatives and dried plums. Now I’m thinking they are high fiber and might be risky. How would anyone know if they have adhesions? Can it be seen on ultrasound? Wishing you speedy recovery, L.

[Sw21 in reply to Lara1]

I have read adhesions do not show up on ultrasound or scans. Not dense enough I believe. About 90% of open abdominal surgeries do result in adhesions. Often, they don’t cause trouble. We ovarian cancer women sure seem to have trouble though.

Stephanie

[Kazzh in reply to Lara1]

My CT scan showed a 'knot' but not the adhesions themselves. Once you have surgery to remove them, it can reoccur because of the surgery so catch 22.Im home now, but struggling with what to eat, I have spoken to a dietician & need to introduce foods gradually, but I have constant diarrhea plus antibiotics for a UTI I also got made it worse. Hopefully it will all get better & I will return to normal with no further recurrence 🤞

Only thing is, due to the risks of Avastin on bowels, after what has happened, they will likely not give it to me as ongoing therapy (its the better one for clear cell) seeing my team next week to discuss it x

[Bumpkin74]

Hi Kazzh, yes I know the pain of twisted bowel! Had internal hernia 2 years ago it caused strangulation and blockage of small intestine. I didn't know pain like that existed!!I had emergency bowel surgery, had to rest up for a month, went back to work after 2 months. Have noticed increased flatulence and general lack of bowel motility so I believe I probably have adhesions.

I had no advice about diet at all really all I can say is listen to your body and identify any foods that cause you any problems. I've increased fibre slowly which has helped to certain degree. Exercise has helped massively, I do a lot of cardio now which definitely helps things moving but obviously you must recover more before anything like that.

It is scary it can happen again, I must admit but you just can't dwell on that. No fear!!

Wishing you a speedy recovery

Best wishes