Abdominal adhesions

[Lizzylily]

Has any one had any problems with abdominal adhesions the doctor seems to think mine have recurred from a previous operation that was supposed to cure them before I would like to know a little more about it

[bantam12]

Unfortunately adhesions form after surgery so it's a never ending circle. I've had them divided but they just come back again.

[Lizzylily in reply to bantam12]

Does that mean there's nothing that can be done

[bantam12 in reply to Lizzylily]

Depends on which bits are stuck together and how it affects you.

[Lizzylily in reply to bantam12]

Yes i think your right I've had 3 surgeries 1 being an adhesion repair it certainly hasn't solved the problem it would be good to get a surgeon like Stephanie's that would give me a lot of hope, they are life changing painful.

[Stephanie6637]

Following a total hysterectomy I started to have a lot of low abdominal pain it turned out to be adhesions. I had them taken down a number of times but they just kept returning. Unfortunately it's a risk with any abdominal surgery. I had a lovely consultant who was happy to keep doing them which was usually around every 18 months to two years. The last time I had them done was 2011, his registrar said they were the worst he had seen both my bladder and colon were stuck to the pelvic wall. I still have twinges but nowhere near as bad I am sure he said they had put something between the adhesions to try and stop them reforming. I do however have bladder problems now due to the adhesions. Look up adhesiolysis it will explain a bit more. If you want to know anything else please ask.

[Lizzylily in reply to Stephanie6637]

Thank you stephanie that was very informative

[Elaine105cat]

Glad I am not alone. I have suffered with right sided pain for for 46 years since having my appendix removed. I had all sorts of problems and pain over the years. I had two D and C’s. But still had lots of problems and pain. So then I had a Hysterectomy through the letter box so to speak lol. But they found during the op that I had severe Endometriosis which made the operation much more difficult. That was 1998. I still had pain so had two further laparoscopies they couldn’t get to anything because everything is so stuck together a bled when they tried to pull it apart. I was then given a course of injections to ensure the ovaries were dead. That was over twenty years ago. As I write this at age 69. I have the worst pain ever in my right side and over my pelvis. This has been over two months of constant pain. Because of lock down I have left it but tomorrow I will ring my Doctor. I can’t live with this pain. But I ha e felt that no one cares enough to try and help.

[Lizzylily in reply to Elaine105cat]

Yes I'm worried with the present covid problems it will just get ignored. I think my gp surgery is in lockdown its impossible to get in for anything even paperwork.

[Konagirl60 in reply to Elaine105cat]

Have you ever been offered a fentanyl duragesic patch?

What about IV ketamine?

Can you sleep?

I feel for you. I’m 63 and I’ve been dealing with pudendal neuropathy since I was 51.

I’ve got adhesions from three surgeries done in 2011, 2017 and 2018.

[Lizzylily]

I've been on fentanyl patches for years with a back problem along with amyitryptaline, they want to put me on more pain killers but I think I'm on enough head banging stuff I find if I lie still and put hot water bottle on it I'm able to sleep just have to be very careful what I get up to in the day. And hope for the best. Thank you for your reply.

[BearMamma in reply to Lizzylily]

What mcg of Fentanyl are you on if you don’t mind me asking? I’m on 175 and have been told that opiates can cause pain so the pain consultant is wanting to reduce it but I’m concerned x

[Amkoffee]

Up until my hysterectomy the only surgery to my abdomen was a cesarean. I had terrible adhesions and when I had my hysterectomy they also took out all of the adhesions. I've been very fortunate that I've been symptom-free since then. And that was 25 years ago.

[Lizzylily]

I'm very pleased that your problem has been sorted good luck for the future

[Downtheroadapiece]

My understanding is the same as Bantam12's. This website gives a pretty clear description: bupa.co.uk/health-informati...

I have now had three total obstructions in the last 5 years that required open surgery to sever the adhesions. Doctors have linked them to open surgery I had 18 years ago for appendicitis. The first bowel obstruction was 5 years ago, the next 2 years ago and the last one last month. The first one was treated as an immediate emergency, operated on within about 4 hours of admission because my bowel was becoming distended and it turned out that the blood supply to part of it was also interrupted. On the two later occasions they were able to try non-surgical measures first for about 3 days, including inserting a tube up my nose to drain my stomach, and a single dosage with Gastographin. The first two events were treated at North Tyneside General and at Cramlington A&E, and the last at the RVI in Newcastle. There have also been other occasions when they managed to clear the obstructions without the need for surgery.

The conclusion I have is drawn is that I just have live with the prospect of it happening again. After my first experience, which I was later told was life threatening, I have gone straight to A&E as soon as I had a pain that couldn't be quickly relieved by paracetomol. That decision has never been queried or challenged by the medical staff. I'm wary now of staying anywhere more than an hour's drive away from A&E, and have moved from the country to the edge of Newcastle, but otherwise live a pretty normal lifestyle.

I have had no specific advice about diet, but a retired GP I know suggested eating slowly, little and often. I think that has helped a lot. Online I have seen a suggestion of a low fibre diet, but I'm wary of that because I'm also troubled by constipation.

Hope this helps.

[Lizzylily in reply to Downtheroadapiece]

Thank you so much for taking the time to reply I have found it very interesting and helpful especially eating little and often I have started to do that, and found a big improvement , all the best hope you remain free of problems.

[Amywoodx]

Hi I just wondered how you are feeling now as I’m also concerned about adhesions. I had a laproscopy 21st September and they found an adhesion to my abdominal wall but I’m now experiencing bad pain again and it won’t go away. I don’t know if it’s due to internal healing but I’m very concerned and disheartened as I feel like it’s a never ending cycle.