Gas, bloating and bowel emptying

[Bionic Granny]

I need help about the explosive bowel movements that I often have and the pain after eating. My surgeon is as stumped as I am and I don't know how much longer my faith can hold out. I would like to as least have part of my normal life back. Had a nissan fundoplication in May,2000 and had complications from the surgery, which included lost of spleen. I have had nine incisional hernias,repaired with mesh. The only meds I am on now or Loratabs 5mg, and we are experimenting with gas aides (over the counter) I was on Chlor/Clid, but that no longer helps. Don't know what to do. My GI says I have a spastic colon, a nice way of saying it is your nerves. If that is the case, why is this happening,after the nissan and not before. My life is not normal anymore and cannot go out to eat, without leaving early. I eat very slowly. My food is usually cold before I am finished. I eat alot of high fiber foods, but I was doing that before the nissan. I DO NOT eat red meat. Please HELP!!!!

[pikamom]

It is possible to eat too much fiber in your diet. I recently changed my cereal from cream of wheat to shredded wheat, and for three days strait had severe stomache pain/bloating and diahrea each afternoon. It finally dawned on me it was the cereal. Went back to cream of wheat and I've been feeling much better.

[pikamom]

PS. I reread your post and see that you ate alot of fiber before your nissan as well as after. Maybe your body can't handle as much now as before. Obviously something changed after your surgery and now you're having problems. Something like this can be hard to pinpoint. The best thing to do is not change everything all at once, but just one thing at a time and see what happens. Hope you start feeling better soon.

[Bionic Granny]

I know about too much fiber and we have also tried the process of elimination of foods that could be causing my problem. Milk products were the only thing I had to give up and now drink Lactaid. I forgot to mention I also have severe bouts with vertigo--hoping they can fix that soon. Thanks for the suggestion, but as they say "been there, done that". I know eventually, we will find out what is causing this and they will take care of it. Thanks Pat.

[JessRyan]

Have you had a CT scan of the abdomen?  What about Chron's or Colitis.  I have had several abdominal surgeries (including 2 c-sections)  I have endometrioma's in the abdominal wall.  In any case I recently had a small bowel follow through where the barium went through my small intestine in less than 20 minutes.  I had this test because a CT scan showed area of thickened Bowel.  Previous to that (years) I was diagnosed with spastic colon (IBS) and nothing helped.  I would think it's more mechanical by the sounds of allthough I am under tremendous stress I have had things like elevated liver enzymes and noticable things like on the CT scan.  I wish you the best and hope you get answers soon.  I also take Lortab (10/500) for pain daily and it's supposed to constipate. Go figure.
God Bless
Jess Ryan

[pikamom]

Pat, I just read your other post describing the complications you had following your surgery. Um, it sounds pretty bad what happened and I don't think your surgeon is being truthful with you about your condition now. It seems to me that the infection and then everything spilling out probably caused alot of scar tissue everywhere in your abdomen. Of course your surgeon won't admit this because you might sue him. Scar tissue is nasty stuff, if you have adhesions on the outside of your colon, it's preventing it from moving correctly. My theory is that your colon is indeed "spastic", it can't move right becuase of the scars and so it starts to spasm because it must move the food through. I'm telling you this because I live with bladder spasms day in and day out. IT makes me feel strong urges to pee constantly. My bladder is covered on the inside with scars and becuase it's constantly filling and the scars can't expand, my bladder just spasms. It's incredibly painful and debilitating. So I think that's what's happening with your colon.

[Bionic Granny]

Just wanted to say, my Doctor has been amazingly helpful in trying to figure how what's going on. He's only a surgeon--it's my GI I'm having problems believing. My surgeon has shown us all the test results and x-rays. I do believe you all are right about the scar tissue-it never occured to me that I could have scar tissur form so soon. I've had surgery every four months since May,2000. I have a cabinet full of acid drugs and other medications that we have tried. My GI told me that because I was on Loratabs that I needed extra fiber in my diet,because it causes constipation---jokes on him. Even Zolof causes constipation and I was on that at the same time--double wammy and still severe diarrhea. I just got off the phone with my surgeons nurse, we have become close and she has been helpful, too. We sometimes joke about this, but it really is not funny, when you are in constant pain. Wish I weren't married sometimes, because I could get disability. Thanks guys, it's nice to know there are people with the same problems. I wish they had a support group out here, because I would be there. God Bless all of you.

[pikamom]

Pat, you can get disability even if you are married. I started getting SSD 5 years ago because of my IC, some days I'm literally in the bathroom every 10 minutes. I'm married and the SSD gives you a check based on your past earnings. Yes, it sounds like you could benefit greatly from a support group. It must be so hard for you, hopefully things will settle out, but if they don't you could get depressed living with pain and disability. Have you had a problem with depression?

[Bionic Granny]

I've been suffering from sympthomatic depression since my surgery. And today, the lawyer sent the results of the hearing and I cried all afternoon. It is the opinion of the Medical review board, that the hospital did all they could to keep me safe. Bull-hockey, some worker was too lazy to wash their hands and I suffered for it. 30 seconds is all it takes to wash away germs from a previous patient. I will be seeing the surgeon on the 25th and I will be tested for fibromyalgia.I'm really getting sick of doctors and I don't know who to trust. I just want my active life back again, but I'm afraid that is not possible. I do believe in miracles and am still praying for one. Thanks for the support--I really do appreciate it.

[reb]

Maybe you could try an anti-spasmodic to try to control the symptoms of your colon. I have had chronic stomach/intestinal pain and my doctor gave me an antispasmodic which has helped my colon symptoms. Just a thought.

[Bionic Granny]

Thanks for the suggestion, but I was on Chlor/Clid for quite some time. At first it kept my colon from swelling, but now it no longer helps and I became addicted to it. I tried Reglan to speed up digestion, but got severe leg cramps and nausea from it. We tried Reglan three different times to see if food might be making me sick--NOT. I have a stomach that produces too much acid, so I can't stay on any medication for too long. Beside there are not too many drugs that are good for your system for long periods. Like I said before, only eating once a day is my only solution for now. I know it's not healthy, but I'm in pain and that's how I'm coping right now. Thanks-Pat