LAP HERNIA REPAIR AND PERFORATED COLON AFTERMATH TROUBLES PLEASE HELP

   I am begging for help please. 2 years ago, I had an incisional hernia repair. During the surgery, the surgeon nicked my small intestine 3 times. I went back into the hospital later that evening. I got septic and peritonitis and ended up having 5 resections done. About a foot of small intestine was removed, and had an extended right hemicolectomy. I have since then, have had horrible diarrhea and SEVERE cramping and pain with BMs. I am sometimes in the bathroom for 9 hours at a time. I have had endoscopies, colonoscopies, small bowel follow through, cat scans, everything. I have lost 60 lbs since the surgery. I have been to Mayo Clinic 4 times. They did diagnose me finally with C-Diff which was treated with antibiotic. I was hoping this would solve the problem. I have been taking Cholestyramine for diarrhea and/or immodium. The problem with it is, is when I take it, it usually does hold me off for a few hours, but I end up in worse shape the next day. I call it "make up time." It is totally miserable. I get very sick if I don't have diarrhea all day. Anything that is in there, makes me nauseated and the pain is so severe, I take Oxycontin, which doesn't help too much with the cramping, just the pain. It also makes me so sick, that I lay on the couch for 4 days until all is out.  I only take half to 1 packet of the Questran.
Sometimes, It doesn't pay for me to take it unless I need to go to the store or a Dr.s appt. Is there anything at all you might be able to shed some light on for me? I get totally exhausted from sitting on the toilet all day. And the pain gets so bad when I am going, and I can feel it moving through, that I sweat profusely. My life has been at a standstill and I am a prisoner in my own home. I am scheduled to have a enteroclysis study done. They are checking for any narrowing in my colon. Please note, that I also had my ileocecal valve removed, my cecum and other parts. They said my ileocecal valve being removed shouldn't cause this much trouble. I am very desperate for help if you can please give me insight or any information. Thank you very much. Also, one Dr. says I don't have hardly any Large colon left except about 2 foot. Mayo said I had plenty. !  I am getting answers that are different. The Dr. that said I didn't have hardly any left, just did a colonoscopy too..

[Jaybay]

First, get copies of ALL your surgical reports.  Sometimes reviewing your own records helps you get a clearer picture, and also helps you formulate questions to review with your doctor.  Since it looks like you're going to have problems for some time, keeping copies of all your records will help tremendously if you ever need to pursue a disability claim.

The first problem you have is transit time. From what you've written, I'm not at all suprised that everything just goes straight through your body.  Since the colon is the organ that removes water from waste, and you don't have all that much colon left, you're going to have a certain amount of diarrhea.

Next problem - your severe pain.  I think it's a great idea that your docs are checking for narrowing at your various anastomosis sites.  Sometimes when the rejoined bowel ends heal, the natural scar tissue gets too tight and causes pain when waste moves through.  

That brings me to the subject of scar tissue - adhesions.  After a perfed bowel and peritonitis, your entire gut was assaulted with infection and inflammation.  I would about bet money that you also have a belly full of adhesions.  They don't show up on tests, but they can cause a whole lot of pain depending on what structures they've attached to.  An exploratory laparscopy surgery is needed to both diagnose and treat adhesions.  Bring this subject up with your doctor.

[weez1967]

Well, if I have too many adhesions, wouldn't an exploratory be dangerous?
They did say I had a lot of adhesions and scar tissue. I had cancer about 12 yrs ago and had radiation and also a C-section. So, I am full of scar tissue. The complaint with my attorney is that I should of never had a lap surgery done in the first place due to all the previous adhesions, that the surgeon said I had during the exploratory lap to find out what the problem was when I crashed.  We are trying to put a case together and see if there was any negligence. I should of been opened up when he had trouble with the lap during hernia repair anyway.  You seem to know what you are talking about! Thank you...

[mr.lucky66]

Sorry to hear about your serious complications. Was this Surgeon incompetent? I know these things can happen but did he take any responsiblity? Does the oxycodone slow down your GI problems.? All the best

[Jaybay]

Well, there is actually a name for patients like you and me weez: ARD patients (Adhesion Related Disorder).  I've had too many surgeries to count for obstructions due to adhesions over many years, and yes, the idea is to avoid surgery if at all possible so as to avoid making the problem worse.  Once I'm obstructed though, there's no more choice.  So the idea is to do it laparascopically so as to inflame as little tissue as possible.  Not always an easy task in patients who basically have Super Glue in their guts.  :-)

What do your current docs have to say about your adhesions?  Are they telling you that surgery is a huge NO NO unless and until you have a full bowel obstruction?  A great deal depends on the individual surgeon's skills.  Some are just more careful and go slower than others so as to be as gentle as possible.  Some are just butchers in my book, and in such a blasted hurry they won't take the necessary time to go canny with adhesions patients.