Please can anyone help me avoid surgery!

[desirees3dolphins]

Going on 4 months now, I haven't been able to eat without my stomach hurting, the most I can eat is crackers and very bland soup.  I have had a colonoscopy and endoscopy done as well, they found a polyp in my colon which was begnin and severe erosion from my esophagus down into my stomach due to acid reflux (which I have suffered with for many years and have been on Prevcid for)  however, I continued to have more symptoms, the nausea started and then this stabbing pain in my right flank.  I did have Pyloric Stenosis when I was born and at 2 weeks of age it was corrected, I have also had multiple laporoscopies for endometriosis and ovarian cysts, however, I did have a complete hysterectomy in 99 for a large tumor in my uterus and over both ovaries, and last year I had melanoma on my back that ate away through the layers of skin.  My doctor ordered an ultrasound and found a mass 3cm big on my liver and did a follow-up MRI with contrast for that due to my cancer history.  The stomach emptying was fine, but I could only manage to eat 3 bites of the oatmeal needed for the tests (was this enough)  I recently had a small bowel barium x-ray series done (it was very difficult) the barrium went through my whole system very very quickly but then came to a complete stop at the ilicecal valve.  

They tried for 3 hours to get it to go through, but it just wouldn't, finally it did, but the barrium would go up a little and slip back down, this went on on the screen for 10 minutes until they finally gave up.  After I got home that day from the small bowel series I have extreme cramping in my right lower abdomen area, I had been having this pain off and on but chaulked it up to my scar tissue pulling like I have been told before, twice during my laporoscopies in the early 90's my doctor had to detach my stomach from my uterus (i think those were the organs that were attached)  I no longer have a gallbladder, it was removed in 2003.  I have lost 15 lbs since thanksgiving, and continue to wkly, my blood work showed my potassium is very low 3.1., however, they do not know why it is low, I don't have diarreah.  But when you have been living on crackers for 4 months, I dont know what else they expect really.  Any help, suggestions, would be much apprectiated.

[Aloha_aaah]

Hello Desiree,

I suffered with teh same- and still do at time if I'm not careful. I understand , the pain can eb dibilitating.

First- off, during an ATTACK (Bloating, pain, awfulness, extreme fatique, heart arythmia) is my sign that I'm having a ICV issue.
I instantly take plenty of M7's (from my Naturopath). This is a strong enzyme.

However, prevention is key. Here's what works. Be diligent, exactly for 2 weeks. You WILL thank me if you don 't cheat off this plan.
1)cook ALL veggies - NO RAW PRODUCE!!!! Steaming or cooking soiftens teh fiber.
2) cook (not overly) all fruit (stick with baked apples or applesauce) unsweetened of course- as natural as possible
3) brown rice- eat 3 times daily (breakfast/lunch/dinner)
Eat witha  protein such as salmon, organic chicken or free range eggs.
4)No sauces. No spices. Only sea salt.
Chick peas or grabanzo beans are also wonderful and help energy.
5) Water is your only drink, possible some teas- as long as they don;t aggravate.
Good luck with it! It will prevent surgery and give your excited or sluggish ICV time to repair.
PS~ MY physician said massaging the right abs (inside right pelvic bone area/by pubic area) for about 1 minute releases gas (and you will actually hear gurgling if you got it moving). Be sonsistent with eating- and if you can, walk daily for 20 minutes to keep innards working properly.
As a Personal FItness Trainer, I'm very healthy- but even healthy people can battle these issues.  :o)

[desirees3dolphins]

thanks for your help, I go through the upper GI again tomorrow, but I really don't think they will see this big ucler that they think they will.  the funny thing is the PA didn't even mention that the barruim wouldn't go through the ICV.  So I don't know, all that I know is that I'm losing weight and not trying, not able to eat and my stomach hurts when I do eat.  She did prescribe me Carafeate, which is a solution you drink right before you eat and it's suppose to work like a band aide. well it doesn't work.  I am just exhausted all the time now, so I just don't know where to turn to next.

[CalGal]

Desirees, to try to work with the ileocecal valve, look to someone well-trained in visceral manipulation - they may also be able to help you with adhesions. There's some interesting literature about the ileocecal valve (ICV) working with cadavers showing that there are a few key ligaments that hold the structure in place and in 'alignment.' When those ligaments were 'skewed' via partial or full severing - which malpositioned the valve - changes occured in the flow of fluids into the valve. When the ligaments were 'restored' via suturing and the ICV and the cecum where again correctly positioned, movement of chyme moved properly. In addition, if the cecum isn't 'filled' (volume-wise) it will not achieve stretch and forward propulsion of the contents.

It's worth a try and it may help you to return to functioning properly. Check the iahp website and look for someone in your area or surrounding areas with a lot of experience in the modality.