Small bowel obstruction after op

[PinkPoncho]

I posted on here earlier this year about my op - I had an end-to-end colorectal anastomosis to remove a lipoma from the sigmoid colon.

After the op I had a fever and vomiting and they did a CT scan 2 days after surgery. It showed signs of small bowel obstruction, dilated bowel loops with others compressed. No-one mentioned this to me and after being on liquids for a day or so and having IV antibiotics I starting having hospital foof and was then allowed home. I was told I could eat normally.

At the follow up 2 weeks later I'd been getting some pains and diarrhea but was reassured this would probably settle with time, i asked if there was anything specific i should look out for in terms of complications and was told anything unusual, and to go to the GP as a first port of call.

I was still having problems but the GP said the same kind of thing, they were going to refer me back but then they did a blood test and it was good, no signs of inflammation.

Then I got a copy of my hospital notes through as I just felt there was something I was unaware of, and found out about the CT scan after the op. A couple of days later, i was getting quite severe pain after lunch, in the middle of my tummy around the belly button. So I called the GPs and made an emergency appointment, in was Friday afternoon and I was worried about it getting worse when they were closed. I took the CT report with me to show the GP for advice.

However, although i explained about having the recent surgery and the location of the pains, she examined me and said she could feel tenderness in the stomach, she then wrote me a prescription for Omeprazole and told me it was Gastritis. I asked was there anything else, and she said no. Feeling a bit embarrassed, I went home to look up Gastritis. Found that I should eat little and often, wholesome foods including fresh fruit and veg. I do that anyway, however I made sure I ate 'healthily' including 'Fruit N Fibre" healthy eating soups with chunky beg and wholeweat pasta, yoghurt with granola, chunky salads from the health food shop, cut out coffee and tea and replaced it with herbal tea.

Two weeks later I was hospitalised as an emergency with small bowel obstruction, needed to stay in nearly a week. Luckily it cleared and i didn't have to have an op, however it was an awful experience. My stomach was greatly extended according to the CT, and there was extensive multiple coiled loops with the rest compressed and the colon also compressed

I feel so upset about what happened. They advised me in the hospital (this time) to follow a low fibre diet. I'm doing this and it's helping, I still get some pains but not that bad.

I feel upset no-one told me sooner and am about to write to the GP's and say that sometimes it seems small bowel obstruction can cause tenderness in the stomach. that they could have told me about the fibre, and to rest the bowel if i start to get pains.

Why would the hospital not have informed me, other than carelessness? I read that those loops can occur with post-operative ileus, however I didn't suffer with that.

Many thanks

[PinkPoncho]

Thank you. The op was 3 months ago and the obstruction has been the last couple of weeks, so they think it is adhesions. interesting to know about the opiate analgesia. However after my op it all worked ok and had been to the loo several times ok before the CT, so don't think that had happened with me. I wonder if adhesions would be causing the obstruction 2 days after the surgery.

yes i know no point in being cross, it's just I had a hard time before the op where they didn't pick up a 6cm+ lipoma causing intussusception and I was left in that situation for nearly 2 weeks, it was awful.

So would have thought would have been careful.

[caregiver222]

They were careless, however the important thing is you have recovered. It's the nature of the beast. Getting mad at them is like getting mad at your pet goldfish.  The most common cause of post-operative obstruction is use of an opiate for post operative pain. Opiates stop peristalsis and movement of feces. Usually this will work it's way out with sufficient hydration. The emergency procedure to clear the bowel and avoid a resection may involve provision of naltrexane or naloxone, an opiate antagonist. Some physicians do this while under anaesthesia. That is not to say this is the reason for your obstruction.