Stomach not working?

[pondriver]

My dad had some stomach surgery at the end of May 09. The surgery was to remove and clean up blockage from ulcers and or polips? He spent 2 weeks in ICU. We transfered to another hospital. Doctor said his stomach was asleep and it had to "wake up". I don't understand what is going on. His stomach basically fills with bile and they have to pump it out. He has not eaten anything since the surgery and very little liquids. Can anyone explain this to me? Thanks.

[deerslayerdave]

My brother has the same issue.  It has been 8 weeks now since the surgery.  I would be interested to know if your father recovered, and if so what they did to get his stomach working again.  Thanks.

David

[Matthew007]

ah ok so yeah there's a chance they could have nicked the stomach valve muscle or vagnus nerve...at least they ruled out inflammation as a cause.  If the surgery was near the stomach valve it could easy have affected the stomach valve muscles.

well 4 weeks is a long time...i'm not an expert or doctor at all but I agree i'd be nervous too.  Have they put him on reglan yet?  That's what some patients take for gastropareisis (i'd google that) but yeah sounds like your father might require more sugery.  Follow your doctors advice but in the meantime you can research gastroparesis (probably spelled wrong) and research options.  Hang in there :S

[pondriver]

There was some discussion about a nerve that was cut. An "acid nerve". The surgery was at the stomach/intestine juncture. He is still in the hospital and they are doing more test today. All the swelling from the surgery is supposedly ok. Surgeon said there were no blockages. He stated that his stomach just needed time to start working again. It will be 4 weeks this thursday. We are getting worried.

[Matthew007]

i'm not a doctor but i'll take a guess...

there's a nerve in the stomach that's called I *think* the vagnus nerve that when it senses food in the stomach it tells the stomach valve (at the end of the stomach) to open up and let the food pass on (gives the stomach time to break down the food)

sometimes patients with severe gastroparesis opt for surgery and have the nerve cut, which leads the stomach valve to stay open OR have surgery on the muscle that opens and shuts the stomach.

When they did surgery on your father's stomach they might have either damaged the nerve or cut the muscle or something is wrong with one or both of the 2...or there's severe gastritis or healing that is blocking the exit of the stomach.  Usually after surgery you have inflammation so it might be post op inflammation causing this.. (i'd ask whoever did it or your GI specialist for you dad)..something might be wrong with the stomach valve.  Usually if you have bile in your stomach that means your stomach valve is stuck open *i think..* or opening at the wrong times..the stomach valve on a empty stomach should be closed near 100% and only open when food is in the stomach.  His sounds like it's open more than it should be by some factor..

In in the meantime i'd have your dad lie down only on his right side to help with stomach emptying...eat liquids like you're doing and keep pushing for answers.  Sometimes they might opt to do surgery where the bile drain from the liver/gallbladder is much lower so the chances of bile in the stomach are lowered.  I wouldn't lie down right after eating..that'll just cause reflux like he's having.  Just imagine your dad's stomach with the stomach emptying on the right side.. and do everything you can to help keep that bile out (which will cause more ulcers and problems and might require more surgery)  Sorry to hear about your dad :S

that's the little info I know about stomach issues like that..