HELP! Pregnant and Need Surgery ASAP

[Pamela]

I am freaking out.

I was scheduled for a small bowel resectioning Oct 14th due to an abnormal
dilatation of small bowel loops within the upper and mid abdomen with evidence of significant wall thickening of loops of small bowel just distal to this
segment. The findings are compatible with segmental enteritis with a partial
small bowel obstruction. I also have a mass on my lower right quadrant that is painful to touch. Seams to be my thicken intestines.

On Friday 10-11 my wedding anniversary I found out I am pregnant. After seeing my OB and doing blood work I am 3/4 weeks. I have met with all my doctors and my GI feels I need to have this surgery very very soon before my partial blockage becomes a complete blockage. I can tell he does not think I am healthy enough to carry a baby right now. His main concern is If I go without the surgery and need an emergency operation which can put my life and the babies life is at risk. I am heart broken and do not know what to do.

I had a CT scan 2 weeks ago as well and I know the radiation is not good to do at all when pregnant but especially when in the first few weeks.

What do I do...Any advise or similar situations would help please.

 

[Lisa]

If it were me, I would seriously consider going for the surgery now, if your GYN is on board with that. You really don't want to risk emergency surgery if you can help it at all.

I know this is a very personal decision, one that only you (with your husband) can make - it might help to sit down and write a list of benefits vs. risks looking at it from both siides...this can take some of the emotional thinking out of the process.

No matter what, we are all here to give whatever support you may need!

 

[Pamela]

If it were me, I would seriously consider going for the surgery now, if your GYN is on board with that. You really don't want to risk emergency surgery if you can help it at all.

I know this is a very personal decision, one that only you (with your husband) can make - it might help to sit down and write a list of benefits vs. risks looking at it from both siides...this can take some of the emotional thinking out of the process.

No matter what, we are all here to give whatever support you may need!

Thank you for taking the time to comment. I was really hoping someone with a similar situation would read this. I feel all doctors are to conservative and never want to give their opinion. I guess they think someone will sue if it turns out different. I am waiting to see a Perinatal doctor on Tuesday to see what they say.

 

[Jane_MM]

Hi Pamela, how are you doing? Congratulations on your pregnancy, but wow, I really feel for you that it isn't great timing. I'm sorry I haven't been in the same position either, though I have just had resection surgery a few weeks ago, and have had three lovely children during the last 6 years. It's not a medical point of view, but my feeling would be to get the surgery as soon as possible, if the surgeons and gastros say that it needs doing now despite the pregnancy. It would be much better to do it in a planned way than as an emergency if a blockage happened, and recovery would probably be easier earlier in the pregnancy. I am also assuming planned rather than emergency would have a much better chance for the baby, and that you would then be ok to carry the baby. But see what the perinatal dr says tomorrow, I assume that's an obstetrician type dr? I've read that most people's Crohn's do well in pregnancy, though I always had flare ups during mine, and immediately after giving birth. I think that as the baby grows and takes up more room in your tummy, your intestines have to be getting squashed which can't be good for them - and so maybe it would be better to take out the problem section before you get to that stage. Anyway sorry I rambled a bit, but loads of luck for whatever you decide. Oh and whatever happens try not to worry about having had the CT scan when you didn't even know you were pregnant. Let us know how everything goes x

 

[Pamela]

Hi Pamela, how are you doing? Congratulations on your pregnancy, but wow, I really feel for you that it isn't great timing. I'm sorry I haven't been in the same position either, though I have just had resection surgery a few weeks ago, and have had three lovely children during the last 6 years. It's not a medical point of view, but my feeling would be to get the surgery as soon as possible, if the surgeons and gastros say that it needs doing now despite the pregnancy. It would be much better to do it in a planned way than as an emergency if a blockage happened, and recovery would probably be easier earlier in the pregnancy. I am also assuming planned rather than emergency would have a much better chance for the baby, and that you would then be ok to carry the baby. But see what the perinatal dr says tomorrow, I assume that's an obstetrician type dr? I've read that most people's Crohn's do well in pregnancy, though I always had flare ups during mine, and immediately after giving birth. I think that as the baby grows and takes up more room in your tummy, your intestines have to be getting squashed which can't be good for them - and so maybe it would be better to take out the problem section before you get to that stage. Anyway sorry I rambled a bit, but loads of luck for whatever you decide. Oh and whatever happens try not to worry about having had the CT scan when you didn't even know you were pregnant. Let us know how everything goes x

Thank you for taking the time to respond to me. The issue is they think I should not go through with the pregnancy at this time. When I asked my GI what he thinks I should do he said we will get through it whatever you decide to do. I told him he didnt have to answer this, but if I was a family member what would be his recommendation. He said putting religion aside and your health first, I would not continue the pregnancy at this time. He said the good thing is you know you can get pregnant and you can conceive 90 days after the surgery.

Also my surgeon will not operate on me pregnant. He is at Cleveland Clinic and they do not have an Obstetrics Department. He is one for the Top Surgeons in my state at the Top Facility in my state. I have met with a few others but really only want him to do the surgery.

Yes the perinantal doctor deals with high risk pregnancies. My OB said she was told by the perinatal dr that 80% of women who have the resectioning surgery have issues getting pregnant afterwards. That doesn't seem right to me. Does anyone know if this is true too?

 

[Jane_MM]

Oh gosh I'm sorry I didn't realise that they won't operate whilst you're pregnant. That's a much worse decision to make than I was thinking then; I'm so sorry you've got to go through that. What did the perinatal dr say today, were they good at advising you? Re getting pregnant again after surgery, I've read of others who haven't had problems with this, though delivery by section would probably be advised due to the operation scars. Afraid I didn't ask my drs what they thought about me having another baby post my resection, as we aren't planning to. They think 4-6 weeks for recovery from the operation, so 90 days before trying to conceive again hopefully will be plenty of time for you're body to be ready. 80% having 'issues' getting pregnant doesn't mean they didn't at all, it maybe just took a bit longer. I'm sure you've thought of all these points already, sorry. Good luck, take care x

 

[ronroush7]

Just said a prayer.

2

 

[Pamela]

Oh gosh I'm sorry I didn't realise that they won't operate whilst you're pregnant. That's a much worse decision to make than I was thinking then; I'm so sorry you've got to go through that. What did the perinatal dr say today, were they good at advising you? Re getting pregnant again after surgery, I've read of others who haven't had problems with this, though delivery by section would probably be advised due to the operation scars. Afraid I didn't ask my drs what they thought about me having another baby post my resection, as we aren't planning to. They think 4-6 weeks for recovery from the operation, so 90 days before trying to conceive again hopefully will be plenty of time for you're body to be ready. 80% having 'issues' getting pregnant doesn't mean they didn't at all, it maybe just took a bit longer. I'm sure you've thought of all these points already, sorry. Good luck, take care x

Perinatal Dr says I need the surgery very soon as well. She said it is possible to do the surgery while pregnant, I just have to understand the risks involved. Waiting to see if my surgeon (who i really want to do the surgery) will do it or I need to find another surgeon that will. I'm hoping that is not the case my surgeon is one of the best in my state. This is such a tough situation. It is a very scary to have surgery while being a few months pregnant. All I keep thinking is what if something from the surgery causes permanent issues with the baby.

As far as conceiving in the future, I was told by my surgeon that those numbers are crohns patients as a whole. My surgery doesnt not involve my pelvic region so not to worry.

So stressed it make my belly hurts bad
Perinatal said it is ok to take perocet as needed for pain while pregnant yet she would not proscribe it. That was so nice of her. Guess I will be hugging my heating pad and pillow.