Surgery 4 weeks ago

[cthomas]

Hi

I havent posted here for a while hope everyone is doing ok!

I had my surgery on 27th March - 20cm of small bowel they said there was a large amount of fat wrapping also i'm still unsure what this means, they also removed some of the large bowel around 10cm and have said of a chronic sub acute obstruction (again not sure what this means). I have been off work since the surgery so 4 weeks or so now and thought I was getting on quite well not much pain - only the obvious from the scars etc. However the problems have occurred this week with 3 occasions of severe stomach pains to the lower part of my stomach. I have attended a&e once for this and been told this is constipation and although this maybe the case it does not feel like it - the pains I have had are on par with the worst pains I experienced before surgery. I have felt unwell before and when the pains occur and have been close to the vomiting stage. I saw my gp yesterday who also advises this maybe constipation and they have given me buscopan to try to resolve. I just wondered if anyone else has experienced such severe pains after surgery? I am due back in work next week and am not feeling like I can do that at the moment.

Any advise would be appreciated

Thanks

 

[Jennifer]

"Fat wrapping has been defined as fat hypertrophy extending from the mesenteric attachment with >50% coverage of the intestinal surface (3)." http://www.practicalgastro.com/pdf/June06/ArsenescuArticle.pdf

That entire article is about fat wrapping and its role. Its a quick read but sounds basically like a term used by surgeons to describe a lot of inflammation of the intestines surface.

Chronic sub acute obstruction, meaning a long lasting partial blockage.



As far as surgery goes I did have complications with mine but symptoms showed within a week after surgery. I got an infection and it brought a lot of pain, weakness, nausea followed by uncontrollable vomiting. My intestines had healed and so did my muscle tissue and the skin for the most part but the fat layer below the skin had not. I was on high doses of Prednisone and Entocort before my surgery so the fat layer was thicker and an infection started and spread which started poisoning me. My skin broke open, orange smelly goo came out and I had to be cut back open (just the layer of skin but I was awake and could feel it, it was an emergency situation with no time for medication to take effect). Sounds horrible I know but that was over a decade ago and I'm fine now.

My point is, its possible that you could be dealing with something similar. Is your surgical site red or inflamed looking? Does it hurt in general (your scar)? Do you have a fever? Do you feel that you're getting worse rather than better? It is possible to have an infection one month after surgery and you've been feeling this way for a while already. Maybe try another hospital and let them know that you think it may be infected and let your GI and surgeon know and they'll likely want to see you asap. Have you contacted them already? What did they say?

 

[archie]

I would get very strong cramps sometimes after I've eaten which ease After I go to the loo and I'm also usually constipated, that said I don't ever vomit so n your case it could be a partial blockage caused by adhesions and will need further investigation at this stage. Can you get a review with your surgeon as 4 weeks post surgery you will still be under his care. Don't except a diagnosis of constipation as even if it is that shouldn't be the case so soon after a resection. Goodluck and hope u feel better soon

 

[cthomas]

Thank you both for the replies. The situation has hasnt got any worst or better at the moment. My scar does hurt but does not look inflammed etc. I have notice this has got worst over the past week when obviously I thought I would be over the worst of this now. I have felt very tired and am unsure why as this was not a problem in the first few weeks after surgery. I will call my surgeon and see if I can get an appointment, I know I was due to see him 3 weeks after surgery but still no appointment.

 

[Jennifer]

Good luck and keep us posted on what the surgeon says.