Frustrated, surgery was a waste

I had surgery on the 5th of July. My dr thought he was going to do a resection, but when he got in there, he just removed adhesions and scar tissue that he thought were causing obstructions. Yesterday I ended up in the ER again, so surgery apparently was a huge waste. This time though, my dr just admitted me for a day, and let me go home this afternoon.

I'm so mad. If all the obstructions were from scar tissue and not active crohn's, shouldn't surgery have fixed me at least for a little while? Surely I didn't develop enough scar tissue to obstruct me in a month, right?

What do I do next? Just stay on clear liquids and mushy food forever so I don't obstruct? Should I ask my GI to do a scope just in case there's something going on that doesn't show up on CT?

I'm so disappointed, after my first surgery I had years without obstruction, then after the second surgery I had a good 2-3 years before obstructing again. I was hoping for at least a couple years without having to worry that at any moment, with any food I might be running to the ER.

Thanks for listening. I feel like no one can understand how frustrating this is besides my HW "family"

Wow that stinks big time! I think you need to ask the doctor in a non confrontational manner these questions. I am hoping that it is something easy like swelling from your surgery last month. Good luck to you

The same thing happened with my daughter who's Crohn's is in remission. I have been told that adhesions can start growing back within 72 hours and usually with a vengeance but how quickly it gets as bad as before surgery is probably different with different people. I truly hope there is another explanation for your current problem because adhesions are a painful problem without many answers. Perhaps you could goggle adhesions and get more info about them.

I am full of scar tissue and adhesions too, so I understand the frustration. I just had a partial obstruction because of them, and I agree they are no fun! I agree you should discuss this with your doc and see what they say and maybe with a scope they can stretch the dialated area. Giant hugs and I hope you feel better soon. Hugs!

I had a resection on March 4th, I was back to have a CT scan at the end of March and mid April, because I was obstructing again. Like you and Dunny, I am not healing or the surgery didn't take care of the problem. You should ask your surgeon if he/she used anything to stop new adhesions from forming, like Seprafilm. If so then, depending on what type, your problem shouldn't be from adhesions. Seprafilm (and the other films sold under other brands) dissolve at different stages. The one my surgeon used dissolves at 30 days, so most likely my problems are not currently adhesions. They may be motility issues or some new disease or something the doctors can't figure out yet (my money is on that one), but since they started prior to the 30 day mark adhesion is unlikely. I was also readmitted to the hospital in May with a blockage and have had several that I have ridden out at home. I have had more tests in the last 6 months than the last 2 years with more scheduled. I too am wondering if surgery was a waste, but I am hoping that eventually they will figure out what the problem is and finally fix it! As long as you keep pushing for an answer, your doctor should keep looking, if not, find a new doctor!

Zanne, I was posting as you were apparently. I'll have to ask my surgeon if he used anything to stop new adhesions. I wasn't aware of something like that.

I hate to think of so many others going through the same thing as me. Hugs to those of you dealing with this as well. What a frustrating situation.

If any of you or your drs figure out a "fix" to this, please post!!

I'm sorry, Becky :-(

so sorry to hear. But at least we are not alone. we can take care of each other on this site.   it sounds like there are lots of us out there who have had the surgery to find out that we just are not back to normal.  I was begining to think everything was in my head....then my Dr reminded me that no one can make up the tests/blood work/and colonoscopys.  But man, it makes  me wonder why there are so many of us out there who did not find relief from resection surgery.  Hang in there!!