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Huge distended abdomen

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Posted 11/15/2016 12:25 AM (GMT 0)
I have another freaking hernia and it has been giving me hell. I had a good week of no pain, only to severe pain. Last night, my stomach swelled up so big I couldn't breathe or walk or bend over without excruciating pain. Finally after I thought I was gonna pop, my stoma started passing gas. My stomach sounded like a storm was going on inside. It is still distended, just not as big as last night.

Has anyone heard of this and what can I do to fix it?

I have not gone to the doctor because I don't really trust him anymore. I feel extremely let down by the medical field.
Posted 11/15/2016 2:11 PM (GMT 0)
I don't really know much about hernias but if gas is causing an issue I use a probiotic that helps with gas so I don't get much gas in my pouch. It's Digestive Advantage Gas Defense, most major pharmacies in the US carry it. I love it. I never have air in my bag during the day if I take one when I get up.

Do you have the option of going to another hospital? Possibly get a second opinion from a different CR surgeon?
Posted 11/22/2016 3:39 AM (GMT 0)
I have a hernia that caused my stomach to swell out so much I looked like I was pregnant. It continued to get bigger until I had to have emergency surgery because most the small intestines had pushed through the hernia...not a good one. My doctor told me he had to take out the small intestines and untangle them on the operating table. He used pig skin to create a sling making my stomach so flat and nice again. But it didn't last. As for gas pains, there are a lot of anti acid drugs that can help. And maybe you can figure out which food might have caused the gas.

Does your insurance pay to get a second opinion? Trusting your doctor is important to recovery, in my opinion.
Posted 11/23/2016 12:31 AM (GMT 0)
Nene, did you have a CT scan before the surgery? I am suffering off and on and they are going to do a CT scan when I have severe pain to be sure they can catch what's going on while I'm in the act.
Posted 11/23/2016 12:33 AM (GMT 0)
And oh yeah, I have had 4 parastomal hernias. Everytime my stomach is beautiful and flat, but it doesn't last long before the next hernia comes along and messes up my landscape.
Posted 11/24/2016 4:23 AM (GMT 0)
Your situation sounds like an acute episode of a loop of incarcerated small intestine. That is, a portion of small intestine becomes trapped in the out pocketing which is your hernia.

When the intestine is trapped, it is analogous to a portion of a running water hose that becomes pinched and free flow of water halted.

An incarcerated loop of bowel can become a surgical emergency if the intestine loses blood supply - becoming necrotic.

Your situation sounds potentially quite serious. I would head to the emergency room if the same symptoms manifest themselves.
- K -
Posted 11/25/2016 5:36 AM (GMT 0)
Seashell, thank you for responding. I did go to the doctor and she said she would order a CT scan STAT when I have the pain again. She also thinks it's the intestine getting trapped.

I can tell you the pain is out of this world when it happens. Yikes.
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