Post operation bowel movement delay...

Worried76 said...
Hi all,



My dad did a colostomy about 5 weeks ago and the bowels started its movement a few days later. But due to complications, and adhesions in the intestines, the bowels stopped moving altogether 4 weeks later (during all those weeks my dad was on a whole lot of medications to stabilize his condition - so they might have had a hand in this).

Anyway, another surgery has been made to dissolve the adhesions and it took 4 hours (lots of adhesions). Now, it has been 5 days with no sign of bowel movement.



My question is: how long does it usually take for the bowels to move after dissolving such adhesions?



My understanding is that the dissolving procedure is a pretty invasive procedure for the instines... We are all starting to get worried about the delay and what it might mean.



thank you,

Worried

I hope your Dad is in the hospital because if not he needs to be.

My UC was driving my wife nuts for months. We've been married since December 1974 and it's just been us. We've traveled extensively and both have attended college and grad school together.. Then overnight I'm with UC and she's off on the internet looking this up.. She's scared although she didn't tell me. I knew. known her too long and too well. I'll tell you what I told her. especially when I'm in the hospital room with 3 or 4 IVs in me and a catheter.. I said to her I'm just where I need to be. The doctors know what they are doing, and it will be fine.

Your dad's just where he needs to be. Talk with his doctors. find out all you can about his illness here on the web... the more you know the more questions you can ask his doctors. Don't be afraid to ask questions either.. I know how Doctors get they can sort of brush them off. but be persistent. Knowledge will take some of the fear away.. Also talk to the hospital chaplains. just talking with them will help also..

And hopefully shortly your dad will be fine :)