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IBS AFTER TC FOR COLONIC INERTIA - IS IT POSSIBLE?

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Posted 10/27/2007 11:25 PM (GMT 0)
Until I have another CAT scan on my abdomen next week to rule out anything serious (I've had a few issues after the TC and was told that I now have a "lazy" small intestine) I've been given Bentyl for what the surgeon believes is spasms.  He made a statement regarding the lazy small intestine and possible IBS - Is that even possible after having a TC?  I do know that IBS has a "broad" symptoms thing linked to it and for me personally I think that when they don't have an answer for your problems they claim IBS.  Maybe I'm wrong but from all the reading I've done it sure appears that way.

The CAT scan next week will be my third in less than a year of my TC.  There is an evident "mass or lump" on the right side of my abdomen for which I contribute a lot of the tenderness I experience all the time.  The last two CATS came back fine but it leaves to wonder what it is.  I'm not sure if maybe it's where to small intestine has decided to take up residence (seeing I no longer have any female organs and a colon).

Has anyone experienced spasms after their TC?

 

 

Posted 10/28/2007 5:59 PM (GMT 0)
I posted this under another thread, so Robin you will probably read this post twice since I am cutting and pasting it below here.

I've always had issue with internal scar tissue (adhesions). They cannot be seen on any xray, but usually my dr can feel the mass. My surgeon back at CCF even commented that he couldn't believe how much internal scar tissue I accumulated from my surgery in 1984 for my ileostomy til 1986 when I had my hysterectomy. Adhesions were the reason for the hysterectomy. So, I know that some of my crampiness and partial obstructions are related to the adhesions/masses I am known to have. Or just a kink in the intestine... just have to work thru it.

Being really uncomfortable now and then is much better than having a CD flare and being in pain for long periods of time for me. So far, I've not had to have any other abd surgeries since the hysterectomy. The adhesions seem to "let loose" for me by going on a liquid diet and taking pain meds, etc. I have been really fortunate. The bentyl really has helped me. Do you feel any side effects at all from it? 4 a day --- I've been there. Has it seemed to help much?
Posted 10/28/2007 10:09 PM (GMT 0)
Peggy, Thanks for your response here and on the other thread.  It really does make a lot of sense.

I know all too well about scar tissue.  I've had 13 abdominal surgeries for endometriosis and eventually a hysterectomy in 2003.  12 of these surgeries were done lap between 1984 and 2003 however one was done open back in 1988 in order for them to "clean house" with the entometriosis tissue.

My TC was done 11-09-06 and was also done lap (to reduce the risk of scar tissue that open can cause).  The sugery was supposed to only take three to four hours but ended up being an eight and a half hour surgery - the longest lap surgery my surgeon ever had and he's done thousands of these surgeries.

With the information you've given me it all makes sense.  What do they do for partial obstructions or the kinks that you suffer with?  I really do believe this is what happens to me.

You're right on as far as having discomfort here and there now compared to the pain and discomfort prior to my TC for Colonic Inertia.  People who've never suffered with chronic constipation (which consisted of my entire life) do not know the pain and discomfort it causes.

I just started taking the Bentyl Friday afternoon and so far I haven't felt any side effects with taking it four times a day.  I can say that it has improved the discomfort quite a bit but I still have discomfort.  Do or did you have any side effect while taking it?

Since I've answered you on this thread I will not address it on the TC thread - just a not saying I've already chatted with you here.

Again, thanks for the info - it's greatly appreciated!!!!

 

Posted 10/28/2007 11:13 PM (GMT 0)
I don't know but have you had a pill camera?

http://www.uihealthcare.com/news/pacemaker/2004/summer/camerainapill.html

Posted 10/28/2007 11:40 PM (GMT 0)
Robin,

I am a little confused. How do you define IBS? What are you symptoms since your TC other than spasms? Are you on the Bentyl for the spasms? Bentyl is a very old medication and works fairly well for spasms. Is your primary concern since the surgery the IBS, the spasms, the mass, or all three?
Posted 10/28/2007 11:47 PM (GMT 0)
Robin,

The idea that you have some type of mass in your abdomin really bothers me! Why don't you have some clarification about this mass from your doctors? Have they give you an idea of what this is? This makes me nervous for you. My mother had a mass in her and the Drs dismissed it for years. It ended up being a very large tumor. My friend had a mass also and after 3 Drs and two year of persistant questions she learned it was cancer. I believe that if something does not belong in my body..then it needs to be REMOVED. If that mass does not belong there, why haven't they decided to remove it? Please get some clarification on this. I would hate for you to have something serious going on and not be aware of it.

Thanks,
Posted 10/29/2007 1:49 AM (GMT 0)
Robin  - I'm glad I could help.  I, too, like Amey, would want you to rule out everything and am glad that you are having the ultrasound this week.  Be sure that the docs rule out 'everything' before you assume it is scar tissue/adhesions.  I went thru the whole testing regime, even had a scope thru the ileostomy at the Cleve Clinic.  When absolutely nothing would show on any of the tests, including Upper GI, cat scan, scope, tons of bloodwork,  I finally asked them to let me eat a full meal of food and have some xrays taken immediately... they finally agreed and could see where something was stricturing the intestine.  Liquids, ie the contrast for the upper GI, flowed right on through.  Then the assumption was adhesions. 

That is what is believe causes some of my Kinks or partial obstructions.  I've been really, really lucky so far since I haven't had to have any surgeries to relieve the obstruction.  I immediately go to a full liquid diet and push lots of warm liquids (caffeine helps me too) - and just take pain pills, like vicodin and the Bentyl.  I do a lot of massaging and heat on the abdomen.  When I can stand it, I take hot showers.  Sometimes a couple of day.  It has worked for me so far.  I can usually tell right where the kink is... it just feels like a small mass.  Do your masses move or shift around in you abd?  Mine will dissipate once the blockage moves on.  Sometimes it takes several days --- but you have to be careful.  If you are nauseous, or are running a fever, or the pain is truly unbearable, don't hesitate -- GO to the ER.  And you must still have some sort of output from the ileostomy for it to be a partial blockage. 

Never second guess if you don't feel pretty sure about it.  I've had several over the years.   It seems like mine usually start in the middle of the night when I am laying down.  Who knows?  Maybe just the position of the intestine when the food tries to pass thru.  Then after it finally passes, my belly is sooo sore for a couple of days, I can hardly move.  Like it is bruised.

I don't really have side effects from the Bentyl.  Some folks say that it makes them tired.  I don't really notice it.  Though I could take a nap at any time of the day!!!!  Even if I don't take it.  I love my naps!!

When is your ultrasound this week?  Keep us posted.  Will you know the results that day or will you have to do a follow up appt to get the results?

Posted 10/29/2007 9:03 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks to all of you for you responses and support while I'm going thru this.

AMEY - I'm A LOT confused regarding the IBS and how it and they (doctors) define it and yes the Bentyl is for the spasms.  I've been quite uncomfortable (tender and sore in the entire abdomen area) for some time now, at least six months. 

Back in the beginning of May my bm's decreased quite a bit and I noticed that I was becoming bloated again like I was prior to the TC, as well as, my entire abdomen region being very tender.  I made an appointment with the surgeon back in June.  Upon examination he discovered this "big lump/mass on the right side of the abdomen and performed a CAT scan and a colonoscopy (on the very little colon I have left).  The CAT scan showed nothing and during the colonoscopy he removed 3 or 5 polyps that weren't there before surgery.  At this point in the game he recommened MiraLax daily to get things moving again/better.  For a little while the MiraLax worked pretty good, however, I'm up to two doses a day now.

Then on 9-11-07 when I had an evening bm the toilet was filled with nothing but dark, dark red blood.  I was like "what is wrong now" - I wasn't really having "more" discomfort so I brushed it off until the next morning, the same thing, and then when I had another bm - same thing.  So I called the surgeon's office and the first thing they wanted to contribute this to was hemorrhoids.  I was like "I've had internal hemorrhoids for years and this has never happened".  I explained the amount of blood, that when I flushed the toilet dark red blood came back up.  I was then told that if I'm bleeding that bad go to the ER - but I didn't and said if it happened the next morning I would then go to the ER.  The next day came and not a trace of blood - it stopped as fast as it started and I left it at that. 

Then a few weeks ago I went for my anual pap (I don't have any female organs but they still say it's necessary to have a pap anually) so I just see my primary for that.  I was telling her what had happened a few week prior so she felt around my tummy and could feel that lump/mass and was really concerned.  She performed a rectal to see if I had any blood in that area and it showed no blood.  Her adivse to me was to go to the ER and let them run tests and do blood work to see if I'm bleeding internally to rule out a hematoma (don't know how to smell that).

Again I let this fall on deaf ears and did nothing.  Then for the past few weeks I've experienced more and more pain and discomfort and finally called the surgeon and they got me in to see him on Friday.  I was telling him all of what happened and he felt around and low and behold the lump/mass is there and my entire abdomen area is tender to the very touch.  I was telling him that just two days prior the pain and discomfort kept me in bed.  I explained to him that I get these shooting pains across the upper part of my abdomen and it moves from one side to the other.  This is when he said it's more than likely spasms I'm having and prescribed me the Bentyl.  I also addressed the "lump/mass" so he has ordered another CAT scan for this week - I'm still waiting on his office to call with the date.

He looked back in his records on the last CAT scan which showed nothing and then mentioned something about scar tissue and/or the small intestine settling in this area.  So this is where things stand now.  Oh, he did mention that if I bleed like that again he wants to be notified ASAP and that's when I explain to him that I did call his office and someone there wrote it off as hemorrids then told me if I'm bleeding that much I should go to the ER - in hindsight now I wish I would have done just that - gone to the ER!!  Yes, I'm extremely nervous and scared especially if this CAT scan comes back as normal because this is NOT normal.

PEGGY - Thanks again for your support and encouragement!!  I do not have an ileostomy.  When I had my TC for Colonic Inertial they connected the small intestine to my rectum and that is my new way of transit. 

 

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