My name is Lisa. I’m 40 yrs old and recovering from a bowel resection surgery and lysis adhesion surgery. My story began I guess years ago, at the age of 31, with my 3rd child. They had done a complete lysis adhesion removal because my stomach was so taken over from old scar tissue they told me they had to remove all the lesions/adhesions. But they never told me this could or would ever affect me in the future.
Well, one fateful Sunday, I woke up in excruciating pain. I arrived at the emergency room with severe abdominal pain vomiting and such discomfort that I thought I was going to go out of my mind. They were finally able to do a pelvic scan by putting dye through my I.V. lines, as I was unable to hold down fluids. This pelvic exam showed so many lesions/ scar tissue from past c-sections that the scar tissue was strangling my organs and cutting off blood flow, which created a small bowel obstruction.
Treatment begins with a nasogastric tube inserted, IV’s for to fend off dehydration and to control pain, and a catheter to measure output. They tried this for 3 days to see if things would get moving in my belly and resolve itself.
Unfortunately, in my case, it was unsuccessful and surgery was the only option to save my life. I went in the operating room around 4:00 pm for a bowel resection & lysis adhesion removal and came out around 8:00pm. I spent five more days in the hospital to find out my battle with scar tissue is not over. With every abdominal surgery, your chances increase with the growth of more lesions and adhesions. I may spend the rest of my life having lysis adhesion removal so that it never gets to the point where it takes over my organs again.
I strongly recommend anyone who’s had numerous c-sections or abdominal surgery to be aware what happened to me, because could happen to anyone. I had no signs or symptoms and I was living every day normal; working full time and taking care of my kids. Our lives were perfectly normal until that one day when I woke up in the most excruciating pain I’ve ever felt. I never do want to ever experience again. If you ever have abdominal pain, seek medical attention and don’t ignore it.
Lisa
US
Submitted 9-27-2012
The informational content of this article is intended to convey a personal experience and, because every person’s experience is unique, should not be relied upon as a substitute for professional healthcare advice.
This story is intended to convey a personal experience and, because every person’s experience is unique, should not be relied upon as a substitute for professional healthcare advice.
