Surgical adhesions and bowel issues.

So I've had 2 cesarean sections, bowel resection- right hemi colectomy 9 yrs ago- large cancerous tumor, radical hysterectomy this year - cancer in uterus and have had a rectocele for at least 5 years. I've been told from scans and recent surgery that the lower part of small intestine is welded together and shifted to the right as a result of adhesions forming. Not really surprising!

I don't suffer from pain as such but I do have bowel issues- incomplete evacuation,  terrible trapped gas, and bloating. Fibre is not my friend and I'm lactose and gluten intolerant. So on a pretty restricted diet- fish, meat potatoes carrots asparagus tomatoes OK. Melon and fine oats tolerable. Everything else causes real problems.

I use a squatty potty stool, anal suppositories and have tried - prunes, liquorice, flax seeds, movicol, lactulose and anal irrigation( nightmare, like a weird science experiment). To date the only thing that works is milk of magnesia which (tmi) turns stools to mostly mushy liquid. I guess that it can pass thru all the bends and kinks.

Consultant can't suggest anything else and surgery would likely just produce more scar tissues / adhesions.

My question is anyone got any suggestions that I haven't tried?. My situation is manageable but I'd like to spend less time in the loo!

  • Hi so sorry to hear all the problems your going through. I've had alot of intestine operations, I have a permanent stoma. To date I've had 5 ops in 6 years waiting on a 6th. I had major problem with scarring and the only thing that I finds help in a low/no fiber diet. No fruit or veg , definitely not oats.I eat potatoes but thats about it as i get blockages and it causes a stupid amount of pain. I know it's not the best diet but it works for me but try cutting out all fibre and try adding one thing back in at a time. Depending on how quick you digest stuff youll have your answer. Not sure if this will in anyway help. Hope you get some relief soon. 

  • Thanks for your reply.

    Phew that's a lot of ops. Hope the 6th goes as well as poss.

    My consultant and I discussed a full colectomy and obvs a stoma but not poss unless I had more severe issues and tbh it's not something I would choose atm anyway. And it's my small intestine that is the prob. I've had quite a few minor blockages before I ditched nuts and most fruit ( melon only OK) and most veg, but not as bad as you describe and resolve after max dose of laxatives and 4 or 5 days.

    Yeah low fibre works for me too. Hence only a few well cooked carrots and asparagus, oats are ready brek lol and only cos I can't eat bread or eggs or yogurtfor breakfast- gluten free stuff is vile and lactose free yogurt often made with coconut milk and can't eat nut milks. Tbh I've tried no or v little fibre / low residue  and it makes v little difference. High fat ,lots of butter helps but not v healthy. Red wine helps too but again not ideal ,tho pleasant lol.

    My food transit time is pretty fast about 20 hrs which I think doesn't helps as food exits sometimes undigested. Great joy.

    Can I ask if you use any laxatives if so what? Guessing with a stoma prob not.

    Thanks again for your reply 

  • Offline in reply to Gillm

    Hi sounds like your doing the best you can. Oddly enough I do use laxatives as like your self alot of food doesn't get digested and gets stuck. The worst my diet the better I pass food. I do use lactulose often which seems odd as my out from my stoma is very runny.  Sorry if that tmi. The diet which works for me is carnivore, very controversial I know but I never have any issues if I'm on it. I process meat and fat far more easier but I'm a carb junky so I end up going back on the carb heavy rubbish diet. Sorry i couldn't be more help, but If your surgeon suggests a stoma think long and hard about having it done. I've got Ulcerative colitis and I had to have to op as it saved my life but even though my way of life has improved I still have major issues with it. I know people who've had the op and have had no problems at all but it is life changing and a big step. I wish you luck and hopefully you'll find a way of improving the situation your in. 

  • Not too much info at all. And good to chat with someone else with similar issue.

    When I eat no fruit or veg it is a bit better but like u I crave the 'forbidden foods'.

    I think a stoma is not for the immediate or medium term.and you're right about it being a big step. Knowing my luck I'd prob have issues with it too. I had a little insight when I had to wear  stoma bag on an incision site following serious post surgery infection as the amount of pus coming out was too much for normal dressings. Had to drain it 4 times a day and change it every two days and I was v relieved to get rid of it after 4 weeks. 

  • Offline in reply to Gillm

    That sucks! My bag leaks all the time and I have to change it up to 4 times a day. Most people can get 2 to 3 days out of a bag, I'm lucky if I can mange 5 to 6 hours. The intestines are a weird thing as I know people with a stoma who are vegetarian and never have a day's problem but if I eat to much fibre and the lactose can't clear it I'm back in hospital for them to try and clear it for me, and that's not pretty. All I can suggest is get as much info as you can and find out what's best for you. Just because one diet works for someone doesn't mean it will work for you, never think what your doing is wrong because if it works for you then it's not wrong. 

  • That's not nicefor you. Must be exhausting coping with leaks and constant changing. I got stressed with leaking pus and the smell but that's  hardly the same. 

    I went to A& E once with a blockage and they were not v helpful gave me an enema and that was it but hey ho Google was my friend.

    I considered taking lactulose after reading your replies but remembered that it has small amounts of lactose in it and I can't tolerate lactose at all so I guess I'll stick with milk of magnesia until the intestine fairy waves a magic wand.

    Get what your saying about diet have decided to give the ready brek a swerve for awhile and eat yucky gluten free bread.. 

    Thanks for your replies ,made me think a bit differently. 

  • Offline in reply to Gillm

    Should have guessed lactulose has lactose in it, sorry. Another good one is laxido takes a bit longer but seems to work. Amazon do it, if you use Amazon that is. If not I'm sure pharmacy do it.There also a keto bread on Amazon by Keto chefs with the following ingredients Flour Blend (Contains: Vital Wheat Gluten, Golden Linseed, Oat Fibre, Psyllium Husk Powder, Salt), Water, Egg Replacer, Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Sunflower Seed, Pumpkin Seed, Brown Linseed, Yeast, Salt, Sodium Propionate. It's expensive but taste pretty good. Not sure if you can have it but I seem to be OK with it even though it has fiber in it. 

    Well nice chatting to you and good luck with your quest. 

  • Thanks.

    Can't do wheat.- gluten intolerant.

    Good luck with your next op