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abdominal adhesions

(13 Posts)
TriciaF Mon 01-Feb-16 14:35:04

I wonder if anyone has suffered from these, and if so, can they be treated?
I've had a pain in my lower abdomen on and off for a couple of years. I got round to asking my doctor about it last week and he said it was an adhesion. From a bowel operation I had as a baby.
He didn't say any more, and stupidly, I didn't ask. I've looked it up and it seems it's not always worth operating as new adhesions could form.
Can anyone add to my limited knowledge?

Riverwalk Mon 01-Feb-16 15:25:47

There is a procedure called division of adhesions but it's usually only done for serious cases such as bowel obstruction or infertility, because as you say new ones can form.

I suppose it depends on how bad or prolonged the pain is - you could always ask for a surgical opinion.

petra Mon 01-Feb-16 16:40:04

If you start to get serious diarrhoea problems get back to your Doctor.
This happened to a close friend of mine but they didn't know it was adhesions until she was operated on.

JessM Mon 01-Feb-16 17:07:45

I believe endometriosis can cause adhesions - am wondering whether, if you have adhesions, then endometriosis might complicate matters. If you are still having a menstrual cycle - is the pain linked in any way?

morethan2 Mon 01-Feb-16 17:10:58

I had terrible problems with adhesions following a hysterectomy. Bits of my colon and bowel had adhesions. The pain was red hot and excruciating every time I moved, even just stretching my arm to reach for somthing made me suck my breath in. It was worse than the pain I had before the operation for endometriosis. I had to have another operation to remove and separate all my insides. I have been fine since but I was warned that I would probably get more adhesions but hopefully not attaching to anything that would cause pain. I can occasionally feel a pull in my abdominal area but nothing as bad. I have to say it made me scared stiff of any kind of procedures. If the pains bearable I'd advise to stay well clear of any surgery. Good luck and fingers crossed all stays reasonably well . flowers I feel your pain and pertra is right but I didn't want to go into too much details just in case your having your dinnerblush

TriciaF Mon 01-Feb-16 17:58:53

No I'm way past menstruation.
So glad I asked, I know now to look out for blockages. The pain seems to be more frequent now, especially after midday meal.
Thanks for the replies, ( xxx) hoping those of you with similar problems find a solution.

obieone Mon 01-Feb-16 20:28:30

I had an operation to get rid of adhesions 30 years ago. Wonderful. Got rid of all pain. Not had adhesions since.

obieone Mon 01-Feb-16 20:30:00

Mine were attached to the inside of my appendix scar from 15 years previous to that.

downtoearth Tue 02-Feb-16 15:44:51

2x C sections and tubal ligation at the same time with the 2nd C section caused my bowel and bladder to stuck together,coupled with endometriosis,and large fibroids the lead up to my hysterectomy was painful to say the least.Total hysterectomy and division of adhesions was the last course of action.

Luckygirl Tue 02-Feb-16 15:57:24

I have just seen the doc because I have been getting acute pain where my gall bladder used to be and nausea + pale stools. She thinks it may be adhesions from the surgery (old style 27 years ago, pre-keyhole surgery). We have decided to let it lie for a bit as it has resolved; but she will want it investigated if the pale stools loom into view again!

TriciaF Tue 02-Feb-16 18:04:27

So adhesions seem to be relatively common. I had only heard of them once before, a colleague at work years ago.
Sorry to hear of the pains of you others, (especially you, downto earth) but it seems to confirm that not much can be done for me at the moment.
It's been ok today.

TriciaF Tue 02-Feb-16 18:06:45

Also Morethan2 - and your advice to stay away from surgery.

absent Tue 02-Feb-16 18:15:18

TriciaF You won't need to "look out" for blockages because if a blockage unfortunately did occur, you would know from the excruciating waves of pain.