Anyone here have trouble with blocked bowels after surgery?

sashahanrahan

I'm scheduled to have a sleeve on surgery, but this past week my mom was admitted into the hospital due to a bowel obstruction. She believe it was caused by scar tissue from her gastric bypass surgery three or four years ago. I've read that it is a possibility, but I'm curious how common it is. Anyone here have experience with that problem?

Agate69

Regularity is key. Constipation is an issue, especially as we age. Calcium is constipating, and it is too easy to skip fiberous foods when you concentrate on protein. Good luck to her and you.

annwyatt69

Keep us posted if you will--if in fact her problem was scarring after surgery. I am always fearful of this, as these problems ran in my family on my mom's side of the family. My mom nearly of an ileus and had a cecostomy--her mom died of a bowel obstruction in 1942 at the age of 32. I have had a LOT of problems since my surgery 14 months ago. Will definitely bring this up to my surgeon and my endocrinologist. I know that if I slack off on my water it gets worse.

sashahanrahan

Geesh, sorry for the typos. I'm having surgery on Tuesday is what I meant to say. I guess that's why this is freaking me out. She's had to have two separate surgeries due to obstructed bowels now. She does have some other health issues so in order to calm myself I'm assuming that her issues may be due to the combination of health issues. I will certainly be following the doctor's orders and drinking water like crazy. Thanks for your input ladies.

DJRonnieLINY

Different surgery, different potential complications. Sleeve does not touch the intestines like the RNY.

sashahanrahan

Thanks, DJRonnieLINY! I'm feeling much better about it now.

bikrchk

I agree. Do what you have to do to stay regular. Calcium, iron, pain meds, nausea meds and protein powder can all be constipating. Add to that the fact that you won't be getting much fiber for the first couple of weeks\months and you're probably going to need some "help" staying regular for a while. It's gotten better for me the more I transition to solid food and less protein shakes but I still take something at least every few days.

JoelleAnn78

I recognize this is an older post, but I just saw it.

I had RNY on 8/31/09 and had emergency surgery to clear a bowel obstruction on 8/10/12 - almost exactly three years out. It was almost certainly a result of the scar tissue from my RNY as the intestine had folded over on itself from scar tissue build up.

Sleeve doesn't touch intestines so the scar tissue is not a major complication concern like it is with RNY. I never would have considered a blockage if my husband hadn't pointed it out as a real possibility. I figured I was three years out and I was in the clear. He'd just had the Sleeve three months earlier and was still very focused on the potential complications.

Hope your Mom doesn't have further issues, and I hope you are doing well from your surgery! Best wishes!

sashahanrahan

Thank you! She's finally on the mend, but she was warned this may happen again. It's already happened twice and it was horrible. She's had a rough year battling mrsa, breast cancer, blocked bowels, and numerous other ailments. We are praying she is done with health issues for a while.