Re: can anyone help me figure out whats going on in my body?
From: anonymous (anonymous@obgyn.net)
Fri May 6 18:41:36 2005
Aha... well this is very different then. Sharp, burning pain in a
previous surgical site... sounds like adhesions may be the culprit.
Adhesions can feel very much like rubber bands being stretched really
far and then SNAP back with a burning sensation if you happen to move
just a little to fast, twist or reach a little too far or just sit or
stand too long.... not at all fun. Worse is that the definition of 'a
little too far' changes from day to day - too far could be an inch or a
foot, too fast could be yesterday's normal speed. All of this could all
be caused by something that looks as menacing as a stray thread from
your favorite old shirt... crazy, huh?
Still, making sure you avoid constipation is, as you know, important to
make sure you don't add to it. Regular exercise is important for your
overall well-being but it's hard to do when moving hurts. You said in
an earlier post that you're quite active which is good - you might have
to modify what you're doing and for how long you do it so you don't
increase the inflammation and irritation around the inside scar tissue
(adhesions). That will help control some of the pain.
Anti-inflammatory drugs (ibuprofen or prescription) can help relieve
pain and inflammation caused by the adhesions and that's about all you
can do for them now, aside from having more surgery to remove the
adhesions there isn't a whole lot else that can be done. The downside
though is that every time you have surgery you run the risk of forming
more adhesions. The surgeon can use a variety of substances to reduce
the formation but there is nothing available that will give a 100%
guarantee of no adhesions. You're not going to like this but your
weight will have a determining factor on the formation of adhesions. The
less free space around your organs the more bound your organs can become
and that means more pain and difficulties requiring more surgery. Even
the skinniest person can form adhesions but heavier patients,
particularly those with a large mid-section will form more.
Good luck with this... just try to take it easy and realize that this
is something you're going to have to work around... don't be too hard
on yourself if you just can't do what you used to. Try to get yourself
as healthy as you can, mentally, emotionally & physically, before your
next surgery so that you can try to avoid further adhesion formation.
It's important after abdominal surgery to not remain in one position for
more than about 20 minutes, get up and move, stretch and bend as
allowed, walk around as much as possible... it all helps.
At Fri, 6 May 2005, kristen wrote:
>
>the thing is is im not constipated. it just hurts too much to try to
>go. everything comes out fine it just hurt as it does. and it hurts in
>my belly area from my belly button straight down. pretty much where the
>dr went in for my lap and down. and most of the pain is in the area
>where the scar tissue would be. i went to my old dr a few months back
>to just talk to her and she said that if the dr didnt get it all from
>the back of my uterus that it could have spread up along the scar tissue
>from the surgery. because i get sharp almost burning pains down through
>the scar tissue. ive seen a diatritian and she said my died is perfect
>for me. so i dont know what else to do.
>
>--
>kristen helmer
>
>At Fri, 6 May 2005, Belinda wrote:
>>
>>Kristen - First of all, have you had anymore bleeding since the 1st
>>post? Second, have any of your dr's run any test..ex, thyroid, to see if
>>there is a problem there? I know that with thyroid problems, it can make
>>you gain weight, not to mention make the weight very hard to lose. Also,
>>have you ever had a colonoscopy done to see if there is a problem there
>>also?
>>Like "anonymous" mentioned, adding the fibre to your diet will help with
>>the constipation. I've noticed that when I'm constipated, it makes my
>>pain ten times worse than what it normally is. I know you're frustrated
>>right now. Just try to hang in there the best you can.
>>
>>At Fri, 6 May 2005, kristen wrote:
>>>
>>>i have tried everything i can think of to "get my weight down" i have
>>>more muscle than anything. and plus my drs told me the weight was the
>>>last thing i should worry about because for some people endometriosis is
>>>the reason for gaining the weight. im sorry im not skinny like some
>>>people. i dont drink sodas much. i do mostly drink water. i have a
>>>water bottle with me all day and all night. refilling it all the time.
>>>and i dont even eat that much. and when im having my period i can
>>>bearly eat anything because i get so sick to my stomach. so yeah try
>>>being me for a few months. you wouldnt like it either.
>>>
>>>--
>>>kristen helmer
>>>
>>>At Fri, 6 May 2005, anonymous wrote:
>>>>
>>>>#1 rule when you have painful bowel movements is to add fibre and water
>>>>to your diet. This will encourage your stool to stay softer and move a
>>>>bit more frequently so you avoid the constipation, bloating and
>>>>cramping.
>>>>
>>>>The blood, if bright red like from a fresh cut is probably exactly that,
>>>>you probably had a small tear in the tender tissue of your anus - it can
>>>>be scary but should clear up on it's own. There are anesthetic
>>>>suppositories you can buy over the counter to help you when the 'going'
>>>>gets rough.
>>>>
>>>>Meanwhile, get more whole grains and veggies in your diet. Even if the
>>>>cause is endo on your bowel, it will help you avoid extra difficulties,
>>>>pain and distres.
>>>>
>>>>You are very aware that you need to get your weight down too, switching
>>>>to a whole grain carbs, lean meat, veggie filled diet will help. Avoid
>>>>dairy, use skim and low-fat when you do have dairy limit sugary things
>>>>like fruit juices, baked goods and soda to bare minimums and for every
>>>>glass of soda have two glasses of water.
>>>>
>>>>You said that being on your feet for long periods makes it worse so try
>>>>taking shorter walks more than once per day. For example if a 30 minute
>>>>walk is too long and results in pain then take two 15 minute or three 10
>>>>minute walks several hours apart, that way you still get exercise and
>>>>maybe can prevent some of the extra pain it causes. When you go
>>>>shopping park one row further away from the doors than usual and walk a
>>>>little more briskly through the store, do a few laps around your home,
>>>>be creative and find ways to make your daily routine pay off a little
>>>>more... you do deserve some reward for all your efforts.
>>>>
>>>>At Fri, 6 May 2005, kristen wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>>i have a family dr but i cant stand her. and i dont think i have
>>>>>hemmroids. i noticed that the pain overall gets worse if i do anyting
>>>>>like walk for a long period of time before i even start my period. or
>>>>>exercise. and that sucks. before i started having the pain at 16 i was
>>>>>at like 120 and now that im 22 im anywhere from 220 to 240 at any given
>>>>>time. but for the past few weeks since its been nice out ive been doing
>>>>>a lot of walking and playing outside and the pain is much worse. i dont
>>>>>know what to do. im sick of having to take pills all the time for the
>>>>>pain. im sick of being on edge all the time. im just sick of
>>>>>everything. the bcp helped but then i got the PE and i cant take any
>>>>>for of bcps or any other hormonal therapy at all. and i was also on
>>>>>celbrex and bextra and vioxx shorty before i was put into the ICU for 3
>>>>>days with the PE. i just have no clue anymore about anything. i cant
>>>>>find a dr that will just take everything out because i am only 22. grrr.
>>>>>the pain is back really bad. i dont know what to do. sorry this is so
>>>>>long...
>>>>>
>>>>>--
>>>>>kristen helmer
>>>>>
>>>>>At Fri, 6 May 2005, Belinda wrote:
>>>>>>
>>>>>>Kristen -- I too suffer from painful b.m. so I can definately
>>>>>>sympathize with you. The cause of the pain could be any number of
>>>>>>things (which is the dilema I'm in now). However, blood in your stool
>>>>>>is concerning. Do you know if you have hemmroids? Sometimes this will
>>>>>>cause bleeding. I know that not all hemmroids are external. If you
>>>>>>have done any excessive straining, this will cause them to bleed. I
>>>>>>have heard of women who have endo on the bowels pass blood around the
>>>>>>time as their cycle. Do you have a family dr or a gastrointerologist
>>>>>>that you can call since you are in the middle of changing dr's (I assume
>>>>>>you're refering to your gyno)? This is something that you need to have
>>>>>>checked on soon. Good luck!!! :-)
>>>>>>
>>>>>>At Fri, 6 May 2005, kristen wrote:
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>hi i used to be on here a couple years ago then i just got out of it
>>>>>>>which im sorry to say. but whenever i need advice i always come back
>>>>>>>here and im thankful this is still here.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>anyways. ive been noticing that my pain is worse when i have to poop.
>>>>>>>not much worse but worse enough. i was just in the bathroom and when i
>>>>>>>wiped i thought it was just blood from my period at first. then i
>>>>>>>realized it wasnt. and when i looked i really knew it wasnt. i just
>>>>>>>dont know what to do. im in the middle of changing my dr again because
>>>>>>>he hasnt really made a go at anything besides the bcp last year that
>>>>>>>ended up giving me a PE. i just need help. i really dont know what to
>>>>>>>do. so any info would be great.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>--
>>>>>>>kristen helmer
>>>>>>>
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