Bowel falls into APR 'void'.

FormerMember over 5 years ago

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Hi, I'm just out of hospital after my 2nd obstruction in 5 weeks. This was so bad I thought I was going to die. Turns out my bowel is falling down into the space left after APR surgery. The bowel gets twisted and stuck. The pain is unbearable. There is an operation that can prevent this but my hospital seem loathe to offer it. Fat is collected from your insides and made into a kind of net that stops the bowel escaping. Has anyone had this? I want to enjoy what I have left as much as possible, holidays etc, and obstruction abroad terrifies me. Any advice?

seaspirit44 over 5 years ago

, so sorry you are suffering this truly awful complication. Repeated obstruction is life threatening, and to refuse to do the op is unacceptable. It may be tricky, or risky ( sorry I don't know enough about the actual op) but they cannot leave you with no alternative. You could ask fir a second opinion, and keep pushing them.

I can empathise in a way. I had an anterior resection. And due to adhesions have had 6 episodes of obstruction in 2 years. 3 episodes settled at home, 3 Hosp admissions, and one op to release the adhesion. It is very painful and very frightening, especially with long waits and short staff in today's NHS. I am terrified of it happening again, and consequently eat minced food, when I can, and am extremely careful if eating out.

Good luck, and di let us know how you get on.

Onwards and flatwards (don't do hills) and keep walking if you can!