Illeostomy blockage operation, chemo set back

Different circumstances , but my mum had six cycles of chemotherapy then a recurrence after a six months break . Going back onto chemotherapy did not seem to affect the efficiency for her and the recurrence resolved . 
I would imagine it’s pretty individual and dependent on how responsive you are to chemotherapy.

I really feel for your mum . My mum had lots of abdominal surgery and troubled by adhesions but they seemed to settle after a few years . It’s only once you Google them you realise how easily it would be to cause an obstruction. 
All the very best to her and hope she recovers quickly .

Court 

Hi court, 

Thanks for responding! I'm glad your mum is doing well, I just hope it doesn't set her too far back she was on main stream chemo every 2 weeks working towards another maintenance chemo goal too! 

I think what has worried us is how good Dr's are with their words and being told it's a dangerous operation with likeliness of it happening again but it would give re assurance if others had experienced similar situations and what they were like. 

Hi @Manchester , I had an anterior resection for low sigmoid cancer in 2017. I had just started Capecitabine when I developed small bowel obstruction due to adhesions. I was able to restart the Cape after recovery, and am now 5 years NED.  Along the way I had 6 episodes of small bowel obstruction, mostly treated conservatively in hospital, but I did need 1 operation to release the adhesions. Since the last episode I have made sure I eat nothing that is likely to cause obstruction. It is quite a limiting diet, but for me feels worth it. I have meat and veg minced, and have baby food for puddings. That way I can have fresh fruit without the risk. The gap in chemo did not seem to hinder my recovery.   I wish your mum all the best. Take care.

Hi seaspirit44,

Thank you for your reply I just feel so bad for her just wasn't a set back we'd ever think would happen I've never heard of this happening... 

Do you mind me asking what your other blockages were was it food blockages and how did they treat them in hospital? was that after the adhesions you had? 

My mum was aware she wasn't meant to have things like skins off foods etc but she ate them in moderation back in 2020 and luckily has never had a problem it just seems these adhesions built up which annoyingly just happens I've been told .

I'm so glad you've made such a good recovery  are you on maintenance too? 

Hi @manchester , all my obstructions were due to food items getting stuck in the small bowel, all due to adhesions. 3 episodes occurred at home, and resolved themselves. I had got to know the symptoms! Twice in hospital they gave me a drip and nasogastric tube. They also give Gastrograffin to outline the bowel on x-ray, and this often relieves the obstruction as it causes diarrhoea.  Drip and NG tube alone often relieves the pressure and therefore the pain and allows the bowel to recover. The other time the kink in the small bowel was so tight they had to operate.

I have found mushrooms, dried fruit ( which expands) skins, pips, fibre in fruit, chewy meat all to be taboo. I was so frightened of it happening again that I decided to go on this very restricted diet. I should add that it is dangerous to take laxatives when in abdo pain unless under Hosp observation.

I am in no maintenance treatment now, and count myself very lucky.

I wish your mum all the best., and hope she recovers well. Take care xx