Has anyone had experience of adhesions after hysterectomy?

Hi Galanthophile ,

I am under a cardiologist at the moment due to some problems with my heart and my cardiologist suspects that I may have adhesions. I do have pain in my abdomen more to one side but never really as yet been assessed for it, I assume it will be looked into after some other investigations they are doing,but I would be interested to hear what goes on at clinic for you and how they can check for adhesions, whether its a certain scan etc that can see if they are there or not.

Fingers crossed for you.

Thanks, will let you know how I get on. I’ve also had a blood test which showed an elevated  issue with my heart and now have terribly swollen ankles..

Hi,

I'm not sure this will help you, but my mother had a lot of trouble after having her appendix out. (I am going back some 60 years)  As I child I dreaded her getting stomach ache, as it meant ANOTHER stay in hospital and another operation. Apparently, the adhesions blocked her bowel. I can remember her doubled up in pain, and being sick. After many years she discovered that if she drank home brewed beer every night it kept her bowels going and she had no more problems!! No doctor would tell you that, though!!

I'm sure these days there will be a solution for it. All the best. xxxxxxx

Hi Galanthophile I had severe abdominal pain after my hysterectomy in Feb 2018 which is still ongoing - sometimes it's worse than others. I've had 2 CT scans which have come back ok and they now think it may be adhesions but, unfortuntely, the only real cure seems to be is another op.  At the moment my pain isn't too bad so I'm not too concerned but my GP has told me to go back and see him if it gets worse again and he will arrange some more tests.

Hi Galanthophile,

I had fibroids removed many years ago, and when they did my hysterectomy it was confirmed that I had extensive scar tissue and adhesions from that. I think it's highly likely there will therefore be scar tissue and adhesions from a hysterectomy. 

I recall that for a while after my fibroid OP it was agonising when my bowels moved, but my system seemed to adapt after a while and it went away except on the odd occasion. This time round I am getting significant discomfort again,  though as I am still having pelvic radiotherapy ( as I am high risk) I dont know which is to blame. It's probably both.

I think therefore from personal experience your body adapts after a while.

xx

Hi Angelfish,

Sorry to hear your possible adhesions are still giving you trouble.

I had a laparoscopy when I first had trouble getting pregnant many years ago, and the laparoscopy enabled the surgeon to see my ( very extensive) scar tissue and adhesions, (which my recent hysterectomy confirmed.)

So a laparoscopy via a small incision by the navel may be a way to find out? 

I expect whether pain resolves or continues probably depends on where the adhesions are, and whether you need more surgery to try to cut them away. 

xx

Thanks Mrs Woodentop I've got an apointment with another GP on Tuesday so I may discuss it with her as my stomach is getting painful again. However I'm not sure whether some of it is concern re the cancer because I'm on a 5 year open appointment which means that I ring the hospital if I'm concerned but I don't want to keep bothering them for no reason. 

Hi Angelfish,

I am sure it's not a bother to them. Your mental well being is also important, and if ringing them would make you feel more comfortable that you have covered all angles, I would. It's what they are there to help with.

Also , I was reminded of this (having just finishing my radiotherapy and getting intimately acquainted with this),  have you changed your diet recently  especially more fruit  veg, fibre? When you have adhesions etc, movements in your bowels can be painful sometimes,cos everything  doesn't slide over each other as it should when bits are stuck together.

xx

Hi MrsWoodentop

I've rang them a couple of times and they are quite happy I guess it's just me dithering as to whether or not I need to contact them. Re diet I only tend to eat berries fruitwise due to being T2 diabetic - albeit with normal blood sugars for over 5 years and fruit tends to be high carb and turns to glucose quickly. I also don't eat too much fibre for the same reason as grains etc are also fairly high carb