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Reply to "Abdominal Pain - Possibly from Adhesions"

A few things about adhesions:

1) Most of us have adhesions after abdominal surgery. Most adhesions are inconsequential. Some adhesions are bothersome, and some adhesions are very bothersome.

2) Adhesions (causing the bowel to twist or kink) can rarely be proven as the cause of abdominal pain or obstruction (unless you get opened up and the problem is visible). They can be strongly suspected if the behavior is suggestive and other possibilities have been ruled out.

3) Adhesion surgery is indeed risky, since it really can make things worse. Nevertheless, there are plenty of people who have gotten their life back from it. It’s a very tricky decision.

4) The reasons to get medical attention for obstructions are a) hydration, if you can’t take in fluid, b) access to emergency assessment and surgery in case a bowel rupture or infarction is imminent, and c) pain relief. Many folks appropriately delay emergency care once they get to know their bodies, and recognize a partial obstruction or one in its early stages that might clear on its own. Many do clear on their own.

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