Bubba1028Member

So here I am again- severe abdominal pain since Saturday morning- Sat, Sun and today- mostly laying in bed and not able to really walk bc the pain is so bad. It hurts to touch the stomach, clearly the small intestine. I don’t have a galbladder and no history of any female issues.

No fever, no vomiting, and I AM passing stool like normal, so I can so I’m confident it’s not an obstruction. My GI doc told me to call him if I had these symptoms again. I did and told him my symptoms - but he said to call my surgeon and he told me if she didn’t call back or if she can’t get me in for a scan then I should go to the ER.

I had these symptoms back in June and she did a scan and no obstruction or obvious signs of adhesions. So nothing they could do. So is this what I have to deal with. I have a toddler and literally can’t get off the couch bc I can’t walk or stand up bc of the pain.

So I called the surgeon again an hour ago and am waiting for the nurse to call back. I’m laying down with a heat pack right now. I just don’t know what else to do right now. I have other health issues and just always feel like it’s something!

8/30/2111:54 AM

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Scott FMember

Adhesions can cause pain without obstruction, and there are numerous other things that can cause the pain you describe. Have you had a thoughtful evaluation beyond the imaging? For example, blood tests can help identify issues with the pancreas, liver, etc.

8/30/2112:45 PM

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Bubba1028Member

I had blood work last week for a surgery and they did liver and kidney blood work and it all came back normal- just anemic due to blood thinners that I’m on, and low c reactive protein. At this point I kind of feel like maybe I should start at square one with my primary care doc but that pain is a little to severe to wait for her to order tests. I feel like that would take weeks for it to get around to whomever she would forward me to. Do you think I should just make an appt with my primary care?

The surgeon did want to give me another scan this afternoon. I just don’t want any more radiation. Ugh. And drink more of that stuff.

I just want someone to put their hands on my stomach and see what they feel and tell me what they think, you know?

8/30/211:19 PM

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Scott FMember

It would be wonderful if diagnosis were easier and more reliable. Unfortunately we have poorer tools than that. I’d suggest trying like heck to find out what’s causing your misery - that’s the only way you’ll have a reasonable shot at fixing it. I really hope you feel better soon. Good luck!

8/30/215:12 PM

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merganser22Member

I have no idea if this would help in your situation, but have you looked at the FODMAP diet? This has made a real difference for me 26 years post J-pouch. I use to eat peas regularly until I discovered that they were causing some of my discomfort. Elimination diet might be the best option.

I also take 2 Visbione every day, otherwise I couldn’t get out of bed.

We've been in your shoes.

Good luck and don't give up,!

9/3/2112:11 AM

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Bubba1028Member

I do take a probiotic daily and i did look into FODMAP. I guess they have an App too! But you have to pay for that. It would be an adjudgment for sure, to do the elimitation diet.

I actually ended up in the ER this morning bc of stomach pain- come to find out, I’m passing the 1 of 12 kidney stones that I have! I was on the floor in pain an ended up taking a leftover Percocet from one of my surgeries. They did an urinalysis and my blood is brown/dark red. I didn’t noticed bc I always pass stool with my urine and so I didn’t noticed the color. I also have a UTI so those two together would cause the severe pain.

I’m so glad they found the reason behind it! Thank you for your suggestion. I still may look into the FODMAP more, as well.

9/4/217:54 AM

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girlunkyMember

Bubba I am suspicious I had a couple of small gall stones many months after my final surgery. It was during the strictest lockdowns and getting medical care was not possible. After 3 or 4 episodes it stopped so I decided not to worry.

Anyway, I did some research on issues we may have from colectomy. Kidney stones is one of them, due to reduced urine volume. As a kidney donor this is a real concern for me, so I make sure I drink enough to pass light colored urine. It' s a lot more than I had to drink before the colectomy, since so much liquid comes out that way. Over time I think the jpouch may adapt and absorb better.

Hope you recover well and have a plan to deal with those remaining stones & prevent new ones.

Metabolic consequences of total colectomy

S U Christl¹, W Scheppach

PMID: 9145441
DOI: 10.1080/00365521.1997.11720712

Abstract

Colectomy is performed for inflammatory bowel disease, familial polyposis syndrome and colorectal carcinoma. Surgical procedures are ileostomy with or without pouch, ileorectal anastomosis or ileal pouch-anal anastomosis. One of the major functions of the intact large intestine is to absorb water and electrolytes. After colectomy, as much as 400-1000 ml of nearly isotonic ileostomy fluid may be excreted, resulting in a chronic salt and water depletion. This is compensated for by an activation of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system. Reduced urine volumes may cause kidney stones. Both dehydration and renal sodium retention are probably less frequent in patients with ileal pouch-anal anastomosis. Absorption of nutrients in general is not impaired by colectomy. The large intestine salvages energy from malabsorbed organic matter through absorption of the short-chain fatty acids produced in bacterial fermentation. In ileostomy patients, fermentation is negligible, which leads to a significant loss of energy in the ileostomy fluid. Pouches are colonized by a bacterial flora similar to colonic bacteria. In these patients conservation of energy from malabsorbed substrate may be similar to healthy subjects. Resection of ileum and bacterial colonization may lead to malabsorption of vitamin B12 and bile acids. The latter may cause increased incidence of biliary cholesterol stones. Pouchitis is a frequent problem which may be caused by a deficiency of short-chain fatty acids and glutamine in the pouch contents. It is concluded that although the colon is not essential as a digestive organ in man, colectomy results in a number of metabolic changes. The ileal pouch-anal anastomosis may in part substitute for the functions of the large intestine.

9/4/211:10 PM

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