Question about adhesions

Hi,
Can someone who has had adhesions develop after a TAH tell me what your symptoms were? What brought them on?

I am 6 1/2 months post-op and have resumed all of my physical activities and chores. I'm feeling a pull/strain on my right abdominal area again and it is down near the incision. I waited for the 6 month mark to resume some of the activities I enjoy, and I know my body is telling me, "it's not time yet, rest some more." I hope it is just as simple as that, but I worry that it could be something more.

Please help!

Thank you,

Janet

From all I've heard and read it can take up to a full year to recover from surgery. At 3 months you're only 25% healed internally, 6 months 50%. So you still have a ways to go. I'm only a little over 3 months and my body lets me know when I stretch it's limits. I get twinges at my incision sites and always am worried it's adhesions.

People have told me that adhesions form due to pooled blood inside and then it causes organs to stick to other organs. Then you start having pulling pains because of it. If it gets really bad they can go in and do laser surgery, but then it's like a catch 22 because more surgery can cause more adhesions.

We all just have to realize that even if we feel like doing alot of things and maybe being tempted to push it, don't.

I've heard that adhesions are pretty common. With every little ache or twinge I immediately become concerned about the adhesion issue. Good luck.

If you are having new or continuing pain you should give your doctor a call.

Adhesions are common after surgery. The pain they may cause can be quite severe as can the possible complications they can cause. They are an almost inevitable outcome of surgery - about 95% of women undergoing a hysterectomy will develop adhesions. Not all adhesions will cause pain or problems. Some people go through life never even knowing they have them. Then there are those that can have a small amount of them but suffer a great deal of pain & sometimes ongoing health issues because of them. Their location and what they are adhered to can make a big difference in the issues they may create. Adhesions can be a very real aftermath of undergoing this surgery or any other surgery. Unfortunately our bodies form adhesions after surgery. Adhesions form as a defense mechanism to the trauma and tissue/organ handling that takes place during surgery.

Pelvic adhesions are abnormal bands of scar tissue that form in the pelvis and cause organs to stick or bind to one another. Adhesions occur in the majority of women who have pelvic surgery. Adhesions are a common and occasionally serious outcome of surgery of all kinds, including common gynecologic procedures, including hysterectomy. Adhesions that form after surgery in the pelvic area are among the leading causes of post-operative pelvic pain and small bowel obstruction.

I had my right ovary removed lapraoscopically 8 weeks ago. I started having problems with cysts and pain about 9 months ago. I was having horrible pain with intercourse and bowel movements. My doctor had been watching the cysts for any changes - they had gotten larger and turned from simple cysts to complex cysts. My surgery was done laparoscopically. The right ovary was adhered to the top of the vaginal cuff and covered with adhesions and cysts - it was removed. My left ovary had some fluid filled cysts that were drained and then the ovary was wrapped in mesh to protect it. I also had many adhesions removed that were attached to my bladder, bowel, colon, and liver.

The only way to positively diagnosis adhesions is by having lapraoscopic surgery.


Here is the link to some Adhesion Resources.

You might want to check out the Road Less Traveled forum - there are several ladies over ther (including myself) who have had to deal with adhesions.

Sending S

my symptoms were a tugging/pulling/stretching sensation and fairly intense pain when coughing/sneezing.
i had the adhesions removed back in March-8 months after the hysterectomy......my symptoms started almost immediately after surgery and progressively got more intense/noticable.

Thank you so much for your replies. If there are others out there who have info./personal experiences with adhesions, please share. I find great comfort from all of you who share your stories, support, and encouragement. I would feel so lost in this recovery journey without this website.

With gratitude,
Janet

hello murrmaid,

Sorry to hear you seem to have developed adhesions. I have them too and they appeared at about 10 weeks post-op. I had a severe shooting pain going down my left leg and a pain in my upper left side.

The pain was very severe back in Jan./Feb. of this year. It had me totally freaked out as I couldn't get up and down without have a severe shock of pain down the leg.

However, it is now manageable I am happy to say. I have been going to an acupuncturist for a few months and also adopted a rather rigourous bowel management program as I must take pain pills due to a pre-existing disability that involves chronic pain.

So, here I am 8 mos. later and the adhesion pain is still there when I press on the area where it is. Apparently my large intestine is adhered to the abdominal wall. It is a lot better so have hope.

It takes a long time to heal from this surgery and I am not completely healed yet either.

Hang in there and have hope that it will get better.

Take care of yourself and don't overdo it.

SueF