My wife just had her first surgery. She was doing great the first couple days, but she is now in the ICU, stomach still open, and on a ventalator. I guess she had what they are calling a kink in her bowel which caused a complete blockage. I'm just wandering if this is a complication that could reoccur, is it fairly common, etc. She has been so strong thus far, but I don't know how much more she can take. They plan on closing her back up today if her BP holds up. Any advice or encouragement would be helpful. Thanks,Chuck

Chuck,
I am also new to this so I have no experience with what your wife is going through. I do know that everything will work out in the end. Just hang in there and give my best toyour wife. She has come this far, she will make it through this obstacle as well.

Good Luck.

Just here to say we'll keep you in our prayers. No experience with this specific complication, but have dealt with others. Somehow things work out eventually. It seems awfully dark at times, but know that others are thinking of you. Our best to you and your wife.
Betsy and Paul

I am sorry to hear about your wife's complications Chuck. I will say a prayer for her quick recovery. I wound up in ICU on a vent 10 days after my surgery too. My pouch perforated and I went septic. Being in ICU is the best place for her right now. They will take good care of her. Have the docs said if they are going to wait it out or does she have to go back into surgery?

I am pretty sure they will have to return to surgery to close her abdomen. Sometimes the wound is left open because they are unable to close after the surgery to repair or release the obstruction. This is usually due to intraabdominal swelling and it can take days for the swelling to go down. When they untwist a kinked bowel, it is very swollen and at risk of gangrene. It's a waiting game after that. When they return to surgery to close, they may also have to do a bowel resection. It all depends on whether that section of small bowel recovered or not.

Whether or not this puts her at risk for future obstructions is hard to say. If she has to have another resection, it may, but if they use an adhesion barrier, that will help to prevent further kinks or narrowings.

I will be sending positive thoughts your way.

Jan

Dear Chuck,

My complications were not the same as your wife's, but please reassure her that she'll get through them and she will get her life back. When it's actually happening to you, it's possible to feel like, Am I ever going to get well? But that's just a normal reaction, and she will get well.

Time is a great healer. And in j-pouch surgery, it's really, really true. She needs to give it time, try to relax, and let you be her rock.

Prayers and good wishes are coming your way.

Thank you everyone for your feedback and kind words. It really means a whole lot to know there are people to talk to that have been through similar experiences. My wife is still in the ICU and ready to go back in the OR to close, but we are just waiting for an OR to free up. God bless you all and thanks again for your thoughts and prayers. By the way my wife's name is Kristy just in case anyone wanted to know.

Chuck - please let us know how the surgery goes for Kristy. As you've read, others have had some pretty bad complications and are now doing just fine. Tricia (AyrishGrl) was really put through the mill and now she does half-marathons. So please know it does get better - even with those huge bumps in the road.

Tell Kristy we're all send good health wishes and huge vibes that this is the very end of those road bumps.

kathy

I had almost the same complication not too sure what cause it maybe a blockage and then leaking fecal matter in my stomach caused septic shock. They had me open for three straight days deciding what to do finially my surgeon returned from a weekend trip and sewed me back up. I ended up in the ICU for about 3 weeks to of which on a ventilator, Thank God I don't remember any of that. I also had a staff infection. I never had any complications as severe in my other sureries. She'll will get out of it, there is always going to be a greater chance for a intestinal twist though as with the large intestine out a lot more space for the small intestine to move around.

My small intestine twisted upon itself within a few months after takedown. That was 4 years ago. No more episodes and I've stopped worrying about it. Best wishes to Kristy in getting over this hump. There is light at the end of the tunnel. For some, the tunnel is a bit longer than for others.

I didnt have the same surgery as your wife,I have a koch pouch but I did get a blockage after the first year. It was a food blockage so again different, but It has never happened again and that was in 1999. so Hopefully your wife will not have anymore problems like this.
I can tell you though, it was the most painful thing I have ever been through. worse than the recovery from surgery or having a baby or broken limbs or anything.

After my first surgery I had my bowel twist on me and had to be taken in for emergency surgery. I can't even begin to describe the pain... they didn't have to take me to the ICU or leave me open, but I know that it's scary when you don't know what is going on.

I was operated on three times in eight days when I had my initial surgery, I know my husband started to dread answering the phone.

I pulled through and I am sure that your wife will be just fine. It will obviously take her longer to recoperate due to the complications but it's amazing how much the body can withstand.

Best of luck to you and your wife as she is recovering.

CF