Another c-section with abdominal adhesions?

[Carly1409]

Hi all. So basically my first c-section was an emergency one, healed fine no issues. Second was a planned c-section which was slightly more difficult because of abdominal adhesions, everything was everywhere, matted together, a mess basically. Move to a year later and my next C-section is planned for November? They have said it’ll be more risky, a consultant will do it, and have made me aware of risks etc, death always being on the list with any surgery. Just curious if anyone else has had any similar experiences with abdominal adhesions?

I’m in the same situation.

Only I was laughed at when I asked about a consultant performing the section and told to lower my expectations as I would get who ever was available on the day.

It’s been moved to next week now because of some complications and as there are no slots left for electives, I’ll have to take my chances even further and be slotted in when ever they can. Wonderful, eh?

I don’t exactly feel safe.

Oh god! Do they not think it’s that much of a risk then? If they’re willing to let someone other than a consultant do it?! Please keep me posted.

I’m a ftm having a csection. Due to 2 previous surgeries they are concerned about the possibility of adhesions, even though they don’t know what they’ll find when they actually get in there (I’m optimistic, so hopefully all will be smooth in there!). The consultant doing mine specialises in difficult surgeries.

@Carly1409 they have just been shit from the word go. They know it’s a risk. They keep telling me it’s a risk but also that I’ll get who I’ll get doing the surgery and there’s nothing I can do about it. They have now put me in for a day where there are no slots as they want to deliver earlier due to some growth problems (I’ve got another thread running on here) and I’ll just be fitted in with who ever, when ever.

I’m terrified.

@Littlegoth I wish I had the same treatment

@ODFOkaren omg! That is shocking. I feel for you! Is there nothing can be done, like you demanding a consultant given the risks that have been given!? That’s unbelievable. I got told after my last section that any further sections would be done by a consultant! I couldn’t imagine your nerves. How difficult was your previous surgery? I go through stages of not thinking about it then spend days panicking that the worst is going to happen! Which I know, can be the case in any kind of surgery but it just doesn’t make it easier. I genuinely feel for you and can only imagine how you’re feeling!xx

@ODFOkaren I’m shocked you aren’t, it just feels like such a small gesture to tell you who your surgeon will be.

I was told though that the on duty registrars/trainee consultants have extensive experience in surgery so if I was to go into labour (and then be an emergency section) I feel I would still be in reliable hands.

@Carly1409 they won’t even let me speak to my named consultant! I’ve only ever seen their juniors. I’ve just resigned myself now to the fact that I will probably have issues. There’s nothing I can do about it, I’ve fought all I can. They just don’t care.

Lots of scar tissue during last section and they left some of the palacenta behind - not noticed until I developed sepsis 10 days later (initially told I was being dramatic and sent home when I went to A&e) and almost died. That was a different hospital and this one have swept it all under the carpet saying I was just unlucky, it won’t happen again.

Christ, I’m so scared. Supposedly having the section at some point on Friday but no one has bothered calling me - they were meant to Monday. When I call I just keep being told they are busy and will get back to me. Absolute shambles.

Yes I've had 5 c sections, 1st and 2nd were fine no problems. I'll be honest and say that with the 3rd they cut my bladder due to adhesions however it wasn't as bad as you would think and healed fine within a couple of weeks.
4th and 5th c sections were better no complications (due to adhesions anyway) despite my insides being a mess!

I'm not sure if that's helpful or not but happy to answer any questions if it would help!

@roundthetwist34 5! Wow, you are a braver woman than me!

I did get chatting to someone while waiting for a scan last week who was about to have her 8th section in 9 years, I just sat there like this as she told me about each one.

@Carly1409 @Littlegoth I actually went a bit loopy this morning and called the hospital, gave them absolute hell. Said I would be seeing them in court if there were any complications due to their incompetence. Within an hour I’d had a phone call from a consultant and a consultant anestatist telling me they would be doing my surgery. Supervisor of midwives called to apologise for all the mistakes that have been made.

I didn’t want to be “that” person but I just flipped.

@roundthetwist34 oh my! How have you coped lol! Did your adhesions get worse with each section? So the following was more complicated than the last? I'm worried more because of the risks the doctors have been talking about, they're making it sound like life threatening surgery 😐

@ODFOkaren yay! So happy for you! Do you feel more relaxed now? Well you had to be that person in order to get things done SAFELY and how you wanted it. Honestly well done! Just shows if you speak up they can actually provide the necessary people!xx

@ODFOkaren nothing wrong with being that person - unacceptable that you had to spell it out like that because they were ignoring you.

I’m glad it’s sorted for you, the last thing you need is stress right now. Good luck on Friday xx

8! Wow. Although saying that I do know of someone that's had 11

Well not really, the 3rd was the worst one I had with the adhesions however for some reason the surgeon decided to go in slightly higher for that one. The surgeon that did the next one said he couldn't understand why they had done that and it was a strange decision to make so possibly just human error there!

It really wasn't as bad as I expected when they said they'd done it though, they fixed the bladder then I had to keep a catheter in for 12 days. They then brought me back to do scans and removed the catheter and I've had no further problems.
I'm not traumatised

The 4th was difficult but there was no damage done whereas the 5th was possibly the best c section I have ever had.

From what they've told me they do have a tidy up where they can and remove scar tissue, I find it works better for me to not give that too much thought though

They definitely do scare you with the risks, by the time I had my 5th I was a state! They'd moved me to a bigger hospital with a better intensive care unit (their words not mine!) as they were 99% sure I would be needing it, they postponed the surgery again for an extra day as they didn't have enough units of blood for what I'd need and they gave me an MRI the night before.

I needed no blood transfusion, no intensive care and had the most lovely relaxed c section I think I'd ever had and the best recovery of them all!

Needless to say I won't be having any more. I couldn't even if I wanted to they were very clear on that, but I think I had a strong finish and I'm very grateful for it!

@roundthetwist34 11!? Oh my god. How could you cope with that lol! Definitely putting your body through the ringer with that amount.

Wow! Intensive care was mentioned! I'm sure you were a nervous wreck 😐 how amazing though it was the best section you'd had! It really is just a guessing game until they open you up. They've told me there's no way of knowing what your insides are like until they're in there.. which of course isn't reassuring in the slightest!

I do have myself assured that I'll be fine, i just go through stages of panicking 🙈 but hopefully all will go well. My fear is dying (obviously) but I think it would take something very severe to happen for that to occur! .. well hopefully anyway.

Did you feel any difference with your pregnancy's that happened after having the adhesions diagnoses? I'm 30 weeks now and have the feeling that there is already no room left, just constantly uncomfortable.. I'm not sure if it's just this stage that you start to feel that way or if it could be related. I was really uncomfortable at the end of my last pregnancy (last year🙄) and they had said because organs were here there and everywhere and matted, baby could've been pushing against things that shouldn't have been there. Who knows. I just wish it was over and it feels like there's so long to go!

Did they offer you sterilisation after any sections? I've opted for it this time. I don't think my nerves could handle anymore 'risks' lol! I take my hat of to you for doing it that many times over 😂 xx

Yes, I found from the 3rd pregnancy onwards that I was more uncomfortable and had more pulling and stretching type pains. I still get that though and I'm nearly 3 years since the last one!

I have quite a few friends who have had 3 c sections each and none of them have ever had any complications, I'm the only person I know that has had any of the complications they warn of actually happen.

Just try to stay positive and calm, I just kept telling myself that the doctors know what they're doing and the baby has to come out one way or another so I'm going to have to trust them it's scary for us as the patients but it's run of the mill surgery for them really. I hope that's reassuring for you, it helped me!

And yes they offered sterilisation after the last one but in the end decided not to go ahead as they had too much of a job as it was. I think they wanted to just get out and have a stiff drink

To be serious for a second though, they did say there was a higher chance of it not being successful if they did it during the c section but I don't know much about that.

@roundthetwist34 @Carly1409 I discussed sterilisation too - this will be my third and last. There’s no way I want more children or more sections!

But they said the same thing, that there is a chance of it not being successful as everything is so swollen from pregnancy anyway. So I decided against it - I’d never be able to trust it. Making Dh have the snip instead!

@roundthetwist34 well that is true! Baby has to come out one way or another so all we can do it trust! You've definitely reassured me, thank youuu! Xx

@ODFOkaren yes definitely have heard and doctors have said that getting sterilised during a C-section is not the most reliable, I've opted for if they can do it then do it but won't worry too much if they can't. Extra precautions will most definitely be taken though! How did you persuade your husband to go for the snip!? Mine is having none of it 😂 men and pain 🙄 xx

@ODFOkaren I basically said I wasn’t going to go on hormonal contraception ever again. If he had a chance of coming anywhere near me, he would have to take charge of contraception or it was never happening again

He stated looking into vasectomies himself and decided that it didn’t sound that bad.

@Carly1409 tagged myself above instead 🤦🏽‍♀️

@Carly1409 it’s ODFOkaren here - I had to re register on the site as deleted my old email.

I had my section on Friday night. There were adhesions but it was fine. It took them a little while longer to do the op but they kept me informed with what they were doing all the way through and once I had Dd skin to skin I didn’t really care.

I’m in a lot of pain no though. They said I would be in more pain than previous sections as they had to cut more away/cut longer incisions etc and had to jiggle my organs around more than normal. But it’s okay. I was only in hospital for 13 hours after the section! She was born at 11pm (I was held up due to other emergencies and they had a specific surgeon and anethnatist in mind for me - there were actually three in the room, one consultant and two registras incase I needed urgent GA - from that shift in the end) and was sent home at 1pm next day!

Be prepared for more pain afterwards and keep on top of the pain meds.

The doctor said to me afterwards “I’d be prepared to do one more section on you”. I told him to piss off

Oh and I did lose quite a lot of blood during surgery but after Tests they decided I didn’t need a transfusion.

@WankPuffins congratulations! I hope you are feeling much better soon and in the meantime enjoy your lovely baby 😊 xx

@Littlegoth thank you. I’m so relieved that it turned out okay on the night!