bowel interception

[pud1]

i am currenlty in hospital will my dd2 who is 5 months. she has had an operation to correct a bowel interception ( not sure on speling) just wondering if anyone has been through it and how it effects them long term

did you mean intussusception ?

Hello pud - I had this (as aly says intussusception) when I was a baby of 5 months. These days they try to avoid surgery by doing some sort of x-ray thing I believe.

If dd does have to have the surgery I'm sure she'll be fine. Mine was done in the early 60s when it was quite serious surgery but I'm sure it's much more simple these days.

Hi Pud1. I'm not a 'mumsnetter' but my friend told me about your posting & I wanted to reply. So sorry to hear of your daughter with intussusception - I hope she and you are bearing up. My son had em. surgery for this when he was 3 (now 5 & full of beans!). It was very traumatic at the time, he was v. v. poorly. We were in hosp for about 10 days, he was at home with me for about 4 months and very frail for the first 8 weeks. Altho' he lost a lot of intestine & appendix as well, he has recovered with virtually no ill effects, and you would never know now! I think my mental scars may last longer!! Diarrhoea then constipation was a problem for him in the early days (was on lactulose for a long time) but a combination of good diet & time has sorted it out. His growth & weight have been monitored since (due to possible malabsorption of nutrients) but he's doing ok. They warned me about possibly needing vit B12 injections due to surgery, but so far, has not been required. Iron absorption has been a problem & this issue is ongoing - I think they should have checked that sooner as it was very low when it was discovered (not til last summer). All in all, to try to comfort you a little, my son was extremely poorly and has virtually made a complete recovery. Also, I think it's possibly simpler if they're younger & catch it early. Try to look after yourself too - I kept 'coping' for a long time & then broke down in tears with a complete (but kindly) stranger in Sainsbury's!! Take care xxx

I think you are a mumsnetter now montymooz and you may never escape. I hope your friend warned you?

3 is quite late to get an intussuception isn't it? I had a good size part of my bowel removed (and appendix) and have generally a sluggish bowel function but find keeping well hydrated and getting enough exercise very helpful. I'm often anaemic but have put this down to heavy periods - not really considered that it could be an absorbtion issue.

pud - hope your dd is doing OK?

Yes, I think 3 yrs is late and quite unusual. We were told most commonly seen between 3 & 18 mo. Apparently more common in boys. Husband reckons was caused by a thread from sucky cloth getting ensnarled in bowel! I wonder if he squashed himself up too much doing twirlies on the rungs of the climbing frame!! Hospital disregarded our theories and said 'highly unlikely'! I think they probably know what they're on about - they certainly did a good job.

Thinking of you, Pud.

thanks so much montymooz. have requested to mnhq that you are to stay for good now. i have had d and v whilst in the hospital so was sent home yesterday. it has been awfull not being there for her but she is coming home today. she has had the operation as the gas up her bum didnt work. she has had 10 inch of intestine removed aswell as her apendix and some colon.
thanks for all the info. it will definatly help when i go for follow up checks as i feel that i have lots to ask but cant be there when she is discharged

Ask about malabsorbtion of vitamins and if she'll have any problems with diarrhea if the food & digestion process isn't complete. Hope she'll be better soon

Welcome home pud and dd2. Hope your own d and v has sorted itself out. My ds was isolated in hosp because diarrhoea became so bad they thought it was norovirus (tests showed it was not)- was just his bowels reacting. Within about 2 weeks, this changed to constipation, which then carried on & lactulose was kept going for about 8 months. DS was very, very weak & underweight in the beginning - could not even carry his own weight & walk. When his appetite returned (quite quickly) he needed to eat very little & often, and was requesting high fat / protein type food (obviously body trying to build itself up) but I had to try hard to get fruit/veg in to keep the bowels moving. I think diarrhoea is more common though. But I had to do on-demand feeding (including porridge through the night for a 3 yr old who was previously always a good sleeper!) But then with a 5 mo old you won't have to worry really about solid foods.

Although 10 inch of intestine sounds awful (I know - I felt the same horror when they told me how much bowel had gone!!!) I was told that the intestine is soooo long it's not as horrendous as it sounds. I think Mybox is right - ask about malabsorption of ALL vitamins & make sure they do regular checks on this. I now have DS on extra multivits all the time (hopefully they get absorbed)& as I said before the iron issue is ongoing. He is skinny but is doing really well at school and certainly has plenty of bounce!

Love to you & yours & thinking of you X

Hi guys well I had this at about 3-4 moths old in the 80s and was go young to operate on so they use some sort of die to push them back up (it was actilly out of my bum) I died befor they found out what was wrong but the doctors where great ( keep in mine this is what my mum tells me I don't remember haha) but I am now 22 and have been having alot of problems with my body ( mainly bowls and throwing up) when I tell doctor what I had they look at me puzzeled Nd brush it off now I'm in Australia not sure if this is a wold wide sight... As you can see I am now doing my own research to find out if this is my problem or not.. But as for your kids I was great healthy and happy kid problems started when I was about 16-17 and have carried on

Nowadays paeds surgeons try to 'blow' the intersusseption back into place (the bowel telescopes into itself) by forcing air through the rectum. Not comfortable for the baby but reduces risks of surgery and probably no long term problems. If baby was given open surgery I would check with the peads what may be the long term consequences. There are lots I think, but of course could have none at all.