Can someone explain Adhesions ?

[WildThongsHeartString]

And maybe what the symptoms would be in the stomach/bowel area

Useful info here: www.bupa.co.uk/individuals/health-information/directory/a/adhesions

Adhesions can happen (rarely) spontaneously but more usually happen after previous surgery. It's basically a bit of scar tissue inside the abdomen that causes things to stick together or a loop of bowel to get twisted around. This can cause a blockage, which will sometimes sort itself out if the bowel is rested (the person is kept nil by mouth for a day or two) or may require another operation to fix - often just a case of snipping the adhesion or band of tissue.
The symptoms of a bowel obstruction would be pain coming and going in waves, followed by vomiting, and nothing coming through the other end.

I can. Dh has had them twice.

His are as a result of shoddy stitching after his appendectomy when he was a teenager. Basically the scar tissue are "regrows" and blocks the intestine. The pain it causes is comparable with labour pains, basically dh was in screaming agony (which is scary when you have to be the calm person.)

He had them in 2005 and earlier this year. He attended A&e at our local hospital who pumped him full of pain killers and sent him home. When they wore off he was back in agony, I got my mum to see to our sons and ran him up to another local hospital who admitted him for five days until it passed. He was pumped full of pain killers (diamorphine, paracetamol and something else I forget what) there and out on a saline drip too until he passed it. The treatment is done completely nil by mouth until it passes and then a gradual diet is built back up agin. Dh lost over a stone!

I hope this helps.

Thank you all. My d big b is in hospital, the dr was hoping adhesions (recovered from bowel cancer/surgery 5 years ago) but unfortunately today we are told they can see "a shadow" so now a pet scan.

Oh no wild things, the best of luck to your db.

Oh dear, sorry to hear that. Have some and a hand to hold..