Bowels Freezing?

[heidikate 49]

My husband recently had surgery (not weight loss surgery) and his bowels froze. He had to have a tube down his throat going to his stomach. It was horrible.

Has anyone ever had this as a result of WLS?

[BLERDgirl 6,417]

I don't understand what your are saying about his bowels. The tube you are describing sounds like an NG tube, but that's usually for nutrition.

[heidikate 49]

His bowels stopped working. So they had to use the tube to suck the stuff up from his stomach.. It was building up in there which caused him to vomit. They didn't want that bc he had just had back surgery and committing could have caused a hernia

Just wondering if this has happened to anyone with WLS.

[ange117 93]

That sounds a lot more like a nerve issue as a result of the back surgery...

[BLERDgirl 6,417]

Perhaps they did pinch a nerve or something during surgery. I've never personally heard of that happening during WLS but if someone has complications I supposed anything is possible. Sleeve surgery shouldn't have that type of effect. Pretty sure they don't go anywhere near those nerve endings.

[heidikate 49]

You know that could be! Because later when he got home, his leg started hurting. So bad that we had to go to emergency. Found out it was a pinched nerve.

Good call gals!

[sonnysun 15]

I have only been able to go twice after surgery. Once was a day after surgery (almost three weeks ago) and once was a few days ago with heavy laxative use. It is terrible. I see no sign thus far of my body righting itself on its own but I so hope it does.

[heidikate 49]

O wow Sonny

Have you been back to the doctor?

How much Water are you drinking?

[Tally_RN 11]

It sounds like what your husband had is called an ilieus. What that means is that his bowels were very slow to wake up after surgery and he had the NG tube put in to get out what he was unable to poop out. This is actually more common that you think. It has nothing to do with the type of surgery you have but more with the amount of movement/nonmovement while recovering. Your bladder and your bowels are the last to wake up from surgery. It is not very fun to go through.

The one thing that I can recommend to anyone having any type of surgery is to move, sit up in a chair or at the very least sit up in bed if doctor's allow it.

[sugar17 3]

This is called an ileus. It occurs after surgeries, just about any kind of surgery. Unfortunately not much can be done to prevent. Good news is just because he had one after back surgery he isn't any more at risk for having one again. The NG tube is to give his bowel time to rest. It's actually called "bowel rest" and the ileus will usuall correct itself with bowel rest.