vp shunt and upper bowel obstruction
 

Has anyone with a vp shunt experience an upper bowel obstruction years after their last revision? Ive been in the hospital for 9 days going on 10 and still feeling sick. :( Like the shunt moves as you grow taller or grow bigger so it rubs against the intestines I guess since thats below the peritoneal cavity. I had gone under laproscopy friday and they had discovered many adhesions in my intestines and the scar tissue is hard not soft. It is also not in one area its in many areas of the intestines. I am on a clear liquid diet and that causes pain and nausea before and after the surgery had taken place. We are trying to avoid more surgery besides the laproscopy because that creates more scar tissue and complications. :( I need some input here because I want to know if anyone else has had this issue. The symptoms are bad breath, extreme abdominal pain to the point of crying, and consistent vomiting for hours because you cant even keep water down etc. Any input would be greatly appreciated.

Hey there, yes, i've had this issue. I had a bowel obstruction a couple of years after a revision when I was 21. The obstruction happened after I had acute appendicitis and an appendectomy. When they removed my appendix they saw the same thing as they saw in your laparascopy, tons of adhesions. I guess the scar tissue from the appendectomy was the final straw and it sealed my intestines completely. They tried to decompress it with an NG tube but that didn't work, so I had an extensive surgery to remove the adhesions.

The confusing part to me is what causes this in us? The intestinal surgeon told me it was because my shunt was draining into that area and CSF is foreign to the area and so your body develops scar tissue as a response to the CSF. But then my neurosurgeon said that it must be unrelated because CSF is actually very similar composition to the fluid in your peritoneum. I am 26 now and haven't had any obstructions since then (but sometimes I wonder if i'm getting another one). I still have a VP shunt (last revision was last week :-P) Keep us posted on how you are doing, and what the drs discover. You're the first other person i've heard of with a VP shunt and bowel obstruction. I'm sorry you're having to go through this. Have they talked about an NG tube? Although they aren't fun to have put in, they make the nausea a ton better. I hope this helps, hang in there.
Anna

Some info for you...
 

Hi,

Just to let you know that bowel obstructions and complications do occur as the result of a VP shunt.

*edit*

Cheers
Tom

No they are trying to avoid surgery as much as possible because it creates more scar tissue. It is because I have had so many revisions in my life that it just built up. They ahve been giving me colace, seneca, dulcolax, and suppositories bc I cant poop. I am going down for another X Ray tonight to see if there is anything in my system because even if you are on clear liquids which is what I was on you should still be able to produce some form of poop. Its just extremely painful to eat.

they sent me home wed from the hospital. Its just a slow process to getting better and said id be better off at home now that its at the point where its not lifethreatening. I have to eat only what I can tolerate. I am trying different things and they gave me an antispasmatic to take before each meal so my stomach wont hurt. So far they are working bc im only feeling slight pain like a 4 on the 1-10 scale. I have a follow up visit in a week so just have to see what happens

The followup visit went okay. My doctor said to followup with the gastroenterologist to give me tips on what to do since I still can't tolerate fruits and vegetables and I am just starting to tolerate sandwitches again. What I a still confused about is if it is not from what I am eating then how will I know if it will come back. There is no preventing it since scar tissue keeps growing. My mom has a friend who ahs had this problem in the past but she does not have a shunt but has the blockage from another reason and she said to add more water to my diet. I drink lots of water everyday. There is still so much I do not understand about this. I havent had to go back to the hospital but it still seems all new to me.

I have a doctor's appointment tomorrow with the gastroenterologist and I am very nervous about it because I do not know what to expect form him. I am hoping he can tell me what to expect for the future and what I should avoid. This concept is still new to me. As far as solid food goes I am still having issues with lots of food. I just need more info so I know what to do for the future. Won't it come back since scar tissue grows?Everything is still confusing.

I went to the doctor yesterday and he is giving me miralax and citrucel to take. He believes it is constipation but it is still not answering my questions as to why I have pain when I eat. He remembers me going in the hospital with pain but doesnt remember I had laparoscopy. I find him to be weird and not a great communicator.

It has been weeks since I last saw the gastroenterologist and I noticed 2 days ago on my birthday that I am seeing blood in my stools. I don't know if this has anything to do with the obstruction or if its something different. It seems like whenever I think things are going tokay something else happens.

I have to go for a colonoscopy at the end of the month because I have rectal bleeding. He is still not answering my questions about why I have pain when I eat certain foods. Its pasta and fruits and vegetables, and sometimes sandwitches I can't tolerate. I never had a problem until after the obstruction happened. Before it happened I was able to eat whatever I want. Why the sudden change after the obstruction? It's confusing.