Hysterectomy and bowel problems:are they connected?

I have mostly loose bowels and some fat malabsorption since hysterectomy almost 8 years ago. Still no explanation / diagnosis. The first thing GI doctor said was that my surgery did not cause this problem. Well gee doc - I didn't have any bowel problems my whole life and it all started almost immediately post-op. So I think it clearly is the cause!! And then he kept insisting it must be my pancreas (which I disputed since it didn't seem like my pancreas would have been affected by the surgery). And then tests for a pancreas problem were all normal. 

With all the women who've had hysterectomies and resulting bowel problems, you'd think these GI doctors would have a clue. I think they may but just won't admit it. 

I had a hystorectomy  (ovarys remain) approx 5 years ago. Ever since the operation prior to a bowel movement 99% of the time I feel excruciating pain in my lower back ( right side ) my abdominal area and lower down.  I can't walk the pain is so intense, sometimes I also bleed when the stool passes.

I have also woken up with intense pain and had tears roll down my face.

I eat 6 small serves a day...if while on the run I eat a larger meal than usual the pain is worse.

I have seen a my GP rergarding this but that is as far I went.  It seems to be quite common after this op.

AGREED. ANY surgery can affect function.

 

Dear susie, not sure what country you live in but I'm from Australia and have same problems. Drs here also deny anything has to do with them. However, now after 14 years of pain I've resorted to a regime of movicol, in the mornings to keep the poo flowing, as well as one degas capsule, for that endless bloating, and at night a mintec before dinner to relax the bowels. Drink as much water etc aas possible. The idea is to keep everything flowing freely so it doesn't pull on the adhesions and scar tissue. Was told by female gp that they just push it all back as best they can, and you know what that is like when you try to repackage your holiday cases!!!! , and hope for the best. Wow, why do we wonder what is wrong!!!! Niw i have a no meat diet, fruit,porridge, and my fruit muffins and Vegies and mushrooms with baked beans for flavour, a little, and salmon mashed with yoghurt and tartare sauce to flavour it. Makes a nice sauce to put over vegs. Very boring sometimes. I try to not eat till lunchtime to give everything a chance to get out. The important thing here is we can never eat junk , fast food ever, without getting the knife pains etc. Because my bowel is wound around my bladder I have to toilet so often, 20 to 30 times a day and night. My loo is now my office!!!! No dr will try to rectify the problem, basically they don't want to try, because they say I would end up worse. I wish I could sue them for destroying my life.!!!!!!! well I hope this helps, just knowing others have the same problems is reassuring. 

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Hi, Im new on here. but anyone who tells you they are not related are very wrong. I was late in life 40 when I was diagnosed with severe endometriosis. I had a lap hysterectomy, removing my cervix and uterus as at the time, it was the size of a 3 mo pregnancy. I then suffered from internal bleeding, had to have emergency surgery and blood transfusions. I had my ovaries removed due to cysts 2 years later, . In the end I was left with Interstitial Cystitis and IBS. Long story short Bowel function has EVERYTHING to do with a hysterectomy. I can o longer have anything but a virtual colonoscopy due to everything being glued together by scar tissue

Hi I'm 5 wks post op from a TAH..ovaries were not removed. I was having a great recovery only to be hit with unbearable pain 2 wks post op.could not pee or have a bowel movement without crying..I was diagnosed with a bladder infection by family Dr and sent home with antibiotics and advice that I needed to up my pain tolerance. I ended up in the 4 days later and back in hospital for 3 days. Had to have iv picc line inserted..(44 cm of iv tubing inserted in vein in arm and rested level with my heart) Ruled out bladder infection, kidney stones and appendicitis.(had appendix removed 20 yrs ago.). During the surgery I bled more than I should have and blood ended pooling on my right side.it became infected and the fluid was against my bladder and bowel. Have had 14 days iv antibiotics and on oral. Three cat scans and ultrasound that found 2 small abscesses but big one is gone.still having pain and bleeding. Please go to your Dr who did the surgery if you are having pains.do not wait or let anyone tell you pain tolerance is low. I learned the hard way..stillresting

This sounds absolutely like me. I woke up in recovery in the worst pain of my life and was given liquid Tylenol. I couldn't believe it. In addition, once they finally did get me on pain meds they put me on something I had an allergic reaction to and wanted to keep me on it and give me 2 Benadryl every 4 hours. 6 1/2 months earlier I had neck fusion, and I had done really well.

All my pain symptoms are the same as yours. I'm set to go to a G.I. doctor, but honestly, I don't have any hope for any answers. I honestly feel that these doctors KNOW what's wrong....

I had a partial hysterectomy in aug 2008 and had pain in my lower left abdominal area the was very painfull, in April 2010 I started bleeding for 6 weeks the Dr did a CA125 test which indicated I had endometriosis the Dr did a liposcopic complete hysterectomy when he got in there endometriosis had taken over my bowels and they had to section out 2 parts of the bowels. this is the first time in a long time I can touch my stomach without being in pain

P. Singleton

well I to have been through everything that all you women have talked about and too had complete hysto back when I was 38 and I,am now 48 so I agree that the docs new this would or could possibly be a side effect of this operation and failed to tell any woman the problems that would occur afterwards , I,ve been through ,x-ray,ct,colonoscopy,endoscopy ,barium,etc...... and get told the same every time ,that they don,t know whats wrong and the last 1 I just had done 2 weeks ago showed that I had a narrowed and constricted cecum and needed another colonoscopy to rule out cancer in that area which is (about 2 inches above appendix) I say us women need to start a petition to make docs do more research on this surgery and inform women about the side effects that they may endure afterwards and @ the same time push for compensation for our pain and suffering !!!!!!!! this has caused $$$ problems , excruciating pain , painful sex ,arguments with spouse over it , and lots of stress, stress,stress and more stress which the docs say that we don,t need cause stress just makes it worse !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I don't know if you ever got an answer to this. My own personal experience with bowel problems after a complete hysterectomy has continued for years. I have a chronic problem now wth intestinal obstructions and was even hospitalized for eight days in 2011. My hysterectomy was in 2004. I was told that this problem was related to scar tissue from the hysterectomy pushing into the intestinal tract and causing a sort of dam where material in tg he bowel gets stuck and can't move any further. Everything behind it comes to a stop. In the hospital they put a naso-gastric tube down my nose a d into my stomach to suck out the contents. They told me yhat if that didn't work, they'd have to do surgery. I was given Diuladid--synthetic morphine--for the addominal pain. I was told also that you should always go to the bathroom when your bowels tell you to go instead of putting it off or trying to "hold it" because that can c ok tribute to constipation which can contribute to creating an intestinal blockage. I'm not sure, but I think they told me that the scar tissue could be surgically removed. This problem flares up about once every other year, at about the ss me time of year. I don't know why it appears to be on some kind of cyclical schedule.

I don't know if you ever got an answer to this. My own personal experience with bowel problems after a complete hysterectomy has continued for years. I have a chronic problem now wth intestinal obstructions and was even hospitalized for eight days in 2011. My hysterectomy was in 2004. I was told that this problem was related to scar tissue from the hysterectomy pushing into the intestinal tract and causing a sort of dam where material in the bowel gets stuck and can't move any further. Everything behind it comes to a stop. In the hospital they put a naso-gastric tube down my nose and into my stomach to suck out the contents. They told me that if that didn't work, they'd have to do surgery. I was given Diuladid--synthetic morphine--for the addominal pain. I was told also that you should always go to the bathroom when your bowels tell you to go instead of putting it off or trying to "hold it" because that can c ok tribute to constipation which can contribute to creating an intestinal blockage. Also, you should drink plenty of water. I'm not sure, but I think they told me that the scar tissue could be surgically removed. This problem flares up about once every other year, at about the ss me time of year. I don't know why it appears to be on some kind of cyclical schedule.

I have had all of these symptoms that everyone expresses following a hysterectomy and I had a colonoscopy with pictures inside the intestines.  The dr. gave me the picture and he explained and showed in the picture that my intestines are twisted in 2 different areas.  He also explained that this is not unusual after a hysterecomy because the drs. are not always careful when replacing the intestines.  This was from a well respected specialist.

 

same hear living hell 30 years now ...this is aginst human rights laws every woman has bowel problems after hysterectomy gov is hiding figers ,, woman are never told that this is what life will be after hysterectomy ... im all most homless no work no home no income ...no justice .....

ON DEC 23 2014 I HAD A COMPLETE HYSTORECTOMY THE DR USED THE DE VINCI ROBITIC SURGERY. I KEPT HAVING LOWER ABDOMNAL PAIN, AND MADE A NUMBER OF TRIPS TO THE ER. FINALLY ON JANUARY 31 A CT SCAN SHOWED WHAT ONE HOSPITAL THOUGHT WAS FLUID, THEY TRANSFERED ME TO A LARGER HOSPITAL. WHEN I GOT THERE I TOOK STRAIGHT TO THE OPERATING ROOM AND FOUND OUT MY BOWLS WERE READY TO BUST THEY WERE TWISTED AND TIED IN KNOTS FROM THE HYSTORECTOMY. I STILL DONT FEEL RIGHT TO THIS DAY

Omg I have the same exactly thing happening a year after my hysterectomy. Im vometting and diaria at the same time. Im going for s colonoscopy soon. They think its crones disease BC my brother had crones and he died from it. I have been in so much pain and so sick for 3 months now.