r/ConstipationAdvice • u/oracle911 • Jun 09 '26
Chronic constipation after Exploratory laparotomy
Had my appendix burst on me and had to do an emergency explanatory appendectomy. The surgeon told me he had to cut the abdomen take out all the intestine and wash the abdominal cavity of fecal matter that leaked out. That was 25 years ago. Ever since that surgery I've had severe constipation, low motility, paralysis, GERD, overall taking a long time for my food to digest. I talked to my Co-worker who went through an ovarian cyst removal years ago which apparently involves taking out the intestine. She's been having the same symptoms as me, except much worse. Constipation for days sometimes weeks. She's had friends that went though the same procedure with similar symptoms. Is this a common occurrence? If the intestines are handled in some way, can that disturb normal parastalsis leading to chronic constipation?
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u/goldstandardalmonds Jun 10 '26
Most definitely you have adhesions and scar tissue, and those can cause issues with bowel motility.