Are Frequent Intestinal Blockages After Surgery Normal?

I wanted to reach out and ask if anyone here has ever felt their surgery was not done correctly or left incomplete.

I had my ileostomy surgery in 2017, and just two days after being discharged, I experienced my first extremely painful blockage. Since then, I've had around 80 blockages. On two occasions, I had to undergo the NG tube procedure in the hospital, which left me extremely weak and underweight. After those experiences, I chose to manage blockages at home—typically involving violent vomiting in the middle of the night, followed by recovery over 1–3 days.

Now, things have become more complicated. I've been diagnosed with a Hill Grade 4 hiatal hernia, where part of my stomach has shifted into my chest cavity, along with Jackhammer esophagus. My GERD is severe to the point where I cannot sleep lying flat. The local surgeon has recommended a fundoplication to correct it, but I am deeply concerned. My fear is that if I were ever to vomit afterward, it could rupture, which seems incredibly dangerous given my condition. Being constricted both “upstairs” and “downstairs” feels like a recipe for disaster.

Another major issue is that my ileostomy orifice is extremely small—about the size of a urethra opening. Eating normally is simply not an option for me, as it almost guarantees another blockage.

I would especially value hearing from anyone with actual GI expertise or personal experience with similar challenges. I'm not looking for generic advice—I truly want to learn from others who have lived this or worked directly with these issues.

For context, I finally persuaded my PCP to refer me to a GI specialist, and she advised against the surgery—even though both the surgeon and the PCP strongly recommended moving forward. I plan on changing PCPs soon, but for now, I'm awaiting a double contrast MRI in two days to gather more information.

Wish me luck, and thank you for any insights or stories (good or bad) you're willing to share.

—DB

You definitely need a second opinion and a third opinion with a new medical team to assess what can be done to resolve your issues safely. I am sorry you are having such a tough time.

Agree that doesn't sound normal at all,

May I ask what you're eating when you do? You really need to stay clear of anything with seed skins or high fiber, as the body just doesn't break it down. Are you drinking enough? I know we're told not to overdo fluids as we will just pass it through with an ileostomy, but you still need to stay hydrated.

You really should get another opinion from another surgeon and doctor. My ileo is about an inch across, but the inner hole is about 5/6 mm when it functions; at rest, the ileo should be fairly closed.

I would get that hernia checked out and repaired, as having part of your stomach in your chest cavity could cause even more issues with blockages, etc.

Hope you get sorted

Hi Don, I agree with Mr. B about the hiatal hernia, as those can be cancerous due to constant irritation. As for my situation, when I first got my ileostomy, it was a little over a year, and I was always cramping and feeling bloated. I finally had a full blockage due to adhesions that made my bowel twist, creating the blockage and resulting in more surgery.

I know you are looking for someone with a similar experience, but I haven't seen anyone else post about a similar situation. That many blockages are not normal. You need a new medical team, and if I were you, I'd consider a virtual consult with the best expert you can find... possibly Cleveland Clinic?

That hiatal hernia needs to be addressed somehow, but I think all that violent vomiting would make it likely to recur. You need both ends sorted.

Avoiding Ostomy Bag Leaking | Managing Ostomy Leaks with LeeAnne Hayden

Hi D,

Well... I was reading your post and shaking my head and going uh-huh, uh-huh, geesh this guy's got it bad... and then I read "I finally persuaded my PCP to refer me to a GI specialist"... and just about fell out of my chair! You're kidding, right? Dude... run, don't walk... to the nearest large university teaching hospital you can find that has a good GI department and start talking to people! Primary care docs are only good for common colds and some mild STDs. Anything beyond that and you're way out of their league. As for your question... NOTHING you described is normal. If a blockage causes you to throw up, you're one step away from passing out due to shock. Get your ass to a REAL GI specialist ASAP before they start removing stuff from your body that you really need.

;O)

Please let everyone at your clinic or hospital know you are suffering. Make it known you have extreme pain, you cannot eat normally, and you have violent vomiting. If your budget allows, and for your own safety, visit the hospital clinic when you have a blockage so each episode can be documented. Doctors seem to react urgently to pain.

Believe me, I have been complaining since day one. The surgeon who worked on me taught the other five surgeons that I audited before accepting his help when his assistant came in to see me. I asked her to be 100% transparent and let me know how the surgery went. She said we could not see what we were doing for the first three hours, even though the operation was scheduled for 3 1/2 hours. I think that they are not willing to help for some reason.

Hey Mr. B. I can only process proteins, e.g., eggs, meat, soft pasta, basically a soft GI diet. My diet was 100% vegan prior to surgery. When I awoke, the nurse had Jello gelatin and animal broth; neither are vegan. I let her know this, and she said, "Not anymore!"

Mushrooms, corn, onions, basically any fiber will cause a blockage! I haven't had a salad in 8 years!!

I

Hey Mr. B. I can only process proteins, e.g., eggs, meat, soft pasta, basically a soft GI diet. My diet was 100% vegan prior to surgery. When I awoke, the nurse had gelatin and animal broth; neither are vegan. I let her know this, and she said, "Not anymore!"

Mushrooms, corn, onions, basically any fiber will cause a blockage! I haven't had a salad in 8 years!

I drink my weight in good liquids. No, not beer! I quit drinking alcohol 10 years ago. No, I don't consume caffeine. Yes, I have educated myself. Here is the proper solution for rehydrating:

Glucose and sodium co-transport
The human body has specialized transporter proteins in the small intestine called sodium-glucose cotransporter 1 (SGLT1).
When both sodium and glucose are present in the gut in the right proportions, these transporters are activated.
SGLT1 facilitates the movement of sodium and glucose across the intestinal wall into the bloodstream.
This co-transport mechanism triggers the absorption of water into the body, effectively rehydrating cells and tissues.

Hey Ron,

How did the 2nd surgery go? I'm presently seeing a GI specialist; she may recommend a revision that should have been done 7 years ago, imho.

Hi Don, the second surgery was easier as I was in better health, but it was a full open type, so I was out of work for 2 months and then on light duty for a couple of weeks, and the ostomy functioned like it should.