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What Causes Nausea And Depression After Abdominal Surgery?
Question: Dr. Berger Durnbaugh,
thank you for reconnecting with me.
My friend (and boss) who had bowel blockage is now back to work but still in her view tires easily. She has always been a "fireball" of energy andI think she is being hard on herself. Still often feels waves of nausea.. will eat crackers and try to go on. She is now afraid to travel anywhere. Maybe some depression, right?
thank you for reconnecting with me.
My friend (and boss) who had bowel blockage is now back to work but still in her view tires easily. She has always been a "fireball" of energy andI think she is being hard on herself. Still often feels waves of nausea.. will eat crackers and try to go on. She is now afraid to travel anywhere. Maybe some depression, right?
Brief Answer:
Some information
Detailed Answer:
Hello XXXXXXX
I'm sorry your friend hasn't returned to her previous level of energy yet, but if the obstruction and surgery happened in April, it can take time to regain her energy. Both major surgery and general anesthesia can take time to recover one's energy from.
Sometimes major surgery and recovery can trigger anxiety and depression. I can't blame her for being afraid to travel as it sounds like the bowel obstruction came on rapidly and was severe.
While the nausea may still be from the aftermath of the bowel obstruction and surgery, if it has been more than a month, she should contact her gastroenterologist about this. I don't think her nausea is related to depression.
It would be good for her to talk with the gastroenterologist about the idea of using magnesium if you read this in a new study. But magnesium in too large of a quantity can cause diarrhea. It is one option for a bowel prep before colonoscopy (magnesium citrate) to give you an idea of the strong effect it can have! But something to cause bowel movements may not be what she needs if the problem was adhesions. My guess is her obstruction was in the small intestine rather than the large intestine. Still, if you found something relating to magnesium as a preventive for small bowel obstruction, please do share that article with your friend for her to take to her gastro doctor.
About adhesions: These can form after abdominal surgery and it is unpredictable if and where they might form. So adhesions from a previous surgery can cause a small bowel blockage but with the next surgery, the body may not form adhesions.
I think you had said that she has seen nutritionists/dieticians for advice in preventing future bowel obstructions. It may be a good idea for her to go to one again if she feels the need for a refresher.
I hope this information helps.
Some information
Detailed Answer:
Hello XXXXXXX
I'm sorry your friend hasn't returned to her previous level of energy yet, but if the obstruction and surgery happened in April, it can take time to regain her energy. Both major surgery and general anesthesia can take time to recover one's energy from.
Sometimes major surgery and recovery can trigger anxiety and depression. I can't blame her for being afraid to travel as it sounds like the bowel obstruction came on rapidly and was severe.
While the nausea may still be from the aftermath of the bowel obstruction and surgery, if it has been more than a month, she should contact her gastroenterologist about this. I don't think her nausea is related to depression.
It would be good for her to talk with the gastroenterologist about the idea of using magnesium if you read this in a new study. But magnesium in too large of a quantity can cause diarrhea. It is one option for a bowel prep before colonoscopy (magnesium citrate) to give you an idea of the strong effect it can have! But something to cause bowel movements may not be what she needs if the problem was adhesions. My guess is her obstruction was in the small intestine rather than the large intestine. Still, if you found something relating to magnesium as a preventive for small bowel obstruction, please do share that article with your friend for her to take to her gastro doctor.
About adhesions: These can form after abdominal surgery and it is unpredictable if and where they might form. So adhesions from a previous surgery can cause a small bowel blockage but with the next surgery, the body may not form adhesions.
I think you had said that she has seen nutritionists/dieticians for advice in preventing future bowel obstructions. It may be a good idea for her to go to one again if she feels the need for a refresher.
I hope this information helps.
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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