Adhesions After Abdominal Surgery | Bloating, Constipation, SIBO & Digestive
Recovery | Charmaine D Naturopath
Had bowel or abdominal surgery and digestion has never been the same? Learn how adhesions, scar tissue and bacterial overgrowth may contribute to bloating, constipation and SIBO — and how naturopathic support can help.
Many people are told after abdominal surgery:
“Everything looks fine. You just need more fibre.”
“It’s probably IBS.”
“Your tests are normal.”
Yet they live with:
- chronic constipation
- or persistent diarrhoea
- bloating that worsens through the day
- nausea
- pain after meals
- unpredictable bowel movements
- food intolerances that never existed before
- SIBO or “bacterial overgrowth” that keeps returning
If this sounds familiar, there is something rarely explained properly:
Adhesions.
And not just adhesions alone — but how scar tissue + trapped bacteria + altered motility interact.
This is an area I understand both professionally and personally.
Before becoming a naturopath, at age 37, I lived with an ileostomy bag for two years following major bowel complications. I experienced first-hand what adhesions can do to digestion. Despite “normal” tests, I had ongoing diarrhoea, bacterial overgrowth, pain, and malabsorption.
It shaped how I practice today.
What are adhesions?
Adhesions are simply internal scar tissue.
After any abdominal surgery — whether it’s:
- gallbladder removal
- hernia repair
- appendectomy
- colon resection
- ileostomy or colostomy
- hysterectomy
- C-section
- bowel cancer surgery
…the body heals by laying down collagen fibres.
This is normal.
But inside the abdomen, tissues are meant to slide freely, not stick together.
Scar tissue can create:
- tethering
- tight bands
- restricted movement
- reduced flexibility
Research shows adhesions occur in up to 90% of abdominal surgeries
👉 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12477620/
So they are not rare — they are expected.
Why adhesions change digestion
Think of the intestine like a soft, flexible hose.
Healthy bowel:
- smooth contractions
- coordinated movement
- contents flow easily
Adhesed bowel:
- bends
- kinks
- pulls
- loses rhythm
- slows down or spasms
This may cause:
In the large intestine
- constipation
- incomplete emptying
- hard stools
- need for laxatives
- In the small intestine
- rapid transit or diarrhoea
- poor nutrient absorption
- fatigue
- B12/iron issues
- food reactions
Both can occur in the same person.
The part most people miss: bacteria + adhesions
This is where conventional conversations often stop — but clinically, it’s only half the story.
Adhesions don’t just restrict movement.
They can also create:
“pockets” or stagnation zones
Where:
- food residue lingers
- bacteria accumulate
- fermentation increases
- gases build up
This is one reason many post-surgical clients develop SIBO (Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth).
Evidence:
👉 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29094152/
Bacteria can literally become trapped in slow-moving segments.
When this happens, people experience:
- bloating after meals
- distension
- reflux
- sulphur gas smell
- brain fog
- fatigue
- alternating diarrhoea/constipation
Sulphur bacteria & bloating
In the large intestine especially, certain sulphur-reducing bacteria produce hydrogen
sulphide gas.
This can create:
- severe bloating
- foul-smelling gas
- abdominal pressure
- pain after protein-rich meals
- intolerance to eggs, garlic, onions, brassicas
Research:
👉 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30674577/
So sometimes it isn’t:
❌ “You’re eating the wrong foods”
❌ “You need more fibre”
It may be:
✔ altered motility
✔ scar tissue
✔ bacterial trapping
✔ fermentation
My clinical perspective (and lived experience)
When I was 37, I personally experienced:
- ileostomy
- adhesions at the ileum
- persistent diarrhoea
- chronic bacterial overgrowth
- malabsorption
- no clear answers from conventional care
That experience changed how I understand digestion.
Because of this, when a client walks into my clinic after bowel surgery and says:
“My gut has never been the same”
I don’t dismiss it.
I know exactly what that means.
And more importantly — I know what to look for.
Why fibre and laxatives often fail
If the issue is mechanical + microbial:
Adding bulk can:
- increase pressure
- worsen discomfort
- create heavier stools that are harder to pass
Strong stimulants may:
- cause diarrhoea
- irritate the bowel
- create dependency
Neither addresses:
- digestion upstream
- bile flow
- microbial balance
- motility coordination
A naturopathic approach to post-surgical
digestion
My approach is always gentle and functional.
Not forcing.
Not “cleansing.”
Not aggressive.
Instead we focus on:
Supporting digestion
- stomach acid balance
- enzyme support
- bile quality
Reducing stagnation
- gentle motility support
- hydration
- stool softening (not stimulants)
Managing bacteria
- addressing SIBO patterns
- reducing trapped fermentation
- calming inflammation
Improving nutrient absorption
- B12
- iron
- fat-soluble vitamins
- protein utilisation
Regulating the nervous system
Because stress and surgery both suppress gut motility via the vagus nerve.
When to seek support
If you’ve had abdominal surgery and now live with:
- chronic constipation or diarrhoea
- unexplained bloating
- recurring SIBO
- nausea
- food intolerances
- low B12 or iron
- fatigue despite “normal” tests
…it may not be “just IBS.”
There may be a post-surgical functional pattern that simply needs the right support.
Final thoughts
Adhesions are common.
Digestive changes after surgery are common.
Feeling unheard is unfortunately common too.
But improvement is possible.
With the right understanding and a gentle, physiology-based plan, many people regain comfort and confidence in their digestion.
Work with me
- adhesions after surgery
- abdominal adhesions symptoms
- constipation after bowel surgery
- bloating after surgery
- SIBO after surgery
- scar tissue intestines
- digestive problems after gallbladder removal
- post surgical gut recovery
- naturopath for digestive issues
- Adelaide naturopath gut health
- bowel motility support
If you would like personalised guidance, you can book an
Initial Naturopathic Consultation via my website.
Together we assess your history, your surgeries, your symptoms, and build a practical, realistic plan.
You’re not imagining your symptoms.
And you don’t have to manage them alone.
—
Charmaine D
Naturopath