Photo Credit: Houston Methodist Cypress HospitalNews
Houston Methodist Cypress Hospital helps local woman find relief from persistent abdominal pain
Cermonia Thomas came to Houston Methodist Cypress Hospital seeking a diagnosis for her persistent abdominal pain. When tests came back inconclusive, her care team didn’t stop looking for answers.
Hospitalist Dr. Noe Zamora and surgical physician’s assistant John Murphy partnered with the surgery team to explore next steps for Thomas.
“Our priority was clear: continue to pursue answers while keeping our patient informed, respected and supported throughout the process,” Zamora said.
This collaborative approach led to exploratory surgery, where the care team discovered abdominal adhesions – scar tissue from a prior gastric surgery that had developed over time. Although the adhesions were not visible on imaging, they were partially restricting bowel function.
“Adhesions can form after any abdominal surgery, sometimes years later,” Zamora said. “They don’t always cause symptoms, but when they interfere with normal bowel movement, patients can experience pain.”
During the procedure, surgeons released the scar tissue, restoring normal bowel function and significantly relieving Thomas’ pain.
“She had been dealing with symptoms for weeks, which can be incredibly frustrating,” Zamora said. “But she stayed engaged in her care and trusted the process, even when there were no guarantees. That trust matters, and it’s something we work hard to earn.”
Following her recovery, Thomas shared her experience on her blog, Inside the Mind of Sugar Clark, with a post about navigating health care – noting how meaningful it was to feel heard throughout her care journey.
“As a woman of color, being taken seriously when you’re in pain isn’t always guaranteed,” Thomas said. “There’s often an assumption that we have a higher tolerance for pain. That was not my experience here. The team took the time to listen and explain everything. I never felt like I was being rushed or poked and prodded.”
Thomas encourages others to trust their gut when something doesn’t feel right, noting it could save their life. She said the approach of her care team made it easy for her to trust them and feel confident moving forward with surgery.
“You can feel the culture at Houston Methodist,” Thomas said. “From physicians and nurses to housekeeping staff, everyone treated me with kindness and respect. That consistency doesn’t happen by accident.”
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Source: Houston Methodist
