I'm desperately looking for help/ideas for my husband. He was diagnosed with UC when he was 21, nothing helped, and he got a j-pouch. It was nothing but trouble, and after a series of unsuccessful surgeries to fix things, he ended up with a permanent ileostomy. Unfortunately, the surgeon picked a bad place to site the stoma, and ultimately he had to have the stoma re-sited. He had a decent 2 years, but things have gone downhill again. He has been suffering from an endless number of partial food-obstructions which don't seem to show on the CT scans and MRIs that the surgeon keeps ordering. Everyone knows there is something wrong, but unless it can be visualized, no one wants to operate on him (and we don't disagree). On January 2nd he is having an outpatient procedure because he has developed an absesse and infection under his old stoma site, and everyone is hoping that clearing that up might help him. But in the meantime, we are wondering what other non-surgical options there are for preventing food-based partial obstructions. He already does not eat fruits, vegetables or nuts, drinks a lot of liquids each day, cuts his food into small pieces and chews well. Does anyone have any other suggestions of things to try?
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Ten months ago I had three obstructions in a two week period. My internist felt they were caused by scar tissue. I started physical therapy where they have a technique that breaks up scar tissue. So far I have had no obstructions since going through this therapy. If you decide to try physical therapy you should find someone who has an expertise in working with scar tissue and adhesions. Good luck.
In the begining my obstructions were fron scar tissue...now they think it's more from crohns flares...get better as time goes on...only hospitalized once this year, and it didn't require surgery...
Thank you! Jeff, were the obstructions showing up on tests? Is there a specific name for what you do with the physical therapist? My husband has had a lot of scar tissue/adhesion complications but they keep thinking this is food-related. Maybe we have to reconsider. Catania, the doctors say he doesn't have crohns, we keep asking!
The therapy is myofascial release. Since I did not see my doctor till after the obstructions resolved no tests were performed. He said he would order a CT scan with my next obstruction, which fortunately I have not had.
Ugh! My husband gets obstructed because of his parastomal hernia (he has a temp end ileo). If he feels pressure building or a block coming on, he lies on his back on the floor, brings his knee to his chest (from the leg that is on the same side as the obstruction pain), and rotates his hip/leg joint slowly in a circle. Sometimes he'll rock side-to-side in that position. Often, the block will move along, or the hernia will "tuck" itself back into position. We've been to the hospital twice since Oct. The second time was on Thanksgiving and after 12 hours of no output, he tried the knee-up position and stuff started to come out. It's hard to watch someone you love and care about be in so much pain and discomfort, knowing that there isn't much you can do to help it stop. I feel for you and understand what you're both going through. Take care.
I seem to be having quite a few partial obstructions. They start of with the same symptoms as paralytic ileus, awful nausea, lack of output and pain the top of my bowel, so as soon as I feel that I stop eating and just drink electrolytes which seems to resolve the problem after a few days. I broke my rule on Christmas Day and had a small amount of solid food when I knew things weren't right which was stupid. For the first time the blockage was on my right side rather than my left, so I showed my Partner my abdomen without telling him it was in a different place and said "where is the blockage?" and he picked it straight away as he could see the distension.
I will do anything to avoid going back into hospital or have anything else done with my bowel, so will definately stick to my home treatment plan in future without fail. I will of course go to the ED if things get really bad.
To ease the discomfort I lie on an electric blanket, take oxynorm for the pain which also settles the bowel down for me and eat ice pops. Hope this helps.
I will do anything to avoid going back into hospital or have anything else done with my bowel, so will definately stick to my home treatment plan in future without fail. I will of course go to the ED if things get really bad.
To ease the discomfort I lie on an electric blanket, take oxynorm for the pain which also settles the bowel down for me and eat ice pops. Hope this helps.
Thank you everyone for all of the suggestions!