Obstruction

I've had a couple obstructions, and nausea was always a symptom in addition to no output, and then eventually vomitting as well. But mine lasted more than a day. Did you have any nausea?

I'm glad you are feeling better today!!

Have had many obstructions and can only liken them to labour pains in that the cramping builds in intensity and when it eases off there are a great deal of sound effects. My abdomen gets hard and swells on the left side. Not much in nausea department but have had it sometimes and have been told in the ER that I am in need of fluids and a NG tube not fun. Quit going there and toughed it out at home eventually the blockage lets go and I adjust my diet to avoid fibre raw food etc. Worked for awhile but other problems showed up.

LSb2710, yes nausea was a problem last night. It has subsided but I am still having a little cramping. Just ate some fish and eggs so see what happens.

Hello All. I think I am still obstructed. I am slighly constipated. Is there anything I can do to help it out. Still crapmping but no nausea.

Keep moving around. Walk. Walk up and down stairs. And too, lie on your back, bring knees towards chest and gently rub belly in a circular fashion. Eat light. Liquid diet. Drink water and stay hydrated.

Thanks Bodoni Will try the stairs for awhile. But thinking ER if it does not work. What is the longest you can go with obstruction?

ER at this stage probably won't make much difference because there isn't much to do other than wait it out and put an N/G tube. If you begin having severe pain that cones in waves, abdominal distention and/or vomiting, you can handle it at home. Stay on a liquid diet, drink juices, as they stimulate evacuation, but don't take laxatives or fiber supplements. It can take a week or so sometimes, but usually it should resolve in a few days. After things sort out, the abdomen usually remains tender for a few more days.

Jan

Thanks Jan--- What about muscle relaxers for the abdomen. Wonder if that would help on the cramping or hurt in other areas.

I had a major bowel obstruction in 1999 and had to go to the ER and I had 32 inch of small bowel that was gangrene. The day before I had the obstruction, I did not have a BM for about 24 hours.

I don't want to sound like an alarmist, but this is something my doctor said I should not fool around with. I could have died.

The 2nd obstruction I had was in 2006 and again, I went to the ER but that one was not as severe. I was on complete bowel rest for 5 days in the hospital, and was only discharged when I was able to eat breakfast and lunch and was able to move my bowels.

Should be fine to take muscle relaxers. Smetimes relaxing the gut, even with opiates allow for an obstruction to pass.

But, yes, do not avoid the ER if your symptoms escalate, paticularly if you are completely obstructed and your abdomen becomes firm.

Jan

Past couple of hours I have had liquid bowel movements but have been drinking alot of water.
Still cramping though. Even though its liquid would that count as not totally obstructed. Not sure if the intestines secrete water or not. I guess you can tell I don't know much about the human anatomy.

You can be completely obstructed and have liquid output, but the pain would be pretty intolerable, and there would be no gas passed. I doubt you'd be spending time on the internet because you'd be in too much pain.

Jan

Wondering if it would be ok to take pain pills while having an obstruction? I heard it slows down the bowels so not sure if that would help or hurt. Also I plan on getting some Ensure or protein drink. Does anybody know a good non- dairy one.

Ensure is lactose free, if that is your dairy intolerance. But, it does have milk protein and soy protein. It's my "go-to" drink if I need prolonged liquid diet. My husband prefers Boost, but it has milk protein too (it tastes "off" to me).

Regarding pain pills, I presume you mean opiates (those are the only type that slow the gut). Two schools of thought on them. Reducing pain and slowing the frantic motions of the gut can help an obstruction pass. But, if you take too much, it can stop things altogether. When I had a full blown obstruction I took three Vicodin at once and it didn't do a thing one way or the other. So, I think it is OK to take some, just don't go crazy.

Jan

Jan

The pain pill is hydrocodone and tylenol. I think that is an opiate. Just had a little solid poop. I mean just a little. Maybe thats a good sign.

Yes, a good sign indeed! And yes, that is an opiate, same as Vicodin or Norco, depending on the tylenol dose. I think they are replacing Norco for Vicodin in most cases these days because of the risk of tylenol toxicity.

Now, go drink some grape juice!

Jan

Steve, I'm on Ensure clear which has no dairy...its pretty tasty but you have to drink it COLD or on ice. While you can sort of taste the vitamins, etc in it, its really not bad. The blueberry/pomegranate is pretty good. The only problem is that it comes in these stupid 4 packs but Walmart, Target, Walgreens all carry it. Also, for hydration, I use Vitalyte that KathySmith recommended to me. I drink it every day. The orange and the grape are the best and I've even mixed the orange in with decaf iced tea....try these out if you want and keep us posted on how you are doing. If you have other questions, PM me...

Yes i had an obstruction as well, with little stool passing, which caused me to get nauseau and vomitting every time I tried to drink something it would sit there for a bout 10 mins or so then it came up mine lasted for a day before it passed and i just had another yesterday, now I know what think caused it too many binding foods i at white bread, white rice with chicken, potato chips and yogurt and then about half later i felt the blockage, talk about annoy and discomfortable, made me throw up a few times during the day and couple over night by morning I had an upset stomach for a few hours which eventually passed. Main thing is just make sure you still passing stool (how ever little it is) and drink fluids but in little sips that seem to help me today. I hope this helps.

Steve, on the Ensure products...if you register with them online, they send a weekly newsletter and there are coupons to offset the cost. Maybe a good idea for trying it the first time. Ensure.com\products...hope this helps.

Steve, my husband recently had an obstruction, and after reading advice on this website, I made him drink a mixture of grape juice and prune juice all day. That, in addition to using a heating pad on his stomach, helped immensely.

Thanks everybody for the concern. I am still clogged up but a little poop is coming out. Called my surgeon and he said try Milk of Magnesia. Never heard of that. I actually talked to the medical assistant who talked to the surgeon. Oh well. See what happens

I got really sick from bowel obstruction/suffered a lot before getting to hospital in atlanta/doctor. not saying this is right but what I was told. I had gotten sick often for about five yrs. previous but would get better. this surgeon said he thought it was due to scar tissue/I stayed in that hospital for about 5 days. bowel struction had resolved on its on (what I was told) a mnth later he scheduled surgery/he wanted me to get healthier unless surgery was an emergency. I had been told I also had j-pouch prolapse by another doc. so while this surgeon was tacking j-pouch back he was going to remove scar-tissue he felt was causing bowel obstruction. he did that/also some of my female parts were wrapped w/bowels and he seperated them. I really believe it all turned out right b/c God was taking care of me.

I have my third obstruction today. It is where scar tissue constricts the small intestine. My surgeon refuses to operate to remove the scar tissue. He said surgery will only create more scar tissue.

Pain level is a five. Drinking lots of liquids and have a heating pad wrapped around my body. The pain radiates through to my back. I have had months of great days. I had a spinach salad yesterday. Can obstructions also be brought on by stress? I am in the middle of moving from our family home surrounded by forest and mountains to a small urban apartment.

Sorry your feeling bad Sub. I think my obtruction was brought on by taking two immodium and then crackers that was made of rice and red beans. Ate to many but they were good. I am better now. Hope you feel better soon.

Thank you Steve. I'm sure I will be fine but every now and then it feels good to communicate with people who know exactly what you are going through. I am very glad you are better now!