Diet and Health FAQ

Tagged As: Symptoms Of Bowel Obstruction

Question:
I have been diagnosed with a suspected partial bowel obstruction, and have been recuperating from a horrible attack for several weeks. Does anyone have knowledge about this condition, and if so, please tell me what the symptoms are, and if there is a cure. I am still on spasmodic medicine, and have not been feeling too well for several months.

Answer:
I had a bowel obstruction back in June...I have CD. I'm not sure, if there's a cure for an obstruction, but surgery is recommended. Mine, went away, without having surgery. I haven't been to the washroom since August 24th...and my intestines are very swollen. Symptoms of bowel obstruction are the following: cramplike pain in the center of the abdomen and distention dehydration bloating nausea, vomiting decrease in bowel movements *drink a lot of clear liquids, to help reduce the swollen intestines (salads, meat etc) will aggravate the problem *don't take laxatives I’ve had Crohn’s for 10 years no fun it sometimes takes me months to feel better but since I’ve had it, I have very few good days…I take prednisone, asacol for my condition, the prednisone is great, but it isn't good for you...but that is the path I chose…but ,knock on wood, I have been doing fantastic for the first time in years for the past few months, I’ve had no flare ups…spasmodic medicine did not help in my case…but if you can avoid an operation. I advise you to do so everyone I know that has what I have it just comes back in another spot. I have done a lot of research into my problem and I can honestly say that my flare ups are do to a bacteria or viral infection…if I get a cold or flu, it seems to settle in my bowels and it raises all sorts of hell at times. The problem with prednisone is it knocks down your immune system and it takes twice as long to recover from things like the common cold. Prednisone can also contribute to osteoporosis, which I take a calcium supplement to fight that. I hope you don't have what I have, and it is just a once and done blockage. I am 40 years old now and I got tired of not eating, missing work, and laying on the sofa for days at a time that is why I choose to take prednisone. It keeps me off the sofa and I can enjoy life a lot more. I can travel and play softball and many other things. prednisone was introduced to me by my one doctor as a short term fix which worked, but as soon as I got off of it ,it came right back I am on a small dose of 20 mgs. a day, that seems to control it for me, but I also know the consequences of the long term use of the drug...just think about your alternatives get a second opinion, or even a third....before someone cuts you open...if it is Crohn’s disease, it will just pop up someplace else...the doctors are puzzled a lot of times it took them 4 colonoscopys and 5 years to diagnose my problem. I know it can be very painful, but you have to hang in there another thing don't mess around with doctors if you aren't happy or feel your doctor isn't doing things fast enough for you, switch and keep switching until you find a doctor that will help you. Remember, doctors are just practicing medicine. You shouldn't have problems weeks after, find another doctor, I listened to my first doctor for 4 weeks, every week he would say try this drug for a week, ,guess what? I lost 45lbs. in those 4 weeks I thought I was going to die. Don’t be afraid to hurt the doctor’s feelings, he isn't the one living with the pain you are!!!! Your symptoms could be, nausea. the runs, bleeding, stools if red is bleeding from the bowel, if black you are bleeding from farther up in your small intestine, severe abdominal pain, the thing is you have to give your bowels time to heal, they need a few days of rest, and a good anti-inflammatory drug...in the mean time I would drink a few cans of ensure, eat jello, drink gatorade, I would do this for about 4 to 7 days and things would seem to clear up for me for a few weeks...like I said, I hope you don't have what I have. I am sorry if I scared you, I didn't want to do that but I wanted to let you know what I have gone through the past 10 years, but I am still alive and I changed my diet accordingly...oh yeah, ask your doctor if you should take something like citrucel, it made me more regular and softened the stool so it was easier to pass. Again, I am sorry if I scared you with any of this. if you have any questions feel free to email me I have just touched on this subject, but I am one of the lucky ones I guess, ,since I know more about it I haven't missed more than 5 days work in the past 2 years. I know one person that had to go on disability because he has it so bad he can't even leave his house. So don't get depressed, get a grip and get a new doctor. Depression can be as bad as the pain itself...take care and let me know how you make out.