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Anyone w/ partial bowel obstruction??---questions

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Crohn's Disease
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Posted 2/19/2009 6:53 AM (GMT 0)
Hi,

I've got questions about partial bowel obstruction, and would appreciate your input!  I'll tell you my story, and then I'd love to hear yours!

One week ago was my first Emergency Room visit for a possible partial bowel obstruction.  Earlier that morning, I suddenly began cramping, but first thought it might just be gas or something.  Over the hours, it got worse.  The pain was constant with waves of intense cramping every few minutes.  I was MISERABLE!!  I ended up curled up on the sofa with a heating pad.  After 6 long hours of cramping, then the nausea hit---along with lots of burping and refluxing into my mouth.  When the nausea etc. hit, I figured I'd better call my GI.

The ER did blood tests, a urinalysis, and a CT with contrast.  So many hours had passed by the time they did the CT, that my probable partial bowel obstruction must have cleared on its own.  All my tests came out normal.

Have any of you experienced similar symptoms?  Can a partial BO clear on its own?  How do you know when it gets to the point that you should go to the ER?  Any suggestions appreciated!

Posted 2/19/2009 10:58 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Blossom When I had my partial bowel obstruction it was something that lasted and wouldn't go away like more then one day, I used to be alright for a day, then it would start up till it was everyday and got worse as the day went on . I found as the day went on I got sicker .Pretty much had the symptoms you had don't remember having reflux though with it. Could be possible that it was a little blocked and cleared after awhile although the CT should have showed inflamation or a narrowed area... Mine would come and go with bad pain and that's when I went to emerg. I got tired of the pain.... I know it's hard to know when to go to emerg. I used to not know either but I'am glad I did. lol gail
Posted 2/19/2009 12:17 PM (GMT 0)
If it was a partial, you could have cleared it when you started walking/moving...I have had the nausea/burping/reflux with them:(
Posted 2/19/2009 1:02 PM (GMT 0)
I used to get obstructions oftenbefore my resection surgery. I would get waves of pain that felt like I was in labor and often times I would vomit. If the pain so so bad I couldn't stand it and lasted for a few hours, I would go to the ER in search of pain meds. Sometimes the CT would detect the obstruction and I would have to stay for a few days, but other times it wouldn't show anything and they would send me home after giving me the pain meds. The only obstructions that didn't clear within hours was when I had a total blockage which put me in the hospital for a week with a NG tube.

Elizabeth
Posted 2/19/2009 3:13 PM (GMT 0)
I've had them clear on their own a couple times, and two times I needed several days in the hospital. Most of the time they saw something, but I have a severe stricture so they tend to freak out each time they see that too. I toughed 2 out at home just b/c I dreaded the ER. I don't plan to do that again.

Glad yours cleared.
Posted 2/19/2009 5:25 PM (GMT 0)
I guess I should clarify that my CT wasn't exactly normal.  The "normal" part was that it did not show any obstruction.  However, it did show thickening and inflammation of the terminal ileum consistent with Crohn's.

Thanks so much for your input, and I hope to hear more.

Posted 2/19/2009 6:40 PM (GMT 0)

mine was just what you describe...only with the addition that as time went on and they became more frequent and hurt worse.....the vomiting of food became the vomiting of green bile.

I would even have to go to the bathroom during this time....that is what threw me...how could I pass stool if I was obstructed....key word is "partially". 

I know they say that surgery is a last resort...but honestly...if I had known last April what I know now, i would have had the surgery and saved myself about 20 attacks and two ER visist that ended in being admitted.  BTW..both times I was admitted the obstruction cleared fairly soon after.

Posted 2/19/2009 6:49 PM (GMT 0)
what do they do when they admit you? i went the other night and they did a contrast ct- showed nothing other than thickening of colon- left side. gave me 5 days of cipro and bentyl for the pain when i poop...
Posted 2/19/2009 6:56 PM (GMT 0)
for me ...basically the same...plus between the two admits I had the barium x-ray series of the small bowel and it showed nothing really out of the ordinary.  In the hospital the ct showed the obstruction but did nothing to help show the cause.  turns out the affected area was , the doctor believes, years and years of scar tissue centered in one 30 inch area but it would not show up as anything other than the almost normal small bowel on the CT 's and x-rays.  a pill cam probably would have shown the severe damage but i had surgery before we went that route.

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