temporary obstructions

My "temporary" obstructions last about a week, and require me to be NPO (without food) for a few days, so I can't really get through them without being in the hospital. Oral pain meds just don't cut it.

I have figured out a pattern though...of course this is MY pattern, so I don't know what others are like. I go from C to D and back and forth normally, so it's hard to catch the pattern. Looking back, it's easy to see. When I'm getting obstructed, I don't have a BM for a couple days, then REALLY feel like I need to go, but can't. I finally go, then the flood gates have opened and I go all day. Within hours of that, I'm in the ER in such bad pain I can't stand it. Looking back I can always see the pattern, but when it's going on, it's hard to recognize it. If I take a laxative right when I feel like I need to go but can't, I can avoid the ER. It's all in timing though.

If only I could always recognize the pattern as it was happening and just switch to clear liquids right when things head south...my life would be easier.

Are your obstructions caused by stricture or scar tissue? Mine are entirely scar tissue, and don't respond to steroids or any other med. My abdomen is filled with it, and it pushes against the bowel and causes the obstruction. It's getting worse and worse, and eventually will require surgery, but not until it's absolutely necessary.

I also have been put on a low residue diet, which hopefully will keep me from having obstructions as often, though my surgeon was shocked I avoided surgery this past time. I had a small bowel series, and during the first 12 hours, the baruim barely moved, so I was put on the next day's surgery schedule, then overnight went through to my colon, so we put off surgery.

If yours are caused by active disease, taking steroids when they happen should help, if you're willing to try that. If it's from scar tissue no meds will help.