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Possible partial bowel obstruction - will it clear up on its own?

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Posted 10/7/2011 1:50 PM (GMT 0)
I've been in a flare for three months now. My insurance finally kicked in last weekend and covers pre-exiting so I had a CT scan yesterday and will find out the results.

Basically, anytime I try to eat solids, I get lower abdominal pain .. in differing degrees that sometimes I need to go to the ER. I back off and drink Ensure for a few days, fever goes down, inflammatio goes down. Then I try something very bland, mild, simple and the symptoms all come back.  Saw my GI doc yesterday and he orderd the CAT Scan. 

I was on Entocort for two weeks, no response. I've been on prednisone fo... 40mg for five weeks and has not helped. A rx of Flagyl and nothing.  I'm wondering if anything will show up on the CT Scan as usually these tests show nothing ... which is frustrating.

I was hospitalized for an Ileus two years ago .. a CT scan taken 3 days prior to the hosiptialzition showed nothing ... however, an Xray taken that day in the ER showed my bowel had shut down.

Any advice, thoughts? Has anyone else experienced this for such a long time before?

Thanks!

Posted 10/7/2011 4:24 PM (GMT 0)
I've had the same thing happen. I've gone into the ER with obstruction type pain (I've had tons of them so I know what they feel like) and had a CT which showed an obstruction, then 3 days later had a completely normal small bowel series. I've also had normal CTs but had the exact same symptoms, so my drs go mostly by my symptoms and ask me if I feel like I need to be in the hospital, or if I'm comfortable going home.

Mine are because of scar tissue, and my drs don't know exactly why they happen (whether a certain food gets stuck or the bowels twist and cause the blockage). I don't get put on steroids and my meds don't change, they just keep me in the hospital for fluids and pain control, and I don't get to eat or drink for a few days. Usually after about 3 days things begin to resolve on it's own.
Posted 10/8/2011 12:44 AM (GMT 0)
I have been going through the same thing now for 2 months. Had the Ct scan and the Dr said that I had alot of narrowing at the site of my previous resection. The intestines were really inflammed through out. I could only have clear liquids and gradually have moved up to very soft foods, can not handle anything other than that. They put me on Cipro and Flagyl 500mg each twice a day. I was having to take pain meds every 4 hours. I think things are starting to look up.

Hang in there and you know what you can tolerate. Don't try to increase your diet to soon. And don't feel bad if you have to take the pain meds. Hope this passes quickly for you and you feel better real soon.
Posted 10/8/2011 1:29 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks Dophin 424 ... and Monkiray. I just got a call from the nurse. The CT Scan was unremarkable and I see the doc on Tuesday. I think it inflammation ... but it is hard to eat anything or walk too much ... easy peasy lemon squeezy I guess. I just got a book all about elemental diets .... Ensure maybe for a few weeks. I did it for five days and the inflammation and pain went away only to return when I ate. Anyone else do that?

THanks again ... and by the way, I hate Crohn's!
Posted 10/8/2011 1:48 AM (GMT 0)
When I have a partial obstruction and I can manage at home, I typically go onto fluids only, but only
for a couple of days. If after that it hasn't resolved itself, then I know it's time for the hospital.

Wishing you luck.
Posted 10/8/2011 1:52 AM (GMT 0)
Vicky:

How do you know it is a partial obstruction and what is it an obstruction from? Last time it was an ileus for me ... this time I think it is the same thing. Just inflammation ... no stricture, narrowing, etc. ...

Liz
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