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Is having an obstruction very painfull?

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Posted 12/12/2011 9:23 PM (GMT 0)
I'm going on holiday soon, I am very scared.

i just need to know is having a obstuction very painful??

Posted 12/12/2011 10:03 PM (GMT 0)
I've never had one, but I've heard they're very painful. Of course, everyone has a different pain tolerance, so who knows.
Posted 12/12/2011 10:12 PM (GMT 0)
Obstructions are extremely painful. If you are totally obstructed, you will be unable to keep food down and everything in your intestines above the obstruction will come up. And it keeps coming up until you get to the hospital and get anti-nausea med, pain meds and a tube to release the pressure. Is there a reason why you think it is a possibility? If you are keeping food down, eliminating from the other end and are able to function, go on holiday and have a good time. Running it by your doc before you leave is wise also.

I have had more total obstructions than I can count. They are painful, but they can be resolved in the hospital.

Posted 12/12/2011 10:33 PM (GMT 0)
Just like hldwodrgs mentioned, obstructions are really painful. I've had 3 in the last month and been hospitalized each time. The pain starts mild and within maybe 2 hours the pain comes in waves and gets much, much worse followed by vomitting. Each time ive been to hospital ive just had morphine and lucky enough they have cleared. Hope all goes well and you have a lovely holiday.
Posted 12/13/2011 1:05 AM (GMT 0)
I agree with the above 2 responses, altho I would add that is possible to have temporary obstructions. I am a veteran of those :) I think I went to the ER a total of 7 times over the past 3 years, and each time it took morphine or dilaudid (IV) plus compesine (anti-nausea) plus the dreaded NG tube. I had to wait until I passed gas, even if the pain was gone, which one time took over 3 days. The stupid NG tube caused actual damage to my vocal cord, which took a few years to get rid of (very sore throat with a cold, instead of the usual kind).

Of course, now I've had surgery and gotten rid of the twisted bowel, the stricture AND the adhesions so I am hoping I never have to go to the ER again!

I really hope you don't have an obstruction. Best of luck!!!

Sudsmom
Posted 12/13/2011 2:50 AM (GMT 0)
I had total blockage. worse pain EVER. worse than any sports injury. any touching of my stomach I screamed.
Posted 12/13/2011 7:41 AM (GMT 0)
YES very ... pain during a full blockage was worse than passing a kidney stone whilst in labour with my second child and trust me that was no picnic ;P

many people with crohns will never have a blockage and it is unlikely you would have one without any warning so I wouldn't let stressing about it ruin your holiday.
Posted 12/13/2011 8:22 PM (GMT 0)
Oh hell yes does it hurt. It comes in waves as the bowel contracts and tries to move stuff along. I have a stricture which has already been operated on twice and because of all the scar tissue I have and having short bowel syndrome it is not an idea to operate again. I stick to fluids, take pain meds and wait for it to pass. I find tomato juice works well to move everything along quickly also walking loads helps as well. Then drink loads of fluids once passed to help rehydrate and stick to mushy low residue foods for 4-5 days.
Posted 12/13/2011 8:35 PM (GMT 0)
Yes,  very painful. Belly area will be swollen.When I couldn't fasten my pants, my wife finally took me to emergency room and I could hardley stand the pain  when she would hit a bump in the road. Was in hospital for six days with tubes up my nose and into my stomach. Was lucky, didn't need surgery.
Posted 12/15/2011 5:04 PM (GMT 0)
You may get obstructions IF you have a stricture in your small bowels (due to scarring)or a narrowed area due to inflammation and swollen area making the passage very narrowed.

When there's a narrowed area, the food gets trouble passing through and a blockage occurs. This blockage makes the intestines crampy, and you will get a lot of pain. My cramps and contractings makes me always vomit, and I continue to vomit untill there's nothing more to get up, except for biles. The pain is unbearable, and i am in this vomiting / drinking water to get up anything else, for may be 12 hours. Have never been the ER due to this. MY GI told me I don't need to, not untill the blockage is a total one.

Used to have those episodes twice a month prior to LDN, now I get this sick once a year.

And every single time is when I have been eating something that is hard to digest for my system, things like raw vegetables, cooked meat or fruits like bananas or unpeeled apples. Those stuffs is getting stucked and give me a lot of trouble.
Posted 12/15/2011 8:12 PM (GMT 0)
Oh yeah they are very painful. I give some alot of credit cuz they stay home with partial obstructions, but I have never made it that long becuz its was just too much pain. Hope you don't experience one. Hugs!
Posted 12/22/2011 10:07 PM (GMT 0)
I had a complete obstruction and the only reason I went to the hospital was because I was vomiting and couldn't go to the bathroom. I recall feeling some pains that were similar to gas, but that was about it.

Everyone is different. I have been told I have a dangerously high pain tolerance.

Good luck!
Posted 12/24/2011 12:23 PM (GMT 0)
Thank you ever so much for all your support and advice and info on what an obstruction is like ..

I am travelling to Pakistan on the 31st of Dec... on my own to visit family please all pray for my health...

Thankx

Posted 12/25/2011 3:58 AM (GMT 0)
I compare these to those bear traps in cartoons... imagine the teeth on your belly, uncomfortable right? then they clamp down... then ease up then clamp down again... Thats what it feels like. Not comfortable at first then extremely painful. And then it eases up to uncomfortable for a bit then gets painful...


No fun.
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