how long does it usually take for a partial blockage to pass?

I've had something similar twice. The second time, it took a few quick days after the steroids and I was able to mostly recover at home.

The first time (sorry about this) I was in the hospital for 9 days!! I'm SURE that won't happen to you...

So, there is no exact timeline.

Hey. Sorry you are still in the hospital. Hospitals are the least restful places to be - too much noise, poking, prodding ... I remember when my husband was there, one night, they were waxing the floor! I am usually pretty mild mannered, but that night, I just wanted to scream! Hopefully things will resolve soon, and you can go back to your own comfy bed.

I suggest netflix or Amazon intent video or something like that to zone out. Maybe start a new TV series. When my hubby was in the hospital is when I started watching korean dramas, because I needed distraction that didn't require me paying a huge amount of attention - the plots were simple, and they were pretty funny, and the mens costumes hilarious! I still watch them on and off.

I hope you are having a restful night, and that your body will soon realize that its job is not to make diamonds, but to digest and eject the waste.

PV

Ok...I saw my GI and I'm more cheered up. We are going to do another X-ray, go to full liquid diet and get a suppository to see if I can poop. If all goes well, he'll let me go home, and I will come back to the hospital if I get back in trouble. I live right in town.....even a break at home would be helpful. So keep your fingers crossed....

During the past several years, I had a few episodes of what I believed was partial bowel obstruction.  I have had Crohn's for 20 years.  Pain associated with regular Crohn's is intermittent.  But I remember a few times at night, I had continuous abdominal pain that did not stop for a minute and accompanied with severe nausea.  Those times I went to the local hospital ER for observation.  They gave me some pain and nausea medication, took X-Ray.   The pain and nausea generally died down after 6-8 hours and I was able to gradually resume normal diet over a week period.

What's the difference between partial and total bowel obstructions?  Can yours be total bowel obstruction?  I am just thinking loud.  Hope you get better.

Paul

Thanks everyone!
Scifi---I am using the alcohol wipes and washing down the toilet every time my partially incontinent roommate uses the bathroom. It is really grossing me out. She's a nice old lady and it's not her fault, but it does drive me nuts.

Gentleman- With a full obstruction you are completely blocked off and at risk of rupture. A partial is a narrowing intestines that is not letting food/fluid through normally. With Crohn's you can be obstructed with inflammation or scar tissue. I guess with others it could be a cancerous tumor or something else.

PV- I know you don't post all the time, but you always seem to appear when I most need you! I wish I knew you in real life. The Florastor is a great idea, and I didn't think of it. I have some at home. If I go today, I'll start on it, otherwise I'll have my husband bring it in. My GI is kinda worried about c. diff too...that's why he's trying to get me out of here.

So they gave me a suppository and yay, it worked. I did get the chills and felt terrible after the bowel movement, but I don't want to tell anyone. I think it was just the laxative effect. I'm better now. I ate cream of wheat and yogurt and I held it down. So now I'm just waiting to get the x-ray, and if it looks ok, I'm out of here. If not, then I'll cry. I'm so sleep deprived and weak. I've done some of it to myself...I have walked a marathon trying to get things moving. And I don't sleep with the roommate issue and just being in the hospital in general. I hope you have a great time at the graduation!!

Thanks everyone. I love you all....so much. I couldn't do this without you, and I have a great family and friends. You are just different somehow.

Praying that the X-ray will go on smoothly and you'll be sent back home soon. Hospital stay is really depressing particularly if you have a shared room.
{{{Hugs}}}

Gumby I hope you are reading this in the comfort of your own home. I am sorry to be late to your party but have had lots going on - you will read about in my post. Hope you are UNblocked!

I hope you've got to go home too. I've had roommates ranging from a psychiatric patient--it took 5 nurses to subdue her when she awoke and tried to attack one, though I know she had no idea what she was doing--to the one that screamed at my doctor while he was in my room and told me my daughter stunk (she didn't). One that was a "professional patient" who got put in for a boil on her butt, the only person I've ever known to be hospitalized for that, and she called every one she knew to let them know she was there. All day she called and talked..... Then there was the drug addict who would beg for pain meds until she finally called her dealer in the night and got her own stash.

I can't understand in this day why there are still semi-private rooms in hospitals. Even with nice roommates, it's not easy to rest.

So glad to read you're home, gumby, yay!!!

I've been following along, too, and can so empathize with you - the obstruction, sleep deprivation, general anxiety re: hospitals and everything in between - even the part about your sweet dog waiting for and worrying about you .

I hope you're getting some much needed sleep/rest and can put this behind you.