Bowel Obstruction?

[Lom]

Hey Guys,
I am a bit concerned at the moment because I think I might have a bowel obstruction. Recently I have been alternating between really watery D or extremely thin stools and bad C. This has been roughly for the last 2 weeks and have only had slight pain relief when I haven't eaten that much. Other symptoms I have are :

- Severe cramping pain just below belly button, occurs mainly when I move and always after I eat.
- Pain worsening when i lie on my side at night.
- Sometimes I get intense pain after a BM and need to vomit.
- Also noticed that I have been hiccuping a lot over the last 2 weeks as well!

Just wondered if any has experienced anything similar? or if anyone knows what it could be?!

Thanks.

 

[merrywidow]

could be a blockage, have you tried to increase your fibre intake to shift the obstruction? if you have diarrhoea you must increase your fluid intake, or you will get dehydrated. sharon xx

 

[Lom]

Always make sure i drink loads of water as get dehydrated easily!
Will try increasing my fibre intake, luckily im well stocked on weetabix and apples!
Might sound a bit of a silly question but is there a difference between a blockage and an obstruction?!
Cheers for the advice Sharon.

 

[danman]

yes and no, a blockage could be caused by anything, something you ate or, what can affect us, by a stricture in the lining of the bowel (not 100% sure that's the correct terminology).
At the moment I've got a stricture in my lower bowel caused by scarring after each flare. The wall of the bowel is so scarred, it has become hard and doesn't expand as the lining of the bowel should.

My consultant tried to to a colonoscopy, but couldn't get beyond it.

I'm booked in for surgery in 2 weeks time.

I can't say if yours is the same as every one on here has different symptoms, but go to your GP. When in any doubt, go to your GP.

How long are you diagnosed? because if it's not long, scarring won't have built up.

 

[Colt]

I certainly wouldn't reccomend fiber for an obstruction. You're likely to really seal it up and end up rupturing your intestines. Same with stimulant laxatives. Push it too hard and your intestines may give way before the obstruction.

It's pretty much two words for the same thing. Obstruction sounds more medical, blockage is easier to understand.

I suggest getting in to your doctor as soon as you can. If it suddenly gets worse go to the ER. Your doctor will likely do an abdominal exam where they'll feel for a swollen knot in your intestine where the pressure has backed up and inflated part of your intestine like a baloon. If it's found it depends on the severity and cautiousness of your doctor on if they decide to get it out with surgery or other means.

Strictures are common sites of obstructions because they are more narrow and allow things to get 'caught.' Obstructions can occur from a few things including the milder ones due to inflammation that will give way if the inflammation goes down.

 

[Lom]

Better put that weetabix back! . . .

How long are you diagnosed? because if it's not long, scarring won't have built up.

I been diagnosed for around 6 months, although had symptoms for 18-24 months. Is this long enough?

Going to see how things go this weekend (finding a gp on a saturday or sunday is nigh on impossible anyway!) then go in on Monday if it doesn't ease. Surgery frightens the hell out of me!

Seriously hope it's only minor, I was due to start my first Remicade infusion on Tuesday.

Cheers for advice guys.

 

[Colt]

It depends on the severity of your disease how long it would take to build up a stricture. If you're pretty bad off 2 years is plenty of time.

While you're waiting for the doctor try a stool softener or a lubricant like miralax. They're relatively harmless because they make it easier for the feces to conform to the narrower part of the intestine instead of trying to stomp it through with brute force.

 

[Mazen]

I've had 2 obstructions, and I usually feel like you are describing before I had to go the ER with severe vomitting and nausea. So I reccomend you go see your doctor asap; he may give you a cT scan to see if you have a partial obstruction

 

[Isla]

Ya, fiber is a bad idea if it is an actual obstruction - it can make the obstruction much worse. I have had an obstruction before and all of your symptoms could be attributed to having one, but only a picture (whether it be ultrasound, ct, or xray) will be able to conclude that.

Since I am prone to obstructions (apparently) I put myself on a liquid diet at the mere hint of a possibility of another one. They are no fun and I don't really intend on letting it occur again if I don't have to!

>love the hair btw if that is you in the avatar<

 

[Lom]

Thanks for the replies!
Went into A&E on Sunday because everything I was eating gave me severe pain and thought it would be best to get it checked out if there was a possibility it could be an obstruction.
They gave me a blood test and an x-ray and told me that there was no obvious signs of an obstruction (thank god!).
Signs of inflimmation showed up on my blood test so I have to bump up my pred intake from 20mg to 30mg (damn i hate those things!). They told me that a calcium supplement called Actonel I have been taking could be irritating the lining of my stomach so to speak to my GP about alternatives.
Having my first Infliximab infusion tomorrow so hopefully things will ease up a bit!

>love the hair btw if that is you in the avatar<

Yer it is me, thanks lol!

 

[Mazen]

Hi Lom. Good that you didn't have an obstruction. For Calcium supplement, try to ask you doctor about Calcium Citrate ones. They dissolve easier and are better tolerated.

 

[Mazen]

Hi Lom. Good that you didn't have an obstruction. For Calcium supplement, try to ask you doctor about Calcium Citrate ones. They dissolve easier and are better tolerated.

 

[Mazen]

Hi Lom. Good that you didn't have an obstruction. For Calcium supplement, try to ask you doctor about Calcium Citrate ones. They dissolve easier and are better tolerated.

 

[danman]

Good luck with the infliximab.
It was really helpful for me, you should find youself feeling better within 2 days hopefully.

 

[danman]

Am I seeing triple??

Yes.
I would stay off any nonperscription drugs :ylol2:

 

[danman]

Hahah Good one Dan! Witty today arent we! LOL

Some days you feel a million Euros!!!

 

[Mazen]

Sorry guys )) It seems my computer was feeling as sick as me when I posted the reply .......

 

[Lom]

Hi Lom. Good that you didn't have an obstruction. For Calcium supplement, try to ask you doctor about Calcium Citrate ones. They dissolve easier and are better tolerated.

Thanks, got some of those calcium citrate tablets as gp recommended them as well!

Good luck with the infliximab.
It was really helpful for me, you should find youself feeling better within 2 days hopefully.

Cheers mate, infusion went well think i'm starting to feel some benefits already!

 

[Guest]

sorry i am late this thread Lom.. pleased to read that you got checked out and it wasn't anything too worrying!

 

[Colt]

I take tums for my calcium supplement. 2 birds with one stone, eh?