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Intestinal Blockage / Obstruction Support Group

The past two weeks I had have minor flare-ups of abdominal pain, nothing severe to put me in the hospital.

Last week I started rubbing my abdomen and felt something move. So as I narrowed the rubbing down to a smaller area I realized it was right over one of the resections of my intestines. As I kept rubbing I could feel more movement. Pain free since then.
 

dave13

Forum Monitor
Location
Maine
The past two weeks I had have minor flare-ups of abdominal pain, nothing severe to put me in the hospital.

Last week I started rubbing my abdomen and felt something move. So as I narrowed the rubbing down to a smaller area I realized it was right over one of the resections of my intestines. As I kept rubbing I could feel more movement. Pain free since then.
Wow,that's great! No doctors involved
 
Went to a new GI at UVA medical center here in Charlottesville, VA and it was a great visit.
He wants to do a small study of my ileum using barium as a contrast to find out whether my obstructions are due to scarring which causes strictures or whether my obstructions are caused by inflammation. After this study we can decide whether I need surgery due to permanent scarring or stay on drugs to control the inflammation.
He took me off the Pentasa which he says is useless for treating inflammation in the small intestine and put me temporarily on entocort to treat any inflammation as he feels this an work better in the small intestine.
At least he has a plan whereas my previous GI just changed me from Asacol HD to Pentasa after my second obstruction without even examining me basically running the same drug program that didn't work the first time.

Whit
 

dave13

Forum Monitor
Location
Maine
this is good news,Whit! Great to hear your GI is being proactive.I'm still waiting to be approved for pentasa.I'll ask my GI what he thinks about entocort for my situation.Good to know your options.Glad your new GI isn't just a drug pusher and is actually doing something to help you.Keep us informed on how it goes! :smile:
 
Hi Whit and Dave,
So glad you are at a great facility, Whit! I was supposed to go to MCV to see a GI specialist, but can't afford it. I got my CT results back today. A lot of things on there, but the main thing my GP said make sense, in light of my non stop complaining of partial blockages and left sides pain, is that there is intussusception in the jejunum that is involved, and also lipoma polyp in the 3rd part of the duodenum. (Plus some other things I know nothing about.) We sent a letter to my colon surgeon. She wanted to start me on prednisone again along with methotrexate. I asked her about Entocort, and she just does not know enough about it. I was just surprised that the colon where my perforation and surgeries were, are ok...and that now there is a problem in the small intestine. I think you mentioned, Dave, that your problems were in the small intestine too. If I look at my stomach, I don't even know where the jejunum is! (I can look at a pix, but want to figure out in relationship from like my belly button, or ribcage, etc. Can you help? And, the doc explained what this intussusception of the intestine is...it kind of folds into itself. But how would that happen? Ohh... don't these things just make you tired?! I hope both of you are doing ok, on this Tuesday night!
Carol
 

dave13

Forum Monitor
Location
Maine
Hi Carol,
The way my surgeon explained it:There is no definitive point where the duodenum ends and the jejunum starts.If I understood him correctly.I assume he meant there is little physical difference.Small intestine looks like small intestine,even though they have different specific purposes.My pain was just above my belly button.The resection scar is from my belly button down.My pain was definitely at belly button level and a bit higher.It was an odd spot,I keep getting told.Towards the upper part of the jejunum.If you look down at your belly button,just above it is the area I'm talking about.
I looked up intussusception.Wow,I hope your docs can help you with that.It would be nice if crohn's stopped throwing new challenges at you!
I hope this helps.I do agree it can get tedious.We come to grips with one thing and crohn's throws something else at us.Keep the faith! :ghug:
Dave
 
Been up all night with hubby pain on his left side where resection was I asked how long has he had the pain he said a few weeks:ymad:

He was up all night running to the bathroom last I counted was 7x in 4 hours. We have an appointment with his CRS next Wednesday about the fistulas i will bring this up to her. I also told him to call his GI to see if he can give him something for the pain. He's not running fever so far I asked if he needs to go to ER he said it's not that bad.
 
Ibuprofen or any NSAID might be the cause of the continuing issues. It is a big no no for Crohns and maybe IBS. Look into other pain meds or prednisone for inflammation management. Has Cimzia or Remicade been explored? It did heal up my fistula but became less effective after a few months. Your reaction maybe different.
 
Thanks carbuncle, he is currently on Remicade 4 years now, fistulas are still there he just called his GI spoke wit the nurse she said she would let the DR know and call him back.
 
Hi Carol,
The way my surgeon explained it:There is no definitive point where the duodenum ends and the jejunum starts.If I understood him correctly.I assume he meant there is little physical difference.Small intestine looks like small intestine,even though they have different specific purposes.My pain was just above my belly button.The resection scar is from my belly button down.My pain was definitely at belly button level and a bit higher.It was an odd spot,I keep getting told.Towards the upper part of the jejunum.If you look down at your belly button,just above it is the area I'm talking about.
I looked up intussusception.Wow,I hope your docs can help you with that.It would be nice if crohn's stopped throwing new challenges at you!
I hope this helps.I do agree it can get tedious.We come to grips with one thing and crohn's throws something else at us.Keep the faith! :ghug:
Dave
Thank you for your quick response! Umm, yeah.. I pressed right where you said- right above the belly button, and OUCH! :pale: Maybe I will make a thread to see if anyone else has had this intussusception problem. Mostly, I wonder how it would have happened! Yes, we are are always ready for a new surprise in our journeys!
 
Fozheart,
I think you will have to give yourself a daily shot under the skin on a daily basis for methotrexate.
Whit
 
My GP gave me oral MTX. Go figure... I have been on it before, for Lupus and R.A., and really do not appreciate the side effects- feeling cruddy for a day or so.
 
Hello fozheart good idea on the thread, I just called my hubby and asked him to press above where his belly button was and he said that's where he was hurting just to the left. Thanks for the tip Dave13.
 
I have suffered with constipation since the age of 10!!! I believe I had my first obstruction then but ER doc ruled out appendicitis and sent me home!! For the next 2 weeks I was in agony..... Couldn't eat or drink or have a BM. Several years later the same happened again.....ER doc ruled out appendicitis sent me home with laxatives and a diagnosis of gastroenteritis. Several years later again it happened! This time I needed surgery 1999 bowel resection removed 12 inches of small bowel and 6 inches of colon. Just 3 months later again I have an obstruction with perferration! This time they think I have CD so they do a temporary ileostomy! Reversal 6 months later. I see a GI that says I do NOT have crohns???? About 5 years go by and again I have an obstruction that requires surgery.....2012 another obstruction but bowel rest rehydration and NG tube do the trick. 2013 small bowel obstruction again that requires surgery! 2 large stones are found and anastomoses is revised. Feb 2014 GI bleed colonoscopy reveals ulcers of terminal ileum being the cause of bleed! Surgeon and GI believe NSAIDs is the cause? But it don't believe it! This mess has been going on for over 30 years and still no diagnosis!! How can I have all these symptoms and obstructions and no diagnosis??? I have a very high pain threshold....but obstructions are the most painful thing I've very experienced! I have had 2 all natural child births as well and the pain is far worse with an obstruction! The pain comes on suddenly....one min I'm fine and then bam!!! The pain for me is also in waves with peristalsis. So frustrated with no diagnosis!!!!
 
Hi everyone! I'm going to see my GP in a couple of weeks and was wondering what types of blood tests for inflammation detection I should ask for? CRP and ASA?? And what type of vitamin testing should I be looking to get?? B12 anything else?? I would appreciate your input!!!! Thanks. 😃😃😃
 
A sed rate would be good too, chuckmya.

Update on my intusussception- Second day of 60mg of prednisone, I felt a funny sort of pop, right where the intusussception is, in the small intestine! It feels much better! That night as I layed in bed, my stomach was making lovely noises, and it actually was the first time in MONTHS that the noises and movement was in the center of my belly. :) The last week I have had the easiest and most normal activities in the bathroom than in a longggg time! No D, and no skinny ribbon stool. It is like a normal person! So.... the pred obviously took away some inflammation, but I wonder if it actually helped the kinked up area undo itself. What do you think? Of course, I am tapering the pred....down to 20. We are trying to get off of it quickly, as I have had too many complications from it in the past. (Been on and off of it for 22 years. (Lupus, pulmonary issues, and now GI stuff.) I was supposed to restart methotrexate, but I just can't seem to do it. My immune system is already compromised, and I don't think I am strong enough to handle it right now. But.... something has got to replace that prednisone. I would never be a candidate for a biologic med. We just do not have the money. Ugggg.... these drug decisions! My little body wants a vacation from them, but I cannot function well without them.

Sorry.... this is poorly written. I am tired, but needed to put my thoughts out to you!
 

dave13

Forum Monitor
Location
Maine
Good to hear the progress Fozheart! Good question about the prednisone unkinking your small intestine.Maybe a combination of factors?
 
Intussusuptions

This is when the bowel folds in on itself. Like if you pull your arm out of jacket but leave the sleeve inside the arm, not inside out more half in half out. I have suffered with this when I had my first sub total colectomy where the small bowel was stitched to the rectum end to end. The only way they could stop this was to join the small intestine side to the rectum so my diagram will show you
This is the way it was. This is now
(). Small intestine. ()() Small intestine
() ()() Rectum. With a hole to allow
() rectum
(). Waste to go from 1 to the other

Sorry diagram isn't the best but hopefully you get the general idea.
 
Oops it hasn't quite worked out anyway imagine a tube that's how it was joined previously and now it's like tubes side by side with a hole to allow the waste to go from small intestine to rectum. This has worked well for many years. However now the scarring is such that very little waste gets through and hence my new obstructions are frequent. My belief is that my next option will be an illeostomy but will have to wait and see what this round of testing says.
 
Thank you Dave and Karajan! (esp for the explanation!) I am too tired to think tonight, but happy that I have such good friends on here. Having people that understand makes me feel less alone! :ghug:
 

dave13

Forum Monitor
Location
Maine
Thank you Dave and Karajan! (esp for the explanation!) I am too tired to think tonight, but happy that I have such good friends on here. Having people that understand makes me feel less alone! :ghug:
Support really helps us deal with what we go through.The forum really helps me emotionally and with information.Support from everyone is awesome here..With so many crohnies,there is quite a lot of experiences to draw on.Crohnies helping crohnies,right? :smile:
 
I would like to subscribe to this support group. I just had a bowel resection done in February and would love to hear / share others experiences.
 
I'd like to join this group. I've been hospitalized with two full obstructions and with a partial obstruction. Maybe I can be of help to others. Hoping I never have to go through it again though!!
 

dave13

Forum Monitor
Location
Maine
I would like to subscribe to this support group. I just had a bowel resection done in February and would love to hear / share others experiences.
Hi MichellE

I had my resection done last November.Feel free to ask me anything.It's a slow healing process,don't rush yourself.
 
Hi MichellE, Welcome to our group! I know I sound like a parrot repeating myself, but please be careful with any strenuous activity or lifting- not just for a few weeks, but for a few months. Those incisional hernias are easy to happen! MichellE and Dave13, did you have a colostomy with your resection? I don't understand why some people do, and some people don't.
 

dave13

Forum Monitor
Location
Maine
Hi MichellE, Welcome to our group! I know I sound like a parrot repeating myself, but please be careful with any strenuous activity or lifting- not just for a few weeks, but for a few months. Those incisional hernias are easy to happen! MichellE and Dave13, did you have a colostomy with your resection? I don't understand why some people do, and some people don't.
My surgeon made me aware before the procedure a stoma could be a possibility. Possibly temporary or permanent.Since my procedure was an emergency operation we didn't have a lot of time to talk.I was in so much pain and they wanted to deal with my blockage.

I was fortunate I did not need an ostomy,temporary or permanent.My resection was in my upper jejunum of the small intestine,an odd place I am told.Closer to where the duodenum ends and the jejunum begins.

I guess if we can't deal with our bodily waste is the main reason an ostomy or J-pouch is considered.What goes in,must come out.If our body is not capable of evacuating waste on its own,we need assistance to help it do so.

Check out the stoma support group,a good place to post such questions.
 
I have have full and partial obstructions. The first one was a full obstruction. Fortunately I had been talking with a Crohn's patient 3 weeks prior and he described an obstruction. Since I had not had one in the 25 years of having Crohn's I listened patiently - glad it probably never happen to me. Then one day I was eating bean soup at a restaurant and halfway throught the soup I suddenly felt TOO full. Went home, and still felt like I had eaten at a buffet instead of half a bowl of soup. Then pain and nausea. I never throw up, but did, and found myself on the bathroom floor (just like the Crohn's friend discribed!) So the thought occured to me. But who wants to go to ER and be embarrassed to find out nothing is really wrong? After feeling worse it was all I could do to walk out in my PJs and into the car for a ride to the ER. By the time I got there the pain WAS SO INTENSE. Here is how intense....even though I had three lovely, wonderful children I wanted to die!!!!! I could not even pray for myself. They kept telling me with each injection of pain med that "this should take care of it" - but nothing. After 3 injections and an NG tube (which I welcomed after it was inserted) I had relief.
This obstruction was the beginning of more to come. But they only came at that time of the month, and only then. No one could figure it out. One doctor suggested it was endometriosis and that I would have this problem during my monthly cycles, so he set me on a prescription to regulate my hormones, and that seemed to work.
We carried on with our plans to move to Taiwan! I felt fine for 4 months, then had another partial obstruction in my apartment in Taiwan. So scarey!! And statistically Asians don't have Crohn's disease so I knew I was in a predicament of not having doctors who are expereinced with it. I gave up on the suggestion that it ws endometriosis, and KNEw it was Crohn's. I went through 3 more partials obstructions, and needed to be hospitalised for one in Taiwan. Then got my rear to the good ol' USA and had the operation that I really needed a year prior. My ileum had been narrowed so much by inflamation, and with a bowel resection I have felt fine for the last 7 years - thanks to God and 6MP!!!Now I live in Taiwan again.
 
I have have full and partial obstructions. The first one was a full obstruction. Fortunately I had been talking with a Crohn's patient 3 weeks prior and he described an obstruction. Since I had not had one in the 25 years of having Crohn's I listened patiently - glad it probably never happen to me. Then one day I was eating bean soup at a restaurant and halfway throught the soup I suddenly felt TOO full. Went home, and still felt like I had eaten at a buffet instead of half a bowl of soup. Then pain and nausea. I never throw up, but did, and found myself on the bathroom floor (just like the Crohn's friend discribed!) So the thought occured to me. But who wants to go to ER and be embarrassed to find out nothing is really wrong? After feeling worse it was all I could do to walk out in my PJs and into the car for a ride to the ER. By the time I got there the pain WAS SO INTENSE. Here is how intense....even though I had three lovely, wonderful children I wanted to die!!!!! I could not even pray for myself. They kept telling me with each injection of pain med that "this should take care of it" - but nothing. After 3 injections and an NG tube (which I welcomed after it was inserted) I had relief.
This obstruction was the beginning of more to come. But they only came at that time of the month, and only then. No one could figure it out. One doctor suggested it was endometriosis and that I would have this problem during my monthly cycles, so he set me on a prescription to regulate my hormones, and that seemed to work.
We carried on with our plans to move to Taiwan! I felt fine for 4 months, then had another partial obstruction in my apartment in Taiwan. So scarey!! And statistically Asians don't have Crohn's disease so I knew I was in a predicament of not having doctors who are expereinced with it. I gave up on the suggestion that it ws endometriosis, and KNEw it was Crohn's. I went through 3 more partials obstructions, and needed to be hospitalised for one in Taiwan. Then got my rear to the good ol' USA and had the operation that I really needed a year prior. My ileum had been narrowed so much by inflamation, and with a bowel resection I have felt fine for the last 7 years - thanks to God and 6MP!!!Now I live in Taiwan again.
 
Many of these stories are similar to mine. My obstructions are also at that "time of the month" and for some reason my doctors, even GI doctors were mystified by them, so my care was always from other directions... Endometriosis was controlled with birth control until that gave me blood clots and I went on Lupron. No period, no obstructions. Until they overdosed me on Lupron and I chose to control the body with fish oil after that. DHEA is my new wonder supplement and I'm wondering if the obstructions weren't happening right before my period because of the estrogen drop. I think, because I wasn't bleeding yet, I wasn't classified as Crohn's yet. But the GI docs were definitely saying IBD already. I was out of the category of IBS. I think all this categorizing is kind of silly and wastes everyone's time. It confuses the doctors and the people. If you get sick after eating EVERY TIME, then you have some kind of IBD. Why is that so confusing to doctors. Why are they so reluctant to just diagnose it and move on?

I control the blockages with magnesium citrate (and lots of water) over the course of a day, and I usually do this about once every 10 days just as a preventative now. I could switch to Miralax, but A. I don't like that I can't get a script for it anymore (well I could, but it would take a lot of explaining that it's cheaper to get a script...) and B. I'm not 100% sure that it's totally non fermentable. It seems to get a funny smell if you contaminate it, a vinegary smell.

I have less skill with diarrhea, except to stop eating, and when I feel brave enough, try bananas first. I don't touch many foods, mostly as prescribed by SCD diet. And that has helped with the bloating to the point where I actually have a waist again.
 
I've had several obstructions over the past years! I too had natural childbirth and nothing can compare to the pain of an obstruction. For me I'm fine one minute and without any warning comes intense pain in wave like episodes. My abdomen usually gets huge as well....kinda like being 7 months pregnant. Soon after the pain begins the vomiting starts as well! And yes the NG tube helps tremendously! I've had that on several occasions as well! Def not a pleasant experience and one I don't care to experience anytime soon! Hoping for a diagnosis soon so hopefully I can avoid any further obstructions or surgeries!!! By far the worse pain I've ever felt!!
 

hawkeye

Moderator
Staff member
I posted earlier (2011) about an obstruction I had in the large intestine. Following my recent resection surgery I had an obstruction in the small intestine. The pain was severe (8/10) and came in waves like the large bowel obstruction.

One thing that was different with the small bowel obstruction though was severe heartburn / indigestion - it was unlike anything I had had before. I actually started to have the heartburn before I was released from the hospital following my resection - I got home and had to go back in the second day after I was released with the obstructin.
 

dave13

Forum Monitor
Location
Maine
My CD is in my jejunum near the duodenum.I suffered for years with hiatal pain when I laid down.Since my resection I have had no recurrence of this.
 
Me too! Both my births were not even bad...at all!
My husband didn't even believe me when I told him I was in labor with our second child. I had to put my son in the car and everything before dragging husband to the car. (4am). He said I was too calm for being in labor. 3 hrs later and natural childbirth (both were natural) I gave birth. I was diagnosed with crohns two years later. But had battled it for ten years before knowing it was crohns.

My question is after blockage has passed (I'm going through this now) how long til pain goes away. It's not as severe most days as when I went to the Er but the pain is still intense. My GI says I have scar tissue build up in my ilieum. He put me on prednisone and Vicodin for the pain. But after two weeks pain is still intense he says the prednisone isn't working and I'm in the process of trying to get on remicade. I just want the pain to subside.
 
dizzi2684
I think as long as you are flaring the pain will be there at different intensities. It is hard not to be nervous because what bothers me with the low grade discomfort I always have below my belly button is whether when it ramps up a bit and gets painful is it because of too much to eat or the wrong foods that might be leading to another obstruction. I am hoping a day will come with no pain at all.
Good luck
Whit
 
Had too many blockages due to strictures. Waves of cramping pain, no bowel movements, and distension. I stop eating, stop all medication, painkillers should not be taken as they will make it worse, and finally vomiting. I have never gone to hospital which is not good, as once I was very close to passing out in the toilet. I use visualisation and deep breathing. But I would recommend anyone with these symptons to go to hospital and not self manage.
 
Felt another blockage coming on as I went to bed last night.

The last time I had a blockage that landed me in the hospital, the cat scan revealed that it was near the scar tissue where I had surgery. An unfortunate consequence of the surgery is that this does occasionally happen. Some time later I had pain again and when I rubbed the spot where the pain was, I felt something work free and the pain stopped. On another time I had occasional pangs but not painful. When I tried oat bran snack sticks with water, it cleaned out my plumbing and the pangs stopped. That must had been a partial obstruction.

Last night as I went to bed, I started feeling abdominal pain in the same area. I tried rubbing it, couldn’t get any relief. So I ate some oat bran snacks with water. After I let it digest I rubbed again and felt it break free. Zero pain since then.
 
I'm new here, and I found this forum after trying to find answers to my concerns about my husband's recent surgery. I apologize in advance if this is long, but I need some reassurance and some advice.

To give you a summary of his disease: he's had bowel issues his whole life. He wasn't diagnosed with Crohn's until he was 16 (he is now 33). Four years ago he went in for a colon resection after not being able to have a bowel movement for a few months. What they found was a massive super colon that was so diseased that they had to remove it. He woke up, 9 hours later, with an ileostomy. They left things so that he could be reconnected later, but he has opted not to do that.

He has been pain free for those four years and loving it (after 29 years of almost constant pain). However, about two weeks ago he complained about gas pains in his abdomen. After trying Pepto, Gas-X, and Tums, he didn't find relief, and soon he was almost crying in pain. I took him to the E.R. They did a CT scan and then also an X-ray study with contrast and did find an obstruction in his upper intestine. They admitted him and he was there for 6 days; most of the time on an NG tube and a catheter. He even managed to vomit with the NG tube down his throat. They released him last Friday because he thought he saw stool in his pouch and he was feeling better (no, they did not do a final X-ray or scan to verify anything).

All day Saturday he complained of pain. It sounded like dilaudid withdrawal to me (I'm a psychotherapist and work with people with addictions) so I was more concerned about the fact that they just stopped the dilaudid cold turkey and put him on Percoset and figured he was going through withdrawals. By Sunday morning he was crying (and he never cries), and in worse pain than ever, so I took him back to the E.R. They did a CT scan again and found that his obstruction was worse and possibly caused by adhesions from his colectomy surgery. He had surgery that evening, and they found a stricture and had to resect about 4 inches of his upper intestine. He was NPO for a few days, then on clears. He had severe pain. They had to re-open his incision because it was full of puss, and while no infection was found, they put him on a wound VAC. A day later (yesterday), they sent him home with a portable wound VAC. He was having gas pains (both intestinal and in the abdominal cavity), but was eating, and was successfully passing stool in his pouch.

He woke up feeling pretty good today and even asked me to cook him some eggs, which I did. He didn't really eat much of them, though, because the gas pains came back severely, and he sat there, crouching in pain, asking if he could possibly still have an obstruction? Of course I don't know the answer to that, but I hate seeing him in pain. He them vomited three times (the few things he has eaten today), and informed me very little has come through his pouch.

He has now been re-admitted and has what they call a mechanical obstruction. Again. Only a week later. He's had CT scans and X-rays but no MRIS. Could this be Hs Crohn's coming back? What should I ask the Dr. When he comes in? Obviously a resection didn't help much.
 
Another obstruction came on last night. And again, I was able to clear it with oat bran snack sticks and 12oz of water, letting it digest, then rubbing my abdomen.
 
Another obstruction came on last night. And again, I was able to clear it with oat bran snack sticks and 12oz of water, letting it digest, then rubbing my abdomen.
I will have to suggest this to my husband if this happens again, which the doctor said it probably will, considering it was due to adhesions. It was such a frustrating three weeks (he did get an abscess after the surgery). He's home now, with a wound vac, but he'll have missed about a month of work.

I want to be better prepared in the future. Where can we find oat bran snack sticks?
 

dave13

Forum Monitor
Location
Maine
Hi dulce75

Wow...as a husband who has a very supportive wife I thank you.It makes such a difference.

Your husband has been through so much.Has he had the same GI through out?It seems after such an established case of CD there would be a better plan to move forward.

My blockage was found using sonogram as well as MRI and x-ray.Mine was in my jejunum,near the duodenum.I experienced much of what your husband has gone through.Pain,sickness,etc..

Since my resection I have felt much better.It will be six months the end of May.My meds are 500 mg Pentasa twice a day and medicinal cannabis.

I'm happy to help with any questions I can answer..keep the faith.
 
Does an obstruction or partial obstruction cause a buldge in the left colon thats where most of my disease is and stricture is. I had this before but not quite this bad I have a call in to GI but havnt heard back I am not vomiting or feverish or anything like that. But the buldge is there and it is a little painful tylonal takes the edge off but thats it off put myself on liquids only today. Could this maybe be a partial or something I dont know.

Tia
 

DJW

Forum Monitor
Hi Tia. I think you've done the smart thing in calling the doc and going on liquids. Hopefully it's just a narrowing. If things get bad before the doc calls don't hesitate to go to the ER.
 
Well went to ER yesterday morning and posting here for those seeking abscess and fistula information I ended having surgery last night after ct scan revealed a huge abscess on bowel a fistula connecting it to another part of bowel I think they said I want copies of reports. Anyway I started by getting 3 units of blood not sure why anemia follows me the way it
does. Anyway I now have a hole In my side and and on antibiotic had all kinds of EKG , chest ex ray and CT Scan
 
Another obstruction last night, this one took longer to clear.

I'm beginning to identify a pattern. The last two started after a meal at a restaurant involving excess cheese (tomato & swiss soup, the other being pizza with extra cheese). I have no problem at all with cheese I buy from grocery stores because I make sure it is not processed cheese. I don't have that control with restaurants. Restaurants are notorious for using processed foods (ever read the ingredients on those containers labeled "butter flavoring"? Ugh!) to keep costs down and stay competitive, beginning to suspect that processed cheese is causing my problems.

Going to shy away from restaurant meals with cheese and see how that works.
 
Serious question: I'm in the hospital getting over my obstruction and the just took the tube going from my nose and throat out today. I have a lot of gas in my stomach and I can't pass it or go #2. Is this normal? I'm suppose to get discharged tomorrow, I've already been here since Friday. Before they took the tube out I was passing gas like crazy. Please help. I'm trying to sleep on my left side to see if that helps.
 

dave13

Forum Monitor
Location
Maine
Serious question: I'm in the hospital getting over my obstruction and the just took the tube going from my nose and throat out today. I have a lot of gas in my stomach and I can't pass it or go #2. Is this normal? I'm suppose to get discharged tomorrow, I've already been here since Friday. Before they took the tube out I was passing gas like crazy. Please help. I'm trying to sleep on my left side to see if that helps.
Before I was discharged after my resection I had to have a bowel movement and be able to eat solid food.I was told they wanted to be sure my bowels had 'woken up'. Once the ng tube was removed I could suck water off a swab,progressed to drinking small amounts of water and eventually started with yogurt,etc..This took four days before I had signs of bowel activity.I had to have several meals and do well with them before being discharged,that was another couple days.

I would be concerned about not passing gas or #2.Voice your concerns to your nurses and dr..
 

dave13

Forum Monitor
Location
Maine
I had something odd happen.I was standing and talking to a friend.I suddenly got a sharp pain on my right side,belly button height but more to the right.It was quite painful and lasted a few seconds.

That was four days ago.I hadn't experienced it before and(so far)it has not happened again.Any thoughts?

I also experienced some mild pain in my abdomen,on the left side,last week.It felt better when I massaged it.This happened 2-3 times over a two day period.A very different sensation than I described above.

My resection scar runs between these two places.

I see my GI this coming Monday so I will let him know.
 

dave13

Forum Monitor
Location
Maine
I saw my GI Monday and I am having a small bowel follow through this morning.Yesterday was seven months since my resection,so I guess the SBFT is timely.

Will this accurately show how I am doing? Of ways to monitor the upper GI how does the SBFT rate? Is there another test I should ask about?

If I am fasting,not even water,what about taking my morning Pentasa? My usual med schedule would put me an hour into the test.I'll bring my morning dose with me and ask them.I'd rather not miss a dose,but I'll do what they say.

Talking with my GI on Monday,I found out he has a 'start with the mildest med first' approach.I am not sure if that is a good thing.I can't afford anything more expensive than what I'm doing now anyway,may be a moot point from the start.
 
Definitely keep up the fluids as it helps to keep the waste pliable as it moves through your piping.

That is from my GI who is an expert on Crohns.
 
When I recently visited my GI (who is head of the GI department and is an expert on Crohns) I told him of my remedy of oat bran snack sticks, fluids, and massaging the area of pain during a blockage. He told me to keep doing that. He said that intestines can shift after a resection and the piping could knot up, and that may have been why it worked.

I also told him that I suspected that processed foods may trigger a blockage. On more than on occasion my blockage was triggered after a meal in a restaurant involving cheese - tomato & swiss soup, certain pizza. I have no problem with cheese I buy in a grocery store - deli, block cheese, cheese curds, etc. Every time I have a blockage it followed a restaurant meal with cheese, and they often substitute processed foods like cheese. My GI doctor thought there might be a connection.

Yesterday I went to an appreciation lunch at work. They had pizza from the restaurant whose food triggered the blockage. I suspected it was the garlic pizza because they changed the recipe this year (I used to eat it for years with zero problems) and it had less garlic but twice the cheese. And the cheese tasted different from the other pizzas. They had plain, pepperoni, and that evil garlic. I passed on the garlic and had no blockage problem.
 

dave13

Forum Monitor
Location
Maine
I am optimistic about the small bowel follow through results.The reason is after the first images were taken,before drinking the dye,the Dr. came out and asked me where my resection was.He said he can usually tell where the intestine was re-connected but couldn't tell in my case.I'm hoping that is a good sign I'm still healthy around the resection area.

It took over eight hours to complete that test.I admit to not being prepared for that time commitment.

One of the nurses did show me a few of the images.Yup,they look like guts.

My GI should have them now and hopefully will call me early next week.
 

dave13

Forum Monitor
Location
Maine
Hopefully I will hear some (good)news soon.I would like to view the images with my GI but I imagine I will just get a phone call.
 
Well, sometimes the home remedy doesn't always work.

Last week I was in the ER twice with partial obstruction. During the first ER visit the cat scan showed no sign of inflammation or infection, and it confirmed the partial blockage. They consulted with my GI and put me on 40mg prednisone for two weeks and sent me home with diet of high fiber and lots of fluids.

Three days later I had a really bad pain from another blockage, by the time I got to the ER it had eased up but I was playing it safe. By the time the doctor examined me there was zero pain on my abdomen so they sent me home. The pain had exhausted me and it took a couple of days to recover.

That was five days ago and I am feeling much better. Zero pain. My bowel habits have improved with regular solid and formed stools which I hadn't seen in a long time.

I had my reservations about the prednisone but it seems to have done the trick. Sometimes diet isn't enough to clear obstructions.
 
After a blockage has been diagnosed, I have always been told to do liquids only for a week, then slowly start on mashed foods and work my way back to regular foods slowly.
 

dave13

Forum Monitor
Location
Maine
I am recovering from a fistulotomy and the placement of five setons,BUT..

the results from the SBFT were great.The sections of jejunum that were rejoined look healthy and seem to be healing well.There was no sign of inflammation in my upper GI tract at all.So,for now anyway,the stricturing CD is at bay.:)
 
Not sure whether I am obstructed or the bloating is from the IBS, but I look nine months pregnant. I am going off my high fibre diet and back onto the low residue one. I am too frightened that more fibre will send me to hospital. I am trying grape juice, hope it works.
 
Try organic apple juice, I was drinking that since my last episode and it seems to crank up the movement. I found that grape juice can make it worse.
 
Try organic apple juice, I was drinking that since my last episode and it seems to crank up the movement. I found that grape juice can make it worse.
I drank half a cartoon of the bloody stuff. There is movement but still horribly distended, and bulging more on the left hand side. I don't feel I can phone my hospital because I created such a fuss only to be told that it was IBS and adhesions (although I think they threw adhesions in to keep me quiet). I know bloating can happen with IBS and honestly I think my hospital is fed up with me now. I'll give apple juice a go in the morning.

Thanks
 
Try organic apple juice, I was drinking that since my last episode and it seems to crank up the movement. I found that grape juice can make it worse.
Well half a litre of red grape juice eventually got things moving, now they won't stop moving! But much better than being bunged up. I also used the advice here to massage the stomach. Thanks all :)
 
I am new to this forum. I have had Crohn's since 1991. I am 38 now. I have had one resection of the small intestine. I am currently having a flare/partial obstruction. I have these quite often. Once a month, if not more. I can not eat or drink during these and vomit until I get everything out of my system. It's a vicious cycle. I am going back to Dr. today. Is there some type of drug to help lower inflammation I can ask him about that I can take just during a flare? Thanks.
 
No side effects with Pentasa since 2011 when I started it.

I started having frequent obstructions this year, once a month. You can have obstructions without inflammation, I had two cat scans this year that confirm it.

Obstructions are a consequence of your resection but not always associated with a Crohns flareup. The adhesions where your intestines were rejoined are where foods can sometimes get caught and cause an obstruction. My GI also said that the intestines may knot up after a resection. I have to be very observant to what foods may have triggered this and I have established some patterns. Unfortunately no two crohns patients have the same triggers.

Pentasa can't correct this. Two weeks ago they put me on prednisone after a bad episode and it seems to have cleared it up, I have felt much better. Your intestines are a muscle and prednisone weakens your body muscles as a side effect, and this can help free knotted plumbing. High fiber, lots of liquids, and low residue diet also have helped. Again the same liquids don't work for everybody, but best to avoid diuretics like coffee that can dehydrate you (esp the high octane stuff). I discovered that after letting the fiber and liquids work its way through that massaging the area of pain may work loose the obstruction. My GI is a crohns expert and he did encourage those remedies.

If you can't hold down foods or liquids then you may have a severe case that should be addressed ASAP. Good luck.
 
I have not been on any prescribed medications for quite some time. I take strong probiotics and Reliv which is a nutritional supplement. I think it might be time for me to go on something else as I am having problems quite often. I have just heard such horrible things about being on Crohn's medications so I am very nervous. Thanks.
 

DJW

Forum Monitor
Hi Jessica. I hope you see your GI doctor on a regular basis. You're at greater risk for crohns complications (they can be serious) than the risk of the crohns meds.

I hope you stay well.
 
I seem to have another partial obstruction today. I am trying senna tonight to see if it helps especially as I am using oramorph for the pain, twice daily. I am also drinking apple with ginger juice. Feel fed up but want to avoid hospital at all costs.
 
My Doctor put me on Pentasa and prednisone. I hope I can quit vomiting so I can take them. If I'm not better in a Few days he will admit me to the hospital. Ugh.
 
Well, poop.

2weeks ago I had an full blown obstruction in rural bumb duck GA while on vacation.
Emergency hospital visit. They wanted to do surgery, I refused. Came home, saw doc, got on pred etc.

Had my MRE yesterday, haven't heard a peep back yet. So figued it must have been clear.


WRONG.
FML I am in bed now and I feel its blocking up again.
Emailed my doc, but I'll probably be at the hospital again tomorrow.

Since I am not spraying puke atm, just super bloated, full feeling and mild nausea, I will just ride it out at home. Sigh...
 
Sorry that you are having to go through that. I hope you do not have to be admitted again. I just started taking Pentasa and prednisone a week ago. This morning I woke up with a lot of tightness in my chest and occasional sharp pain. It has lasted all day off and on. Does anyone know if this could be a side effect of the medication? I've never had that feeling before.
 
Feeling low. Rang my IBD nurse a couple of weeks ago as I was away and unable to go to the toilet. No bowel sounds whatsoever. Stopped eating for a couple of days and then I started going again, very watery. Went to GP and bowel sounds were fine but my stomach blew up like a balloon again. Emailed my IBD nurses because they had rung me back but I was unable to take the call. I asked if the strictures on the CT were pockets of gas. IBD nurse read me my CT report which said multiple small strictures in terminal ileum and transverse colon (I am not sure about the later I can't really remember). So back on low residue diet. I asked about laxatives and was told not to take senna. If I had to use something then movicol or laxido but they don't recommend it with strictures. I was also told that if the strictures weren't seen during the sigmoidoscopy it may well because they did to go far enough up. I did say this to the GI I saw last time but he insisted that it was almost a full colonoscopy. Still bloated and struggling between watery diarrhoea and constipation. So fed up and exhausted. I was told that surgery at this stage wasn't recommended, which is fine because I don't ever want another operation, and that it is the management of symptoms. I just want the buggers dilated so I can get some relief from this. :ybatty:
 
Hello all, now a new member of the club. I was hospitalised three weeks ago because of an intestinal blockage in my small intestines. Now back on the pred and doing EEN alongside it (my choice), but my IBD team don't think that Azathioprine is enough to stop the inflammation coming back and causing structuring in my small intestines, so they have been discussing infliximab (Remicade) or Humira as new treatment options. Not looking forward to it, but also don't want surgery or to go through a blockage again!
 
Went to hospital with SBO just last week. It was due to Crohn's and was located in the ileum. The nausea and vomiting resolved but I still haven't moved my bowels. Been 11 days already! Anybody ever experience this?
 
Trebor, that seems an awfully long time not to go to the toilet. How long were you in hospital? It sounds like another obstruction to me.
 
I was in the hospital four days total, Wednesday morning too Saturday evening. So, as of this writing, I've been out of the hospital seven days but normal bowel movement has not yet returned. Actually, just did an enema that produced first/moderate results. Encouraging, maybe it takes time for normal bowel function after such an ordeal. Has me praying for the first time in years!

My wife took me ER twice on Wednesday and was release both times after IV of dilaudid (aka hospital heroin) & nausea medication. Went to the GI doc Thursday morning in severe pain. He had me admitted into the hospital proper where I got two more doses of dilaudid and nausea medication and a nasogastric tube while "on hold" in ER waiting for a hospital bed to open.

After being admitted into hospital proper Thursday evening I was administered IV cipro, flaygl and prednisone. When I woke up Friday morning the pain and nausea were gone but they wanted to keep me on IV.

If there's any moral to the story it's that I tuned down humira about a year ago. I'm now regretting the decision.
 
Went 11 days with absolutely nothing...then, after I wrote my first note this morning, I finally produced a moderate amount. So, maybe the crisis is coming to a close.
 
Ok, that's good news. I have had a few blockages and I find sticking to things like toast and crackers help. Also, peppermint tea works great.
 
Had a minor blockage Saturday. It followed a leftover meal.

The meal had cheese, likely ricotta and mozzarella. No problems eating it in the restaurant, finished the leftovers two days later and had the blockage.

Cheese seems to be the common item with every blockage I have had so far.
 
So it continues. After four weeks I still look nine months pregnant. I took Movicol to see it would move things. But nope, made things worse. Went to GP and had bloods to check for inflammation, but no news so presume not. Emailed IBD nurse, email straight back. Phone call, emergency appointment arranged for tomorrow in clinic. Been passing blood on top of everything. Hoping that this will get sorted out. Back at work in two weeks.
 
It is good to know this.If you cut out cheese you can see how you react,or not react.Do you follow a particular diet?
Not really on a diet, I focus on avoiding foods that trigger a reaction. Just about every reaction followed a meal out, and cheese was the common trend. Restaurants being a slim profit business are notorious for using processed foods, especially cheese.

But if I order a sandwich with swiss or provolone, no reaction. When I shop groceries I stay away from processed cheese (like american or cheez whiz) and avoid transfat and artificial sugars (you would be amazed how many foods contain that crap). With that selection, I have yet to have a reaction with any cheese I buy from any grocery store - deli, block, dairy, shredded. If I make my own meals at home, I have no reaction.

This episode exposed something new. This was leftovers from a meal with no history of trouble before (stromboli, the real stuff not the folded pizza slices). The fresh meal was never any trouble. But after the leftovers were in the fridge for a couple of days, something must had happened to the cheese to bind up and cause a blockage.

You REALLY have to be observant with this disease.
 
Hi, hope it's okay to join you guys. The Real MC, sorry to hear you had a blockage. Daisy123 I know what you mean about the bloatedness. I dread that someone will say that as my fertility was destroyed by this dreadful disease. I hope you get some help at your appointment tomorrow.

Can anyone tell me how likely it is that surgery for obstruction will mean another resection?
 
Dave, Is Fennel tea in the regular grocery store, and how does it help with the gas? MMmm... licorice sounds soothing!

Also- anyone else.... you know how regular people really don't understand how complicated things can be for us, and they think there is just one easy answer sometimes? One day on my new job and already, my kind employer hands me a "list" of foods he googled that are "good for when I might have an obstruction." Like as in "here.... just have some yogurt or chicken noodle soup!" And voila.... everything will go back to being great in the blink of any eye! I know that people just try to help us, but they really can't, when they don't even understand the severeness of what that is to us.

Sorry..... just crabby tonight!
 

dave13

Forum Monitor
Location
Maine
Hi Carol-fennel should be available at any health food store.It comes in tea bags or bulk seed.The aroma is definitely black licorice,the taste,not so much so.It is enjoyable to drink,in my opinion.It helps reduce gas.

Daisy123-I hope all goes well today.Let us know how it goes.

The Real MC-I follow The Specific Carbohydrate Diet.We are all different and it seems to work for me.It is time consuming and you have to be uber vigilant,which can be hard for some.It seems to take more time and $$ to live and eat simply.wtf.

Welcome Muppetgirl-are you asking the likely hood of another obstruction after already having an resection?Or alternative procedures other than resections?
 
Sob. I think I am stuck with looking pregnant for the rest of my life! Strictures, so far down that I would need double balloon procedure under GA. I would need to get funding, so would take three months. Asked GI to prescribe Fortisip because my GP will only give me complan because it is cheaper. See how it goes, but I want the balloon procedure. But didn't feel could insist at the moment.
 
Daisy123 - I'm sorry to hear that. It's no fun being stuck. I hope that in time you can get the balloon procedure.

Fozheart - Oh yeah, amazing how many people out there are secretly medics...who knew!

Dave13 - Thanks. Yeah I had a resection previously. Currently experiencing obstructive troubles that will not go away. Surgery is on the table. They are optimistic it's adhesions rather than new lesions, so I was hoping I can get away without having to resect which really would not be practical for me. Was wondering how often this is the case when they go in to fix such things? I'd be interested to know alternatives too. :)
 
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