Obstructions
- Thread starter addyp
- Start date
Help Support Crohn's Disease Forum:
Symptoms of an obstruction would commonly be abdominal distension, nausea and vomiting, as well as pain and constipation or diarrhea. No passing of gas through the rectum is a sign of a complete obstruction, which is more serious than a partial obstruction. A rigid abdomen, complete absence of bowel sounds and rebound tenderness are also cause to seek urgent medical attention.
- Joined
- Oct 18, 2012
- Messages
- 4,402
A couple of days with no bowel movement is fine, so it's only the fact that it's accompanied by pain that could indicate a problem, and if there is a serious problem, it's not necessarily an obstruction, many things can cause abdominal pain.
When I had a blockage, I had abdominal pain, it was severe but not unbearable. I didn't vomit, but this is unusual, many people do vomit with an obstruction. When I got to the Accident and Emergency department, the doctor could tell I had a blockage right away by how swollen my stomach was.
Symptoms that may indicate the need for immediate medical intervention include a fever, pain that is constant rather than crampy, severe vomiting and/or diarrhoea, and passing excessive blood. These aren't all symptoms of obstructions, just general symptoms that can indicate serious complications of Crohn's.
What kind of pain does your husband have and does he have any other symptoms?
When I had a blockage, I had abdominal pain, it was severe but not unbearable. I didn't vomit, but this is unusual, many people do vomit with an obstruction. When I got to the Accident and Emergency department, the doctor could tell I had a blockage right away by how swollen my stomach was.
Symptoms that may indicate the need for immediate medical intervention include a fever, pain that is constant rather than crampy, severe vomiting and/or diarrhoea, and passing excessive blood. These aren't all symptoms of obstructions, just general symptoms that can indicate serious complications of Crohn's.
What kind of pain does your husband have and does he have any other symptoms?
is there a quick test they can do to see if its obstructed? Thx
- Joined
- Oct 18, 2012
- Messages
- 4,402
A doctor may be able to guess if there's an obstruction by doing an abdominal examination (feeling your husband's abdomen), and it can be confirmed with a normal x-ray, that's how my second blockage was diagnosed. Before that one time I had ileus, which is a kind of obstruction (where the bowel becomes paralysed so nothing will pass through it even though there's not actually anything blocking it), and that was diagnosed the same way, examination and x-ray. With my second blockage, they then also had me drink something that showed up on x-rays so they could see how far it got through my digestive system. Then later I had another x-ray because they suspected my bowel had perforated, which it had.
But I don't think you should concern yourself about whether your husband has an obstruction or not. He's not well, and really all you need to decide is whether he needs medical attention immediately, and leave the diagnosis up to the doctors. They will probably start with basic tests: abdominal examination, maybe blood tests, blood pressure check, temperature, etc. and then they will move on to other tests - possibly x-rays or other imaging tests like barium studies, MRI, CT, etc. - if he needs them. They won't be just ruling out an obstruction or confirming it; although an obstruction is one of the more likely complications to occur in someone with Crohn's, they will be considering other possibilities, and be trying to find out what is wrong rather than just looking for a possible obstruction.
I think it would be a good idea to go to the ER. You're clearly worried, and if things are not resolving on their own it may be best for your husband to see a doctor, who will be able to give you better advice than we can here online.
But I don't think you should concern yourself about whether your husband has an obstruction or not. He's not well, and really all you need to decide is whether he needs medical attention immediately, and leave the diagnosis up to the doctors. They will probably start with basic tests: abdominal examination, maybe blood tests, blood pressure check, temperature, etc. and then they will move on to other tests - possibly x-rays or other imaging tests like barium studies, MRI, CT, etc. - if he needs them. They won't be just ruling out an obstruction or confirming it; although an obstruction is one of the more likely complications to occur in someone with Crohn's, they will be considering other possibilities, and be trying to find out what is wrong rather than just looking for a possible obstruction.
I think it would be a good idea to go to the ER. You're clearly worried, and if things are not resolving on their own it may be best for your husband to see a doctor, who will be able to give you better advice than we can here online.
Thx everyone for your input. It's appriciated I know ppl on here have serious health issues and the time taken to help is very kind xo
. Unxmas I was ready to take him today but he's much better and did have a bm this morning. I think the entocort is helping but now it's to know what to get him on after because it's only for three months.
Afraid what he can eat today I don't want it to flare up again. I'm steering clear of the smoothies as I think that caused his attack yesterday. I think it's juicing from now on.
. Unxmas I was ready to take him today but he's much better and did have a bm this morning. I think the entocort is helping but now it's to know what to get him on after because it's only for three months.
Afraid what he can eat today I don't want it to flare up again. I'm steering clear of the smoothies as I think that caused his attack yesterday. I think it's juicing from now on.
