Recovering from partial intestine block. Please can you help me?

[Peachy]

Hi,

I am not diagnosed at this stage, but have been ill for quite some time. I have just spent 10 days in hospital with suspected partial blockage caused by Chrons in the small intestine. They did an endoscopy which showed inflammation caused by constant vomiting and promise me a barium swallow by Thursday, as the lady who does them was off sick this week and no'one else could do it

My symptoms are abdominal pain, which is now manageable, complete food intolerance, it all comes straight back up but no nausea, I have had impacted rectum since I got home followed by diarrhea. Drs found my bowel noises to be hyperactive, very reduced wind and BM. They just started giving me as many anti sickness tablets as they could (three different sorts three times a day), anti spasm drugs (I think this might have led to the constipation) pain relief (I refused codeine!) and stomach acid suppressant.

I got to the stage where I complained at the lack of help I was getting, no energy/supplement shakes, having to ask they put the fluids on my drip despite drs writing them up, they refused to give a CT scan due to increased risk of tumours which I accepted (I'm 30 and have had polyps removed during colonoscopy), I was in for 9 days with no food tolerance when they finally did the endoscopy but I had no tests besides bloods other than that. I guess they are pretty sure of the diagnosis but I got very distressed at the situation.

I have been allowed home after they finally had a dietitian visit me yesterday, who was lovely. I have been prescribed a liquid diet for a month, which is great and I feel so much better having that, and given the advice to start trying to eat soft foods, sticking with milky/creamy stuff thats easy on the tummy. I have made the choice to go back to using the Domperidone that I had prior to this as I didn't find the pick and mix they gave me any more effective but the side effects were horrible. I have had no advice on how to get better, or how long it might take, they just didn't seem to want to help me, I was on a ward with people who had had major surgery or who were very poorly in the immediate not chronic sense so I didn't take priority, which is fair enough but I feel scared and a bit lost how I am supposed to get better and get life back on track, I had been pretty poorly for about 3 weeks before I got to ambulance stage! I've lost around a stone in weight in 2 weeks.

Any advice you can give would be invaluable to me, I just want to get better and back to me. How do you all deal with this, what foods do you find you can first start eating, all sorts of questions!

Thank you so much.

Peachy :Karl:

 

[DanM]

Hi Peachy.

I'm sorry to hear about the problems. I have recently gone through through a partial blockage. Like you, I was put on a liquid diet for a month until they felt it was okay for me to have surgery (I also had mono at the time). I found that cream of name your vegetable vegetable soups from Pacific and Imagine Brands to be a life saver. I also ate lots of yogurt & kefir, pudding, ice cream, and sorbet as treats. I did not worry about fat content as I needed the calories and energy. A big dollop of sour cream in my soup or whip cream on my ice cream was not uncommon. Finally, I was drinking 3ish Ensures every day to supplement the calorie and nutrient intake I was missing.

I hope this helps and that you get better.

Dan

 

[Keona]

Hi Peachy,
Welcome to the forum!!
There are a lot of people on here who have had blockages. I also have 2 strictures in my jejunum and thickening in my ileum. I have been trying to get answers for 3 years...and my story isn't uncommon...there are LOTS of people on here who have taken years to get answers because it is such a difficult disease to diagnose. I am glad you saw a dietician. Sounds to me like they have you on the right track and will be getting answers soon. My GI also didn't want me to have a CT but my MRI's aren't very clear and after i recover from surgery on the 5th, I will be having an NG tube with dye - and then a CT. I think they try everything that is non-evasive first to diagnose and reduce radiation however, I think it is eventually inevitable if you have Crohn's... my understanding is that they just try to do everything else first. Hang-in... you need to commit for the long haul (emphasis on long). I think this forum has taught me to be patient... and there are some very strong people on here who have been through a lot... I am glad you found the forum..it is really difficult to do this on your own. Hang in

 

[Peachy]

Hi,

Thanks for your help. I managed to keep down some icecream last night, and added some to the shake thingy as it wasn't very nice! I also seem to be ok if I nibble dry crackers biscuits but only 1 over a good while. I'm very scared about the future and have been given no advice at all.

I'm new to all this, can I ask what a Mono is?

Thanks again

 

[Peachy]

Thanks Keona. I think they were doing everything right, although they refused an MRI, which my husband says may be down to funding. I guess if a much easier cheaper alternative is available but with a wait, and I am managing the pain and have the shakes to slow down the weight loss, then it makes sense to wait a week. I just needed some reassurance, and the ward situation makes things so abrupt.

Best wishes for your surgery on the 5th, I will think of you x

 

[Keona]

it is very frustrating and scary - we understand I hope you get answers soon.
Thanks for the well wishes... getting answers are just as scary as waiting around.. cant win..haha
it will only be about 2 weeks of recovery so it is all good!

i hope you are getting reassurance - you are in the best place where people are around to watch... I hope you get some better roomies can be scary - you will be okay! Hang in

 

[DanM]

Hi,

Thanks for your help. I managed to keep down some icecream last night, and added some to the shake thingy as it wasn't very nice! I also seem to be ok if I nibble dry crackers biscuits but only 1 over a good while. I'm very scared about the future and have been given no advice at all.

I'm new to all this, can I ask what a Mono is?

Thanks again

Sorry, mononucleosis or more technically, the Epstein-Bar Virus. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Infectious_mononucleosis. Where do you live? Treatment is different based on location.

 

[Peachy]

Ahh, Glandular fever, nasty bug!

I'm in the UK, and I think they are hoping to treat it with drugs or even just that resting it and eating soft foods like mashed pots, custard and soup etc will give it time to heal itself. I did have pre op bloods done twice in the last two days I was in the hospital though, and that is possibly an option, I'm really hoping not.

I haven't been sick in 2 days now, and I am seeing more movement in the toilet department so I am hoping I can get better myself.

Its not having the test done yet that is getting to me, I am a go getter and not being able to have a plan to put in action frustrates me

Thank you for replying

 

[Peachy]

I will add that this is my first real proper flare up, I have had mini ones (put down to bowel infections etc) but this is the worst.