Identifying Bowel Obstruction Symptoms Most people affected by a bowel obstruction are unable to pass gas or have a bowel movement, and may have a swollen abdomen. Infrequent bowel movements or hard stools usually do not indicate obstruction.
Laxative use can be dangerous if constipation is caused by a serious condition, such as appendicitis or a bowel obstruction. If you frequently use certain laxatives for weeks or months, they can decrease your colon's ability to contract and actually worsen constipation.
Enemas of air or fluid can help clear blockages by raising the pressure inside your bowels. A mesh tube called a stent is a safe option for people who are too sick for surgery. Your doctor puts it in your intestine to force the bowel open. Some people may not need anything more than a stent.
Your doctor may recommend a special low-fiber diet that is easier for your partially blocked intestine to process. If the obstruction does not clear on its own, you may need surgery to relieve the obstruction.
Symptoms of bowel obstruction
feeling bloated and full. pain (usually colicky tummy pain) feeling sick. vomiting large amounts (including undigested food or bowel fluid)
Try making smoothies with yogurt and fruit juice concentrate or low fibre fruit and vegetable choices. Include pureed vegetable soups as they are nutritious and low in fibre because they are diluted with broth. Make a stir-fry with poultry, seafood or meat and low fibre vegetables such as zucchini and bell peppers.
Symptoms of an intestinal blockage include severe belly pain or cramping, vomiting, not being able to pass stool or gas, and other signs of belly distress.
The four cardinal symptoms of bowel obstruction are pain, vomiting, obstipation/absolute constipation, and distention. Obstipation, change in bowel habits, complete constipation, and abdominal distention are the predominant symptoms in LBO.
A bowel obstruction can begin suddenly or may progress gradually over several weeks or days.
Potential Complications from a bowel obstruction
A bowel obstruction, whether partial or complete, can lead to serious and life threatening conditions if left untreated. The intestine can get swollen from the trapped air, fluid, and food. This swelling can make the intestine less able to absorb fluid.
In order to diagnose a bowel obstruction, your doctor will do a physical exam. During this exam, they will feel your abdomen and use a stethoscope to listen to your belly. A bowel obstruction can often be confirmed with an X-ray.
Without any fluids (either as sips, ice chips or intravenously) people with a complete bowel obstruction most often survive a week or two. Sometimes it's only a few days, sometimes as long as three weeks. With fluids, survival time may be extended by a few weeks or even a month or two.
Avoid high-fiber foods and raw fruits and vegetables. These may cause another blockage. Drinking plenty of water may help. If you have kidney, heart, or liver disease and have to limit fluids, talk with your doctor before you increase the amount of fluids you drink.
Such foods are: • Chocolate • Crisps • Cakes • Ice cream • Custard made with full fat milk and cream • Glasses of full fat milk with added skimmed milk powder • Cream added to desserts • Sugar added to drinks and cereal • Jam, honey and syrup added to foods • Butter added to allowed vegetables • Butter, cream/ ...
Laxatives (applies to Metamucil) intestinal obstruction disorders. The use of laxatives is contraindicated in patients with intestinal obstruction disorders. Patients with intestinal obstruction disorders may need their underlying condition treated to correct the constipation.
Most of the time, complete blockages require a stay in the hospital and possibly surgery. But if your bowel is only partly blocked, your doctor may tell you to wait until it clears on its own and you are able to pass gas and stool.
In some cases, intestinal obstruction can cause serious and debilitating acute abdominal pain. If you experience sudden, severe abdominal pain in addition to any of the above symptoms, seek emergency medical attention, immediately, by calling 911 or visiting an Emergency Room.
Small bowel obstructions are usually caused by scar tissue, hernia, or cancer. In the United States, most obstructions occur as a result of prior surgeries. The bowel often forms bands of scar (called adhesions) after being handled during an operation.
Colonic obstruction is most commonly seen in the sigmoid colon.
The hallmark of intestinal obstruction, whether due to a mechanical cause or to absence of peristalsis, is the intraluminal accumulation of fluid. The presence of air simply makes it easier to visualize dilated fluid-filled loops of plain radiographs.
A variety of gastrointestinal disorders can have signs and symptoms that are similar to those seen in CIP. Such disorders include irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), gastroparesis, functional dyspepsia, Crohn's disease, and cyclic vomiting syndrome.
Findings on an X-ray suggestive of bowel obstruction include dilated bowel loops with air-fluid level, distal collapsed bowel, absence of gas in the abdomen or alternatively, "string of pearls" sign indicating trapped flatus.