Bowel obstructions usually cause cramping, abdominal pain, vomiting and inability to pass bowel motions (faeces or poo) or gas. A bowel obstruction is an emergency and needs treatment in hospital to prevent serious complications. You may need surgery or another procedure to remove the blockage.
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.
Most people with a bowel obstruction experience severe abdominal pain and nausea. The good news is that the intestine can often unblock itself with time and rest. And many people recover from a bowel obstruction without surgery. But surgery may be unavoidable in certain cases, including when complications develop.
A bowel obstruction can begin suddenly or may progress gradually over several weeks or days.
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.
In adults, the most common causes of bowel obstruction are: adhesions — these are scar-like bands of tissue that can form between organs that shouldn't be connected, usually after abdominal or pelvic surgery. tumours. hernias.
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/ ...
The doctor may suspect intestinal obstruction if your abdomen is swollen or tender or if there's a lump in your abdomen. He or she may listen for bowel sounds with a stethoscope. X-ray. To confirm a diagnosis of intestinal obstruction, your doctor may recommend an abdominal X-ray.
When an obstruction is total and caused by a physical blockage, you will likely be unable to pass even gas through your anus. You may burp or vomit, but you will not have diarrhea or gas. Some of the most common reasons we see for bowel obstructions in our practice include: Impacted stool that causes a blockage.
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.
Colonic obstruction is most commonly seen in the sigmoid colon.
Potential Complications from a bowel obstruction
This leads to dehydration and kidney failure. Nausea and vomiting will also cause dehydration. Excess swelling of the intestine can cause the intestine to rupture or burst. A ruptured intestine can lead to peritonitis, or a severe infection in the abdominal cavity.
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.
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.
Eating When you Have Constipation. Try these things to relieve your constipation: Do not skip meals. Avoid processed or fast foods, such as white breads, pastries, doughnuts, sausage, fast-food burgers, potato chips, and French fries.
Avoid dried fruits, nuts and seeds. Strain fruit and vegetable juices and soups. Avoid wholegrain, high fibre breads and cereals.
The cardinal signs of mechanical bowel obstruction are abdominal pain, vomiting, constipation, abdominal distention, and decreased bowel sounds, regardless of the underlying etiology. The severity and progression of clinical features differ according to the site and severity of the obstruction.
The four cardinal symptoms of bowel obstruction are pain, vomiting, obstipation/absolute constipation, and distention.
Tenesmus is a frequent urge to go to the bathroom without being able to go. It usually affects your bowels, but sometimes your bladder. Severe inflammation that irritates the nerves involved in pooping or peeing is often the cause. Your nerves overreact, telling your muscles that you constantly have to go.
The normal length of time between bowel movements varies widely from person to person. Some people have them three times a day. Others have them just a few times a week. Going longer than 3 or more days without one, though, is usually too long.
Foods that help ease constipation
Consider adding some the following fibre-rich foods to your diet to help ease constipation: High fibre cereals such as: bran flakes, Weetabix, porridge, muesli and shredded wheat.