A bowel blockage, also called an obstruction, can prevent gas, fluids, or food from moving through the intestines normally. It can cause constipation and, rarely, diarrhea. You may have pain, nausea, vomiting, and cramping.
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. If so, there are things you can do at home to help make you feel better.
If you have had surgery for a bowel blockage, there are things you can do at home to make sure you heal well. You can also make some changes to keep your bowel from becoming blocked again.
Follow-up care is a key part of your treatment and safety. Be sure to make and go to all appointments, and call your doctor or nurse advice line (811 in most provinces and territories) if you are having problems. It's also a good idea to know your test results and keep a list of the medicines you take.
How can you care for yourself at home?
Follow your doctor's instructions. These may include eating a liquid diet to avoid complete blockage.
Take your medicines exactly as prescribed. Call your doctor or nurse advice line if you think you are having a problem with your medicine.
Put a heating pad set on low on your belly to relieve mild cramps and pain.
If you had surgery:
You may shower 24 to 48 hours after surgery, if your doctor says it is okay. Pat the cut (incision) dry. Do not take a bath for the first 2 weeks, or until your doctor tells you it is okay.
If you have strips of tape on the cut (incision), leave the tape on until it falls off. Gently wash the area daily with warm, soapy water. Then rinse and pat it dry.
You may not have much of an appetite after the surgery. When you feel like eating, start with small amounts of food. Your doctor will tell you about any foods you should not eat.
What can you do to prevent a bowel obstruction?
Bowel blockage (obstruction) may be prevented by doing several things. Try eating smaller meals more often throughout the day. Chew your food very well. Try to chew each bite until it is liquid. Avoid high-fibre 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. Your doctor may ask that you drink high-calorie liquid formulas if your symptoms require them. You should check with your doctor before eating whole grain products or using a fibre supplement such as Benefibre or Metamucil.
Clinical Review Board All Healthwise education is reviewed by a team that includes physicians, nurses, advanced practitioners, registered dieticians, and other healthcare professionals.
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.
Avoid any food that is tough or stringy (e.g. tough gristly meat). Some people find they need to have soft/puree foods to limit symptoms. Read food labels and avoid foods stating they are high in fibre. Eat 6-8 small meals instead of 3 large meals.
Immediate surgical scheduling is crucial in most cases to avert potentially fatal complications. Initiate fluid resuscitation through IV administration to correct electrolyte imbalances and manage dehydration or shock. Monitor fluid balance and urine output using Foley or central venous catheters.
Follow your doctor's instructions. These may include eating a liquid diet to avoid complete blockage. Take your medicines exactly as prescribed. Call your doctor or nurse advice line if you think you are having a problem with your medicine.
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.
Treatment strategies of small bowel obstruction. Aggressive intravenous fluid therapy and correction of electrolyte imbalance are crucial in the initial management of acute SBO. A Foley catheter and occasionally central venous or even a swan ganz catheter are needed to monitor fluid resuscitation.
Management includes intravenous fluid resuscitation, analgesia, and determining need for operative vs.nonoperative therapy. Nasogastric tube is useful for patients with significant distension and vomiting by removing contents proximal to the site of obstruction.
These treatments include using liquids or air (enemas) or small mesh tubes (stents) to open up the blockage. Surgery is almost always needed when the intestine is completely blocked or when the blood supply is cut off. You may need a colostomy or an ileostomy after surgery.
It's possible. It depends on where the blockage is and how serious it is. For example, while pooping may be more difficult, you may still have stool with a partial bowel obstruction. Pooping and even passing gas will likely be impossible with a complete bowel obstruction.
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.
Recovery time after bowel obstruction surgery depends on your overall health and the type of operation that was performed. You can typically expect to stay in the hospital for about 3 to 7 days after surgery. Full recovery usually takes about a month to 6 weeks.
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.
Introduction: My name is Kimberely Baumbach CPA, I am a gorgeous, bright, charming, encouraging, zealous, lively, good person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
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