Bowel Obstruction?

If you had a bowel obstruction how would you know? Would you not be able to go to the bathroom at all, even with the help of a laxative? Any other symptoms? Kali

Oh and is bowel obstruction the same thing as intestinal blockage? Kali

Hi Kali, According to the National Institute of Health, Symptoms * Abdominal fullness, gaseous * Abdominal distention * Abdominal pain and cramping * Vomiting * Failure to pass gas or stool (constipation) * Diarrhea * Breath odor They also say... Call your health care provider if persistent abdominal distention develops and you are unable to pass stool or gas, or if other symptoms of intestinal obstruction develop. I will give you the link I found this on but I warn you it is a little scary to read. You might just want to call the doctor's office if the symptoms continue. Also, and this may sound goofy but bear with me, movement helps. Unless prevented by pain (in which case you really *should* call the doc) make sure you get in all the walking and other activity that you can, within the doctor's restrictions of course. Finally, monitor your temperature. If you get a fever in combination with the other symptoms, call the doctor. Chances are this is normal post-op stuff but you need to hear that from an authority rather than having anxiety problems on top of everything else. http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000260.htm Hang in there, -- T.Rob

Hey Kali, Are you not going potty? Sorry if that's too personal a question I have gone several days without having a BM even though I am taking Benefiber daily and making sure too get all my liquids. It's weird but regular BM's may no longer be part of the equation. Hope this helps your anxiety some. You are not going Patti

No I am going but I have to use a suppository everytime I go. I went today and I've just had horrible gas pains and bloating all day. I am getting over my period so I am not sure if that is what the bloating is from but I am nervous. I am passing gas, if it's not better by tomorrow I am thinking of going to the ER again. I had something similar about a week and a half after surgery and they did a CT scan and everything was fine. So who knows. Ughhhh I am so scared and seriously regretting this surgery right now. Kali

If you are still able to go then you probably don't have an obstruction but I'm no doctor so do what you feel is best and safest for you. I 'd suggest a different type of laxative than the suppository. Some folks here recommended Miralax. It's about $8 at Walgreens. I almost bought some last night Patti

Someone on the NY board actually told me you could still have a blockage/obstruction and still be passing gas and stool, depending on how big the blockage is. But who knows, the pain isn't that bad anymore, I emailed my surgeon he does check it on the weekends, so we will see what he suggests. I have my 6 week checkup with him on Thursday and I plan on addressing my problems with having bm's and see what he suggests. I don't want to have to take something everytime I need to go. Hopefully it is just bad gas, or just related to my period that is ending. Kali

Kali, I know how your feeling, I was using milk of magnesia EVERY time I needed to go. Then one day (after I started eating a little more) I went on my OWN. I just had to tell my hubby sick I know. I still don't go very often maybe once or 2 times a week and I do still use milk of magnesia but the dr's said its ok. Please call your dr or go to the er if you need too. Only you can know! Rebecca

I wound up emailing my surgeon (felt bad calling the service and having him paged on the weekend), and he said an obstruction without vomitting is highly unlikely. Especially since I had the exact same pain about a week and a half after surgery, and went to the ER and went through all the tests and everything was fine. He said he thinks my gasy/cramping feeling is a form of dumping, said he thinks I am eating something too high in carbohydrates. Said to keep a food diary for a few days if I cannot pinpoint what it is. I think it might be the spinach nuggets I had yesterday (morningstar farms makes them), spinach in itself is gasy and it's weird because the pains started right after I had them for lunch. But I thought that dumping only lasts for like 30 minutes, my pains continued for awhile. And then dummy me goes and has something with spinach for dinner so I had the pains for awhile last night and even a little bit this morning. As for the constipation he said to keep taking benefiber and if that in itself doesn't help to use Colace. Hopefully this is relieved soon, I am sick of this crap. I am seeing him Thursday so if it continues, I will continue to push the issue with him of figuring out where it is coming from. Kali

Hey Kali... I've only had one bout of terrible gas pain and no constipation problems really except when I don't get enough water in...but wanted to let you know that high fiber foods cause me to have really bad gas...Broccoli is my # 1 and Spinach is like the 7th Highest fiber food...some say high fiber foods cause an increase in painful gas. I hope it all gets better. Do a search on the internet, you can get some great information. Take care! Jamie