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? And is that the same thing as intestinal blockage? Kali

Hi Kali, Are you passing gas? Any stool at all? Even liquids? I am having pain in my left side just below my rib and my doctor is concerned of a bowel problem. I am now passing more gas than I did when the pain started so I m hoping it gets better....There are several ways it could be blocked, like there could be a partial blockage. You could also move your bowels everyday and still have an obstruction. Good luck and call your doctor... Hugs Chris

Hi Chris,  Yes I am passing gas. And I am passing stool, but with the help of a laxative. I started feeling gasy and bloated this afternoon ( I am also finishing my period so that could be it also). I took a suppository to go to the bathroom to see if I would feel better and I did a  little. But still have the pains somewhat. Is your doctor sending you for any tests to rule out bowel obstruction? I had similar pains about a week and a half after surgery and went to the ER and had a CT scan and they found nothing so who knows. If it's not better by tomorrow I plan on going back to the ER and calling my surgeon. Kali

KALI YES a bowel obstruction and intestinal blockage are same thing http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bowel_obstruction http://www.merck.com/mmpe/sec02/ch011/ch011h.html http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000260.htm http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/intestinal-obstruction/DS008 23/DSECTION=all&METHOD=print call your surgeon if in doubt this could turn life threatening! I had adhesions (scar tissue) cause a stricture/blockage at my Y connection 4 wk post rny I was unable to eat or drink anything w/o sever pain reflux and vomiting, Luckily I caught it in tie before any dead necrotic tissue deveoped or perforated! Constipation is normal for many post rny though this is what I have used..miralax now helps best

CONSTIPATION

 

Constipation can be from so many things including BUT not limited to:

 

~1) FLUIDS: simply from not getting in enough fluids...BUT THIS IS NO ALWAYS THE PROBLEM!!! So first before you do anything ask yourself? Am I drinking at least 64 oz a day (8 cups)...If not try increasing and see if this helps. Look at this neat hydration calculator! It may open your eyes! It says I need 117.5 oz day (I do get that too still not enough for me!) http://nutrition.about.com/library/blwatercalculator.htm

 

 

 

~2) EXERCISE: Get moving! I do 30-60 min cardio a day + wts. Yes it helps! Start somewhere!  Something is better than nothing!

 

~3) FIBER: We get constipated because our diet is now volume in general & lower in fiber especially due to lack of tolerance also (less fruits and veggies).

 

So many try increasing fiber by using benefiber (non swelling/no taste) or some like liquifiber at Vitalady: http://tinyurl.com/5edxn  I have used Metamucil caps in past but I DO NOT RECOMMEND it is a SWELLING FIBER  & may NOT be good for pouchie! ***We do not want to stretch it!!!

 

I swear by Flax Seed ground. I get mine here: http://www24.netrition.com/now_flaxseeds_page.html

 

I started with 1T ground a day (in yogurt, shakes or on my salad it has slightly nutty flavor) now I am up to 1T three times a day. The benefits of flax are so much more than just for fiber!!! Read for more info! http://www.flaxcouncil.ca/flaxnut10.htm (A lower risk for heart disease, Prevention of some forms of cancer, Treatment of immune disorders, Diabetes helps in stabilizing Blood Sugars, Relief from constipation) http://www.flaxcouncil.ca/faq.htm You can also buy it in GNC, health food stores, Wal-Mart has it in vitamin aisle and baking aisle. KEEP refrigerated for longest shelf life and so it doesn’t go rancid! It has to be ground (bought that way or ground in Magic Bullet or a small coffee grinder for the benefit ok!)

 

 

 

 

 

~4) OTHER NUTRITIONAL/SUPPLIMENT CAUSES: Higher protein (in diet and shakes), Calcium Citrate (form we need to absorb after bypass), Iron supplementation can all add to the constipation scenario postop (things we need!).

 

 

 

Different forms of Iron are more constipating than others (Ferrous sulfate for instance AVOID!!! Many feel carbonyl iron like vitalady’s tender iron http://tinyurl.com/3ve5x , ferrous gluconate *I get OTC at Wal-Mart just ask pharmacist, ferrous fumarate, polysaccharide iron are less constipating).

 

 

 

Another solution Magnesium: HERE IS JULIA Z’s recommendation: Magnesium as magnesium citrate or amino acid chelate 400-1000 mg a day. OK to take with calcium but not with iron. Can be taken all at once or throughout the day. Start out with 200 mg and increase dosage every few days until the desired level is reached; decrease dosage slightly if loose stools result. Preferred dosage is 1 part elemental magnesium to 2 parts elemental calcium or 1000 mg magnesium to 2000 mg calcium, but this ratio is not accurate for each person. Increasing the dosage until you get loose stool and than backing off a little seems to work best for most people.

 

 

 

IF still NO GO: my surgeon recommended Colace. It is an over-the-counter stool softener. Try it once a day and increase to 2-3x if needed. (It is cheap too, buy the generic brand, docusate sodium)...

 

 

 

If this is ineffective, my surgeon said I could use a gentle suppository (such as glycerin, ducolax or the generic form)....only to get things going, they can get habit forming so be careful. It is always best to ask your surgeon or MD about his but this is what I have been told. I use Colace 2x a day, it does help (with my flaxseed)

 

 

 

I also have used Milk OF Magnesia a few times week if needed.

 

 

 

My Clinical Nutrition/Bariatric MD prescribed Miralax (generic is glycolax) works great also (I used a few times in severe cases w/ some bloating but no taste!, it is a powder mixes in water great!) In the past I got away with it a few time month now I need it almost daily! U Can buy it OTC NOW, but my rx copy is only $10/mo…

 

 

 

Many swear by Smooth move tea, it is just senna in a tea (you can buy senna tabs OTC also called SENOKOT Tablets:  Each tablet contains 8.6 mg sennosides.). Or ingredient in: PERI-COLACE® TABLETS (Purdue Products) docusate sodium and standardized senna concentrate  (so is a stool softener and laxative in one!) http://www.tealand.com/SmoothMove.asp  BY: Traditional Medicines in Health food, Wal-Mart of many health food aisles of grocery stores!

 

Contents: Active Ingredient: 20mg. Sennosides A & B per cup from senna leaf. Other herbal ingredients: Licorice root, fennel seed, orange peel, cinnamon bark, coriander seed, ginger rhizome, natural orange flavor. Directions for use: Pour 8 oz. of boiling water over one tea bag and steep, covered, for 10-15 minutes. Adults and children over 12 years: Drink 1 cup before bedtime. If necessary, repeat the next day not to exceed 4 cups in 24 hours.

 

 

 

A few prunes (3) also have helped me in a pinch…few times a week (watch cal/carbs)…Some gain w/ carbs/sugar or get triggered hunger! It has been ok w/ me as it is seen as medicine and used accordingly!

 

 

 

 

 

Just my thoughts/ideas! I do Exercise/Water/Colace 2 day/Flaxseed 3T total a day and it generally is ok, with the Miralax daily..this may be only short term but quite possibly a long-term issue post RNY!

 

 

 

Take Care, Jamie Lap RNY 10/9/02 Dr. Singh 320/163 5'9'' (lost 45# before surgery) Plastics 6/9/04 & 11/11/2005  Dr. King "Being happy doesn't mean everything's perfect, it just means you've decided to see beyond the imperfections!"

Kali, try increasing your water as well as taking MOM (if approved by your doctor) at one point I was taking MOM every night and following it with a suppository just to get things moving. Once it started moving I then added benefiber chewables to my pill routine. My doc sent me for an upper GI to see if I had an ulcer because of the pain and that was negative so yesterday I had a ct of my abdomen and pelvis with contrast. I will get the results sometime next week.A bowel obstruction is definately dangerous so please get it checked. Hugs and feel free to PM me if you have any other questions. Chris