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Symptoms of obstruction? I'm a little worried...

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Crohn's Disease
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Posted 9/28/2007 8:18 AM (GMT -6)
I have pretty mild Crohn's and it doesn't bother me very much, however this week I've been having symptoms that are worrying me.  My disease is mostly located in the last 8 inches of my ileum, and they warned me when I was diagnosed last year that I have a stricture, and that it's possible that it might get obstructed at some point.  Over the past several days I've been having abdominal pain, sort of alternating between my right and left side, along the level of the navel.  The pain is mild, more annoying than anything, but sometimes it radiates up my sides towards my rib cage.  I've also been getting an increased feeling of bloating and uncomfortable abdominal fullness, and my lower abdomen is slightly tender to the touch.  I had a BM Wednesday, nothing yesterday, then lots of loud gurgling this morning, with some D, but that didn't really relieve the bloated feeling or the pain.  I've called my GI doc and left a message, but I know she's usually not in until Monday...I realize this doesn't exactly constitute a medical emergency at this point, but I'm just wondering what symptoms I should be looking for that might indicate this is something serious that might require more immediate attention? 
Posted 9/28/2007 9:13 AM (GMT -6)
When you have an obstruction, nothing comes through, no gas, no diarrhea, etc, with no bowel sounds. When you have a partial obstruction you can still have some bowel movements and gas, with minimal bowel sounds. Both are usually accompanied by throwing up because things back up in there.

Make an appointment to see your GI, and in the mean time stay on a low fiber or even a soft diet. If that doesn't help, you may want to try all liquids.

If you get to the point that the pain/vomiting is more than you can handle, go to the ER. If you're vomiting so much that you think you're very dehydrated, go to the ER.

There's no one answer, your pain could be caused by many things. Your best bet is to try and see your GI as soon as possible.
Posted 9/28/2007 2:00 PM (GMT -6)
So I talked to my GI doc and she thinks the symptoms are just a bacterial overgrowth, so she's putting me on antibiotics.  I've read on here that probiotics work well too for bacterial overgrowth...any brands people recommend, either types of yogurt that might have a good amount, or something in pill form?
Posted 9/29/2007 7:35 AM (GMT -6)
Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but doesn't "bacterial overgrowth" mean C-diff? And if it does, isn't there a simple blood test to be sure? Why would a doctor "think" it's bacterial overgrowth and not do blood tests to be "sure" it's bacterial overgrowth?

Just curious as this is one thing I've never had issues with.
Posted 9/29/2007 11:36 AM (GMT -6)

Please be careful, your syptoms do sound like partial obstruction. I have been in your exact position, and kept eating, obstructed ended up in ER for 5 days. I've had the gurgling, bloating, no throwing up, some gas at first. Then all gas and gurgling stops. The belly button pain (contraction like) grows. I would highly recommend that you eat mostly liquids for a couple days until you find out for sure it's not a blockage. If your pain increases with no BMs, and your stomach gets distended you should see a doctor.

Kristine

Posted 9/29/2007 12:09 PM (GMT -6)
I have a stricuture, and really think I am lucky, it's close to my rectum, but not too close to remove, which is much better than it being somewhere else.

I go by how much I have ate, vs. how many times I have went to the bathroom, just to give a rough idea.

I also pay close attention to foods, and how my stools have been.

If larger, and formed, then I will maybe try a real meal since some foods tend to digest slower, like Beef, or fatty foods.

Nausea is the biggest sign for me. If I am reaching for phenergen, then I know it's time for a liquid diet. Something about things moving in reverse produce nausea, like a waterhose with a clob of mud up inside of it.

And I drink alot of water, I won't leave the house without my little cooler full of water bottles.
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