Hi, everyone. I'm new here. I had an intusseception as an infant in the early '60's, and had surgery to save my life. Since then I've had several other abdominal surgeries. Two were to "fix" the adhesions that were causing me to have small bowel obstructions since the age of 12, and one was a C-section (that one was worth it! 🙂 ). I have had at least 30 sbo's in my life, and expect to have more. Almost every one of them started during the day with little twinges of pain, etc., but the worst of the pain (horrific!) and vomiting always happens overnight. And almost all of them resolve themselves by morning. Sometimes I go to the hospital, and sometimes (maybe foolishly) I tough it out alone at home. I DREAD them. I live in constant fear of getting another one.
What I find SO frustrating is the lack of helpful information. Every time I ask a doctor for advice, I basically get a shrug of the shoulders.
I'm terrified of eating a big meal and then realizing that an obstruction is starting, because that will make it so much worse. So for the past few years I've been eating my main meal in the morning, and then having things like popsicles, etc., at night. I would be willing to live on a liquid diet if I were sure it would help. I know that food doesn't CAUSE the obstructions, but their severity is definitely affected by what I have in my stomach.
What I want to know--and I just can't seem to get an answer--is what triggers them? I know they're caused by adhesions, but why can I go for months or a year without one, and then suddenly get one? Is it how I move? Pants too tight at the waist? Something in the air? I feel that if I had some idea of what causes things to suddenly twist, I could have some control.
I, too, have read about Clear Passage, but it sounds kind of iffy. I've seen "studies" on it, but the authors of the studies always include the people who run the company, so I don't put much stock in them. If I did, I would do it in a heartbeat, at any expense.
I've also read/seen on Youtube claims that massaging the area when you feel the first symptoms, and just moving around, might help clear it before it gets bad. Again, I have no idea if this is true.
I've looked for clinical trials dealing with the issue, but haven't found anything.
Sorry for the very long post. I'm just so scared of getting another sbo all the time, and so frustrated because I feel that I have zero control over it. There must be something that will at least make it less likely that I will have to spend more nights yelling in pain and vomiting endlessly (or having to go to the hospital)! I'm hoping that someone here might have a clue!