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Chronic small bowel obstruction from adhesions
Digestive Health | Last Active: Feb 12, 2023 | Replies (212)Comment receiving replies
Hello, I am on this group because my mother who is 81 has had 5 SBO's in the last 3 months which have included 3 extended hospital stays. She has had Rectal cancer and now has an ostomy. This has been such a struggle for her and we continue to look for answers on helping her manage this without hospital stays. I have noticed that several people talk about a low fiber/low residue diet which our first doctor told her was best, but now they are saying that she can eat anything she wants and it will not make a difference. Does this sound right?
We are becoming desperate for answers because of her extensive cancer surgery and 2 large hernias, surgery is not an option at this time because of the risk.
Any guidance or advice would be greatly appreciated!
Replies to "Hello, I am on this group because my mother who is 81 has had 5 SBO's..."
@paulapyxis , and everyone who is new here, welcome (and also sorry you have to find yourself here, looking for answers!).
I will second what @thull said about the anxiety not being worth taking the risk of eating "whatever you want." Different people have different issues and reasons for their obstructions (mine are due to adhesions from multiple surgeries a long time ago), so my experience might not necessarily apply.
For myself lately, though, I TRY to imagine that everything I eat will need to pass as quickly as possible through a tube the size of a straw or smaller, as quickly as possible, and yet still be nutritious.
Obviously, if I get caught with an actual obstruction and food behind it in my digestive tract, I'm probably in trouble. But by at least reducing the chances of something big getting stuck, I feel a lot less anxious--and because of this new strategy--I think--I was able to make it through my last obstruction without going to the ER (although in general one should probably go, to be safest), and vomiting only once instead of 5-15 times!
I've also started to stretch and move around/take walks after each meal, especially reaching upwards over my head, arching back, and moving side-to-side. It just seems that this MIGHT have a chance of "ungluing" adhesions when they start to stick together. I'm not sure about that, but it's worth trying (and stretching feels good anyway)!
I also chew everything--even juices--like crazy to get the digestive process going.
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For me personally, if I was still having the obstructions, I would be afraid of eating something that might get "stuck". As it stands right now for me, even though I do have the all clear to eat normally, I am still playing it safe for the most part. I have tried some non low fiber things, but only in a very small amount to see how I do. The anxiety I would have if I overdid it is just not with it in my opinion.
I hope your mom gets some answers and gets to feeling better!