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Tips for managing chronic Small Bowel Obstructions
Digestive Health | Last Active: Sep 27, 2021 | Replies (88)Comment receiving replies
Thank you @hopeful33250 I will look at those threads!
I was a runner until my second surgery earlier this year, unfortunately I haven't had the energy to pick it back up so I mostly just walk and do light weights.
As far as foods I can tolerate eggs and yogurt but that's about it in the way of actual food. It seems like anytime I try to add in other foods I end up in severe pain. I stick to protein smoothies and ensure drinks for the most part. It is just hard to go from eating like a normal person (as I refer to it) to essentially drinking all my meals. I'm only 35 and I cannot imagine this as my only food sources for the rest of my life!!
When I'm in the throes of an early SBO I have to take to my bed with pain meds, nausea meds, and a heating pad. Sometimes that isn't enough which is usually when I end up in the ER. Thing is, I need to figure out how to manage this before the ER visits become to frequent. For example I am out of vacation time, have used up my FMLA until August 2019, and am worried about losing my job if I continue to miss time. It really sucks!!
Replies to "Thank you @hopeful33250 I will look at those threads! I was a runner until my second..."
Hi! I just joined the group and I immedidiately saw myself in your life experiences with Cabo. As a 37 year old women that has dealt with a lifetime of intestinal issues resulting in many surgeries and more SBO then I can keep up with. I too have had to stop running and other strenuous activity due to lack of enough caloric intake to maintain my weight. I mainly eat very soft foods and liquids like ensure and smoothies. Between the chronic pain and chronic nausea I struggle just to function. I was unable to have children and I had to accept that I can’t work a few years ago.
The nausea really frustrates me because I can’t seem to find any medication that works or if it does work it doesn’t always and can take hours to start helping. Do you have any suggestions? Or if anyone has had any luck with anything I’d really appreciate your advice.
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@jljacoby , hi, and welcome. I'm so sorry that you've had to join the SBO club--for lack of a better term, it sucks! Mine also started with surgery I had as an infant, and I've probably had well over 30 in my life.
But this is a very helpful community, and @hopeful33250 is a wondeful guide through it. I agree that it might be helpful for you to read the threads she mentioned; we recently had a discussion on diet, specifically living on liquids or mostly liquids. It's not easy, but, at least for me, if it keeps me out of the ER and makes the pain and vomiting less severe when the inevitable happens, it's well worth it. There's lots of other stuff to enjoy in life!
Good luck and keep us posted!