I was hospitalized on December 18th after a cat scan showed that I had a small bowel obstruction. Since then I am learning to eat smaller meals and a low fiber diet. I keep a journal of what I eat and how often I am passing stools and gas. What concerns me is that since it happened my stomach is always uncomfortable. Does this ever stop? The uncomfortable feeling? Sometimes it's a pain like when you drink to much water on am empty stomach then exercise, that sharp pain in the left side of my stomach. Does anyone else have this problem?

I have a question for the small bowel obstruction support group. I hear that one shouldn't eat bread but I have a hard time not eating any bread and if I don't eat bread I am constantly hungry! So I do eat a bit as well as some small pastries which I know aren't meant to be good for the bland diet I am trying to follow. I am wondering if gluten free bread might be ok and if it would be better for SBO people like myself.

This is very helpful,,, thank you so much. I admit that I do have some whole wheat occasionally as I understand one does need some fiber. Also there is a big difference between soluble and insoluble fiber and I try and stick to the soluble. Interesting about the olive oil.. I will definitely look into that. I would love to give up the Miralex or at least cut down the amount of times I have it. I had exactly the same -- adhesions and a SBO and would do anything not to have another one.

I have short gut syndrome. I only have 2ft of my small intestines left but I still have my large intestines. Some people with short gut syndrome shouldn't take Miralax. Miralax can work the opposite way. Miralax made me constipated and dehydrated.

Here is a pic of the olive oil I use. It is hard to find. I recently ordered it on Amazon. I take 1-2 teaspoons. I take Teaspoon daily, if I have not had a bowel movement all day I will take an extra teaspoon that night and the next morning I usually go. I just take it straight. Using this olive oil here there is really no taste, I usually drink some apple juice right after just to rinse the oil out of my mouth.

Personally I would keep using Miralax... my gastroenterologist said there is no harm using it forever (although the bottle says only for 7 days). It doesn't taste bad. Bit of a nuisance every night to us it but it dissolves and is just like drinking water. The thought of a spoonful of olive oil is not appealing to me but it may be better for some others!

I don't know if this will help anyone else, but this is what helped me: My surgeon told me, when I showed up in the ER 3 times in the months following abdominal surgery that I had adhesions and he suggested walking after every meal. This has been a life changer for me. I now walk at least 1/2 mile after breakfast and lunch and 1 mile after dinner. I live in the northeast and this is a pain in the neck and there are many times I do not want to go out and walk in the cold or rain or dark, but I do it because the alternative sucks! And I have not been to the ER since I have been doing this. So I agree, that this is a mechanical problem, and the walking really moves the food through at a rate that keeps the obstruction from happening. I also eat smaller meals and NEVER have 2nd helpings. Hope this helps!!

Thanks so much for your comments! I might try olive oil as well. I had to look up FWIW and EVOO and now I know their meaning so I learned something today! Gracias!!

I suffered with horrific SBB attacks for 8+ hrs from early 40’s to 60s - hospital for pain meds -Morphine etc. always had to know where hospital was ( but lived a very busy life in spite!! own Bizet. - 3 kids, 8 grands. After 4 years they dared to start me on Muscle reliever -Bentyle . Often it would abort the worse of it and under tough nausea meds. I still have occasions to use it but no hospitals for maybe 10 years. DO not have surgery for it if can help it - it just adds more scaring! Best- terrible pain!! Best!

Had a small bowel resection 6 years ago and subsequently had two additional blockages requiring surgery plus two partial blockages requiring hospitalization. On top of that both times I had surgery umbilical hernias developed requiring the placement of mesh. Last two partial blockages required hospitalization but resolved themselves with belly rest (NG tube, pain meds, etc). My doctor says my reoccurring blockages are result of adhesions. I have tried to change my diet mainly eliminating red meat (very hard for a steak lover), eating smaller more frequent meals, practicing deep tissue massage when I have flare ups, etc. Seems as if I am troubleshooting my gut at most times. Extremely frustrated. Just mainly trying to do anything I can to stay out of ER / hospital because that is pure torture.I have seen several discussions on here addressing this issue and I am probably sounding like a broken record but man am I tired of having to deal with these reoccurring issues. Tired of “crying wolf” and getting CTs and going back to doctor to get told same thing. At this point I know I have no choice but to manage it the best I can.I am very lucky to have a caring sister that is a nurse practitioner to ask the right questions and give me guidance. Going to hospital alone would be a very scary situation which is very unfortunate.I found this site and thought I’d see if anyone had any additional information. I know there are many others with same condition that most likely are more severe. I have a lot of sympathy for anyone that has to deal with these reoccurring bowel issues. Thanks in advance for anyone’s suggestions.