Tips for managing chronic Small Bowel Obstructions

Hi @vickicustodio and welcome! I noticed that you hadn't had any recipe suggestions so I thought I would connect you with others who have had chronic small bowel obstructions like @meggy123, @stuckonu, and @tigreyes2004

This site is actually really good for pureed foods. You cook the food like you normally would, add a couple of addition ingredients and then blend them.
https://www.oncolink.org/support/nutrition-and-cancer/recipes/dealing-with-side-effects/recipes-for-soft-pureed-foods
How is he currently doing?

Hi everyone. Im new to the groups. I came across the Mayo clinic name from another page. I was diagnosed with Crohn's in 2007 and in 2008 i had surgery. About 30cm of my small intestine was removed it was so inflamed. Since then i have had no active crohns inflammation but i do have a stricture where my surgery was. That started probably 6 or 7 years ago. I have the balloon treatment to open it every time i have terrible flare ups with it. I've been told that there isn't much that can be done for strictures. My last colonoscopy in June 2019 my GI opened the stricture up. 3 weeks ago i had the worst night of my life. I was throwing up the entire night and in terrible stomach pain. I was so dehydrated and dizzy. It wasn't until the morning when i could finally go to the bathroom i felt better. That day i had chunky carrots and other vegetables. I have been told that veggies and fruit raw or not soft enough and can trigger strictures to flare. Ive stayed away from fruit and veg because im terrified of that night happening again. I just don't know what to eat anymore and so afraid of that night happening again. Is there anything other than surgery that can help?

Balloon treatment once a year works for me. Also, fruits and vegetables, especially raw are a major problem. I have a great doctor who told me that you have to be careful of the skin of things like tomatoes, grapes, blueberries and also lettuce which can ball up ( even well chewed) and cause a blockage. IfI feel as if I might have a twisted intestine or a temporary blockage- I immediately switch to liquids only, especially warm ones and it usually works in a few hours. Everyone is different, so you have to experiment. BTW- mushrooms are a major no- no for me. Trial and error. Hope this helps

What is balloon treatment?

It is a procedure done to stretch strictures with a balloon inserted during a colonoscopy/sigmoidoscopy to prevent a blockage. I have it done once a year and at that time they check for activity and polyps as well. My insurance requires it is done at the hospital, rather than at at the doctors office to be covered. I think I have been having this for almost 10 years and it has worked for me. I do not have active Crohn's, not on any medication. The stricture from 2 previous surgeries is my problem

Hi all. I have not posted for a while; I thought I had my SBO under control, but after emergency surgery for a femoral hernia and an overnight in the hospital with an NG tube for another incident... (2021 was not a great year!) I find that I am almost totally on a low residue diet and watching every bite of food I take. As a result, I am frequently anxious about eating and find myself feeling constipated and bloated (and worried). Any advice on how I can eat better and feel less sluggish? Thanks in advance. This site is so helpful.

Hi all. I have not posted for a while; I thought I had my SBO under control, but after emergency surgery for a femoral hernia and an overnight in the hospital with an NG tube for another incident... (2021 was not a great year!) I find that I am almost totally on a low residue diet and watching every bite of food I take. As a result, I am frequently anxious about eating and find myself feeling constipated and bloated (and worried). Any advice on how I can eat better and feel less sluggish? Thanks in advance. This site is so helpful.

@marciakeren I understand how your experiences could make you nervous about eating foods. I was wondering if there could be other contributing factors that could cause constipation like perhaps other prescription drugs or antibiotics? It may be worth talking to your pharmacist for information. Have you been on antibiotics that would be killing off your normal healthy gut bacteria? You can re-establish beneficial gut bacteria with supplements or foods like yogurt. These would be questions to ask your doctor as to what is right in your situation. Water consumption is also important because your body will reabsorb it from the colon if you are dehydrated. Your body needs water for kidney function in removing waste products from the blood stream. Ask your doctor how much you should be drinking on a daily basis, and remember caffeine is a diuretic and removes water from your body.

This is from Harvard about gut bacteria https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/microbiome/

Has your thyroid function been checked? A low functioning thyroid does cause constipation and I have experienced that myself. I had Hashimoto's thyroiditis which can cause hormone levels to fluctuate and eventually the thyroid will have low levels of its normal output. I do take a prescription of natural desiccated pig thyroid and if I do not get enough, I get constipated and tired. When my dose is right, all is well.

Here is a link.
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/hypothyroidism/symptoms-causes/syc-20350284
Has your doctor discussed any of these possible issues with you?

Hello @marciakeren

I can empathize with you about fearing food. I have had three surgeries of the upper digestive tract and the first two surgeries involved a 6-day hospital stay for each surgery. During that time, I was dependent on an IV for hydration, I had an NG tube so I had nothing by mouth for 4 -to 5 days.

I also found it difficult getting back to eating because it was hard to know which foods would cause other digestive tract symptoms. What was helpful for me was getting a referral to a registered dietician at the hospital. Dieticians can be very helpful and supportive in working out a food plan to help in these types of situations.

Have you seen a dietician yet?