Tips for managing chronic small bowel obstructions?

@dbamos1945

I am pre-diabetic and started drinking the chocolate latte flavor, in the evening. I agree with you its really good.

More products need to be sugarless (including sugar alcohols because when you have one you want more)
And more need to be Low Fat, if they were we could lower disease by a big percent.

I have had five SBO's in the last 18 months. Believe this is due to scar tissue buildup small intestine 40 years after low anterior rectal/sigmoid resection and radiation therapy due to rectal cancer. First SBO 30 years ago required hospitalization and NG tube. Only one of the most recent five required hospitalization and NG tube. The other four eventually resolved after vomiting and self-decompacting of small intestine. To cause these five SBOs I was trying to manage a large intestine problem of uncontrollable diarrhea due, I believe, to failure of gastro-sigmoid brake control resulting from original damage. It turns out my attempt to manage my large intestine problem by fasting and higher fiber was apparently causing my SI backups. Primary physician recommended I try to stay on a low residue diet, eat several smaller meals daily instead of a large one, and hydrate. Been two months since last SBO so I remain hopeful this may have worked. If not I am probably a candidate for adhesiolysis of my small intestine using laparascopy.

I've had small bowel obstructions since 2002. I worked on an air freight loading dock like Fedx. It was a lousy place to work. But I did what I had to do. I know that's where my bowel obstructions started. Or caused from I haven't done that kind of work since 2010.

In October 2023 I had radiation treatment for prostate cancer. It got rid of the cancer. But the radiation damaged my bowels. So in 2025 I've been in and out of the hospital with partial obstructions every month. Before 2025. I was in and out of the hospital about every 3 months. I've been on a soft food diet for about 5 years. It feels like everything I like I can't eat any more. I really try my hardest to stick to the diet. I'm real lucky that I have all my medical coverage through the Veterans Administration.

When I go to the er at the VA or local hospital, they do a catscan. And put in a gastric tube about 90% of the time. And at some point a gastrograph test to see if my bowels have opened up after a few days of the gastric tube. I have lousy veins. So the nurses have a hell of time trying to get a iv in. That's the worst part for me at least. All the other thing s they need to do. I just more or less got used to it all. I know what to expect.

I've been on a soft food diet for about 5 years. Everything I used to like, I can't eat any more. It's just the way things are now for me.

@hoagie
Glad you are able to get services from the VA. Thank you for your service.
First I have heard that radiation therapy can cause partial small bowel obstructions. What is the theory behind this? Is it scar tissue caused by radiation?

@jimdiehl

The doctors think I got hurt from working on the airfreight loading dock some how. The scar tissue grew on it's own without me knowing that it was there. In 2002 I started having severe abdominal pain and was rushed to the hospital. They performed emergency surgery. And with any surgery, there's more scar tissue. So it's vicious circle.

Hello my name is Edith, I’m 54yrs old and struggle with sbo due to adhesions. I had a 15lb fibroid in my uterus in my 30’s and they thought it was cervical cancer, they made a large incision to remove it. Thankfully it was not cancer but fast forward 35yrs and my SBO’s started. I’ve had surgery 8 times which has only made my adhesions worse. I’ve had two surgeries just to remove adhesions. I live in Alaska so I’ve flown to Seattle for my last two surgeries. Alaska just does not have the advanced medical knowledge to care for me. My goal is to learn more about diet and exercise to stay out of the hospital. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been in the hospital, I am on pretty much a liquid diet accept I can eat eggs and yogurt. I’m also on a low fiber diet. But I’ve got to eat better… I was over weight and lost over 100lbs the last year and half, now I’m pretty close to where I should be but I really don’t want to loose it this way! I also recently rolled my ankle and broke it in four places. It was something I’ve done dozens of times before. I learned after that Im malnourished from my limited diet. I deal with a lot of vomiting and diarrhea. It’s just awful! I want to lead a full life but can’t seem to find a doctor in Alaska or a nutritionist to help. I’m going to try to get into the Mayo Clinic again, I’ve tried twice before but have been turned down. So that’s my story… it’s similar to what I’ve read so far in this group which to be honest is a relief.

Hello I’m new to this group, I’ve got chronic SBO for the last 7yrs due to adhesions. I had major surgery in my 30’s and it has come back to haunt since I was in my 40’s. Can anyone recommend a good GI doctor at Mayo in Minnesota? I’m from Alaska and our medical technology really lacks. I’ve had two surgeries in Seattle due to emergencies ( no surgeon in Alaska will touch me). Thanks for any recommendations.

After my transverse colon was removed due to cancer my anastomosis connection developed a structure the size of a pencil so stool backed up in my small intestines causing g twice a partial SBO.my surgeon went in by colonoscopy to see what was going on and to his surprise it was almost closed so he stretched it open with balloons. This has helped to not have SBO but I still have to be careful by eating very small easy to digest foods and chewing really good.not 4 meals but frequent small meals but at least Im off liquids only. The other thing I fo us drink a small amount prune juice daily to keep stool moving in right direction. He said say adhesions, scar tissue should soften up after a year. Hope this helps you.

I meant stricture