Tips for managing chronic small bowel obstructions?

Posted by jljacoby @jljacoby, Dec 10, 2018

Hey everybody!
I joined this group hoping to find tips for managing recurrent/chronic SBOs. I had a Ladd's procedure at 4 days old which left me with scar tissue.
I started having partial SBOs at 25 but they went misdiagnosed as biliary colic because my anatomy is weird so I presented with RUQ pain mimicking gallbladder issues.
Last year in March I was diagnosed with a closed loop bowel obstruction and had emergency surgery. They found that my intestines were adhered to my liver and gallbladder and the surgeon removed my gallbladder an resected a small portion of my small intestine. That resulted in a 21 day stay in the hospital due to post op complications.
This year in June I had yet another SBO that ultimately resulted in another surgery. My surgeon said it looked like someone had dumped super glue in my abdomen the adhesions were so bad. That surgery resulted in a 26 day hospital stay ( my bowels don't like to wake up post surgery).
I am now following a low fiber/no fiber diet, work out regularly, and drink 124 oz of water daily. I have had at least 2 SBOs since being released which were both managed with an NG. I find that eating any food sets me off and have had to stick to mostly liquids.
Any tips for how to manage this thing??
Jennifer

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jamiemj | @jamiemj | 1 day ago

In reply to @dbamos1945 "@carlan52: I am diabetic & a friend recommended Premier Protein drink to me. It is my..." + (show)

@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.

jimdiehl | @jimdiehl | 1 day ago

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.