I’m looking forward to seeing my dr on Monday! I’m just soooo sick of feeling this way! I’m not sure what she’s going to say/do, but hopefully something that helps!! I don’t know how long I can go on being so severely constipated. I’m wondering if there’s maybe a partial obstruction in my bowel. I’m tired. So tonight we get to read about Intestinal Obstructions!! 👏🏼 Yay!! 👏🏼
From the website, “Health Line”:
“Digested food particles must travel through 25 feet of intestines or more before new wastes enter your body. These wastes are constantly in motion. However intestinal obstruction can put a stop to this. An intestinal obstruction occurs when your small or large intestine is blocked. The blockage, partial or total, prevents the passage of fluid or digested food.
If intestinal obstruction happens, food, fluids, gastric acids, and gas build up behind the site of the blockage. If enough pressure builds up, the intestine can rupture. This causes a leak of harmful stomach contents into your abdominal cavity.
And:
Symptoms:
Intestinal obstruction causes a wide range of uncomfortable symptoms, including:
- severe bloating
- abdominal pain
- decreased appetite
- nausea
- vomiting
- constipation
- diarrhea
- severe abdominal cramps
- abdominal swelling
Some of the symptoms may depend on the location of the obstruction. For example, vomiting is an early sign of small intestine obstruction. This tends to happen after a longer amount of time if you have an obstruction in the large intestine. A partial obstruction can result in diarrhea, while a complete obstruction results in constipation.
Intestinal obstruction may also cause a high fever if a portion of the intestinal wall has ruptured.
Causes of intestinal obstruction
Causes:
Intestinal obstructions are either the result of something blocking part of the intestine (mechanical obstruction) or a failure of the intestine to work properly (paralytic ileus). There’s a variety of causes of intestinal obstruction:
- a strangulated hernia, which happens when part of your small intestine protrudes through your abdominal wall
- an inflammatory disease, like Crohn’s disease, in which swelling and scar tissue causes a narrowing of your intestine
- adhesions, or scar tissue, from a previous abdominal surgery
- colon cancer in which the tumor blocks the intestine
- severe constipation from Parkinson’s disease, which leads to impacted bowel
- gallstones, which can press against your intestine and block the flow of its contents
- volvulus, which is a twist or knot in your intestine
- intussusception, which occurs when one section of your intestine collapses into another
- ingesting foreign objects, which is rare
- paralytic ileus, which is a condition that often happens after abdominal surgery in which your intestine temporarily ceases contracting and moving its contents along
Diagnosis of intestinal obstruction:
First, your doctor will ask you your medical history and perform a physical exam. They might be able to detect the obstruction by listening to your abdominal area with a stethoscope. Your doctor may also notice that your abdomen is extremely swollen or that there’s a lump in the area.
Your doctor will use CT scans and X-rays of your abdomen to locate the site of your obstruction and to determine its cause. If the obstruction is in your large intestine, your doctor may perform a colonoscopy (a flexible, lighted viewing tube) to look at your intestine. X-rays may be taken after you’ve been given an enema that uses barium or a dye called Hypaque to provide contrast. This helps to provide a clear image of your colon.
Treating intestinal obstruction
An intestinal obstruction is a medical emergency that requires prompt medical treatment. Don’t attempt to treat the problem at home. The appropriate treatment depends on the type of intestinal obstruction.
Initially, a flexible tube may be passed through your nose or mouth to remove fluid and gas. This will relieve your abdominal swelling.
Most intestinal obstructions require surgery. You will be given fluids intravenously for as many as six to eight hours. Intravenous (IV) fluids relieve dehydration by restoring your electrolyte levels and help prevent shock during surgery. This therapy is typically given in a hospital or other certified healthcare facility.
If the tissue in the affected part of your intestine has died, your surgeon will perform a resection to remove the dead tissue and join the two healthy ends of the intestine.
Prescription remedies
While prescription medications cannot treat the obstruction itself, they can help reduce your nausea until further interventions are performed. Examples of medications your doctor may prescribe include:
- antibiotics to reduce infection
- anti-emetics to keep you from vomiting
- pain relievers
You should not ignore the symptoms of an intestinal obstruction or attempt to treat an intestinal obstruction at home.
Outlook for intestinal obstruction
When left untreated, intestinal obstruction can cause the tissue in the affected part of your intestine to die. This can lead to a hole, or perforation, in the wall of the intestine, severe infection, and shock.
Overall, the outlook of your condition depends on its cause. While most cases of intestinal obstruction are treatable, other causes, such as cancer, require long-term treatment and monitoring.”
There you have it. That’s basically the majority of the article. I don’t even know if I have this. Or just severe severe constipation. Here’s the other possibility (information taken from the same site as above!)
Fecal Impaction:
A fecal impaction is a solid, immobile bulk of human feces that can develop in the rectum as a result of chronic constipation. A related term is fecal loading which refers to a large volume of stool in the rectum of any consistency.
What Is Fecal Impaction of the Colon?
When you eat food, it breaks down in your stomach and passes through your intestines. This process is known as digestion. The walls of your intestines absorb nutrients from the food. What remains as waste passes along to your colon and rectum. At times, things may go wrong in this process and the waste becomes stuck in the colon. This is known as fecal impaction of the colon.
When you have an impacted colon, your feces become dry and won’t budge, making it impossible to excrete them from your body. Impacted feces block the way for new waste to leave the body, causing it to back up.
What Are the Symptoms of Fecal Impaction?
All symptoms of fecal impaction are serious and warrant prompt medical attention. They include:
- leakage of liquid stool
- abdominal discomfort
- abdominal bloating
- abdominal pain
- feeling the need to push
- nausea
- vomiting
- a headache
- unexplained weight loss
- not wanting to eat
Severe symptoms include:
- a rapid heart rate
- dehydration
- hyperventilation, or rapid breathing
- a fever
- confusion
- becoming easily agitated
- incontinence, or passing urine without trying
What Causes Fecal Impaction of the Colon?
The primary cause of fecal impaction of the colon is constipation. Constipation is difficulty passing stool or the infrequent passing of stool. Constipation is often the result of:
- medication side effects
- insufficient nutrient intake
- dehydration
- not consuming enough fiber
- an illness
- frequent bouts of diarrhea
- problems in the digestive system
- diseases such as diabetes or thyroid disease
- an obstruction of the intestinal tract
- complications from pelvic or colorectal surgery
- continuous vomiting
- a spinal cord injury
- mental stress
- jet lag
Constipation is painful, and people who have it often feel bloated and uncomfortably full. You may also feel the need to go to the bathroom but are unable to do so. When stool doesn’t pass through the intestinal system, it can become dry and hard and lodge in the colon. This is called fecal impaction of the colon.
Once fecal impaction occurs, your colon won’t be able to remove the feces from the body using its normal contraction process.
How Is Fecal Impaction of the Colon Diagnosed?
If you suspect you have fecal impaction or if you have persistent symptoms of constipation that aren’t getting any better, see your doctor at once. Your doctor will perform a physical exam, which includes an examination of your abdomen to confirm the diagnosis. They’ll press down on your abdomen to feel for any masses or hardened areas, which can help them locate the affected parts of your digestive system.
After this, your doctor will administer a digital rectal exam (DRE) to check for fecal impaction. In this test, your doctor will put on a glove, lubricate one of their fingers, and insert it into your rectum. This procedure doesn’t usually cause pain, but you may feel some discomfort.
If your doctor suspects impaction after performing the DRE and physical examination, they may order an X-ray of the abdomen. Other possible procedures are an abdominal ultrasound or a viewing of the colon using a tiny microscope, which is called a sigmoidoscope. A barium enema can also highlight the problem areas. A barium enema involves inserting a dye into your rectum and then taking an X-ray of the colon and rectum.
What Are the Treatment Options for Fecal Impaction of the Colon?
Laxatives
The first method of treatment for fecal impaction will most likely be an oral laxative. There are many over-the-counter laxatives that can help stimulate a clearing of the colon. Sometimes, a medicated suppository, which is medicine that’s placed into the rectum, may help.
Manual Removal
If a laxative or a suppository doesn’t unblock the feces from your colon, your doctor will remove the feces manually. To do this, your doctor will insert their gloved finger into your rectum and remove the blockage.
Enema
If your doctor is unable to remove the entire blockage, they’ll use an enema or water irrigation to remove it. An enema is a small, fluid-filled bottle with a nozzle attached. The nozzle inserts into the rectum. Then, your doctor will squeeze the bottle, releasing the liquid into the rectum and colon. This lubricates the colon and moistens the feces, making it easier to dislodge.
Water Irrigation
Water irrigation involves pushing a small hose up through the rectum and into the colon. The hose connects to a machine that emits water through the tube. After the irrigation, your doctor will massage your abdomen, moving the waste out your rectum through another tube.
What Are the Complications Associated with Fecal Impaction of the Colon
Complications of fecal impaction of the colon include:
- tears in the colon wall
- hemorrhoids
- anal bleeding
- anal tears
It’s important to pay attention to your bowel and visit a doctor if you suspect any problems.
How Do I Prevent Fecal Impaction of the Colon?
One way to prevent fecal impaction of the colon is to avoid becoming constipated. Some diseases and certain medications make it impossible to avoid constipation, but making small lifestyle changes can help.
- Drink plenty of water every day to prevent dehydration.
- Eat foods that are high in fiber, such as whole wheat, pears, oats, and vegetables.
- Reduce your intake of foods that are high in sugar, which can cause constipation.
- Exercise daily to help keep your digestive system running well.
Reading all of this makes me want to see my dr less, lol! I’m kidding, I really want it taken care of and it’s hopefully just the impactiona and not an obstruction. I guess I find out more soon. It just worries me that the drinks that are supposed to clear you out are clearly not working at all! Which means? Who knows. I guess we see Monday!! I’m going to head to bed now. Hope you enjoyed your light reading…lol😘
To help with research and treatment for Trigeminal Neuralgia please go to http://www.tnnme.com (Trigeminal Neuralgia and Me) to sign a petition to have the World Health Organization (WHO) add Trigeminal Neuralgia (TN) to their “Health topic list.”
“Hopefully one day I’ll get it right, or at least have fun, while about it I write!!”
The Spirit Scribe 