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I completely understand your position on not wanting to go to the ER, having dealt with numerous partial obstructions myself. But unless I'm in severe pain and feel I can't ride it out, my rule of thumb is to go after 24 hours if I do not feel it's passing. A week seems an awfully long time to be blocked, even partially, and that suggests to me that the obstruction is less likely to pass on its own. Moreover you may have a structural problem - adhesions, scar tissue, twist or kink - that may need medical attention. I'm sure you've tried all the obvious - no solid food, walking, massaging the abdomen, prune and/or grape juice, hot baths, etc - so I don't really have any further advice for self-management. It may be worthwhile to call your surgeon or GI at this stage.
The only other thing I would ask is, are you sure you're still blocked? In my case, even after an obstruction has passed I may have residual symptoms for another 3-4 days.Could it be that is what you are experiencing? If not, I really wouldn't let this go on much longer.
Ditto on everything Spooky said.
My personal rule of thumb is full obstruction, wait a maximum of 24hrs.
Partial obstruction go as long as I can as long as it does not interrupt my life. Meaning, If the pain is unbearable, if I can no longer take in food or fluids or if I can no longer follow my normal life then I call the doctor.
Sometimes you just need an NG tube to clear things up (Yes, I hate them too), sometimes just clear fluids until things calm down.
Things can swell up a lot during an obstruction whether it is partial or total...If you can still take in fluids and function then keep up with what you are doing but inform your surgeon of what is going on.
Hope that it clears on its own
Sharon
We all get sicker at differet speeds. If your urine gets very dark (or stops), you need to get to the ER to get properly hydrated with an IV. Avoiding the ER at that point carries all sorts of risks that are worse than an ER. Occasionally a full obstruction can require surgery to clear. You ought to be in an ER if that's going on.
Glad to hear that you're on the mend now. I do wonder if this was more a case of constipation vs. actual partial obstruction. There is a difference; constipation is usually the result of very dry or thick stool. That being said, if you are constipated frequently or chronically, impacted stool can in and of itself lead to an obstruction. It sounds like you have having trouble passing stool because you output is too thick, and in that case stool softeners and laxatives can help. Magnesium Citrate supplements can really help loosen things up. Not to mention, magnesium deficiency is fairly common in North America and may be even more common in those without colons. So you'd get a double benefit by taking it.
