Symptoms Of Bowel Blockage

By: Venetta Hodge

Break Studios Contributing Writer

Having symptoms of bowel blockage is a dangerous condition that could become deadly. This disease known also as intestinal obstruction is blockage in the colon or small intestine, which impedes the flow of waste materials. Having this condition can cause a wide range of medical problems. Thus, learning about the symptoms of a bowel blockage will alert you as to when it is appropriate to seek medical care.

  1. Bowel blockage happens when something obstructs solid matter as well as fluid from moving freely through the intestines. This sometime happens due to mechanical obstruction in the case of someone having a tumor that might block the intestine passageway. Another cause of this condition might be twisting of the intestines. Thus, the waste materials cannot move freely. This condition can also occur due to various diseases including diverticulitis, Crohn's disease, irritable bowel syndrome as well as inflammation.
  2. The symptoms of bowel blockage includes cramping, sharp abdominal pain, nausea as well as vomiting. Some patients experience constipation while others have diarrhea. Other patients indicate tenderness in the abdominal area and in some cases swollen abdomen normally termed as distended belly.
  3. Constipation usually occur when you have bowel blockage plus difficulty to pass gas. Patients with partially block bowel may experience diarrhea and gas passage.
  4. When you have a small bowel obstruction, it normally leads to vomiting. You will be able to tell there is a problem because the vomit will have greenish or brown color depending on where the blockage is in the intestines.
  5. Abdominal pain is common with bowel blockage and sometimes occur below the belly button. The pain may stop if the bowel no longer contracts. Patients who experience severe pain located in one specific area should contact their doctor immediately. Since, this could be a sign of a complete blockage of the blood supply.
  6. Left untreated a bowel blockage can turn into severe medical issues. The most common complications involve halting of the blood supply. The body is unable to absorb nutrients accompanied by severe abdominal pains. In some cases, some patients may develop peritonitis, a deadly infection in the abdomen.
  7. Generally, patient who are diagnose with this condition requires inpatient care. Their doctor may use medications that facilitate pushing the bodily waste from the intestines. Some medical providers use a Nasal Gastric tube to help in removing air in the stomach as means to unblock the blockage and to encourage movement of buildup. When these treatments does not work, your medical provider may have to resort to surgery depending on the severity of the condition.

If you suspect, you have the symptoms of a bowel blockage, contact your medical provider immediately for medical care.

Posted on: Nov. 17, 2010