Spontaneous intestinal block, 4th one in 20 years.

[Carolina]

Just spent three days in hospital when my small intestine suddenly 'closed'.  This is the result of autonomic neurological damage to my gastrointestinal system.

VERY Painful...unremitting constant pain and then the added joy of a naso-gastric tube for three days. The condition is Diagnosed with a CT Scan.

The blockage or spasm relaxed after about 36 hours and I had bowel movements which had been above the blockage.  The biggest difficulty is explaining why I have the blockage and why I can now go home once it is gone.  Their fear is that it will come back and I'll have to be readmitted.

The 4 pseudo blockages have happened about 4-6 years apart over 20 years.  I have no warning, just pain. 

I also have neurological damage to the opening of my esophagus to my stomach.  The opening spontaneously stays closed and food just fills up to my throat.  I've had two procedures in about 10 years, but not working well.  The next step is a difficult surgery, so I'm hoping to be able to just put up with the problem rather than have the surgery, which may eventually fail to solve the problem!

I'll be 84 next month and I want to wait this out without surgery if I can.

Elaine

[Linda196]

Elaine, I'm so sorry you have to go through this, repeatedly at that! Have you had to adjust your diet to hopefully help prevent it?
Hopefully, your experience, great attitude and determination will be an example to any other members who may be faced with this sort of concerns.

[Scottietottie]

Hi

I can only imagine the pain you must have been in. I have a friend who had a blockage but it needed surgery and she said it was the worst pain of her life. I hope you and your doctors find a way to stop it returning.

Take care - Scottie

[Carolina]

Diet has nothing to do with neuropathy, so neither the intestinal block nor the esophageal block are affected by diet.

There is no cure or prevention for immune mediated neuropathy.  I do take 3600 mg Gabapentin (Neurontin) a day for the intense pain of my Small Fiber Neuropathy (every inch of my skin).   So there is a treatment.  Fortunately I tolerate that much gabapentin.

Elaine