Bowel Obstruction Symptoms
What is a bowel obstruction?
A bowel obstruction happens when either your small camera or large intestine camera is partly or completely blocked. The blockage prevents food, fluids, and gas from moving through the intestines in the normal way. The blockage may cause severe pain that comes and goes.
This topic covers a blockage caused by tumors, scar tissue, or twisting or narrowing of the intestines. It does not cover ileus, which most commonly happens after surgery on the belly (abdominal surgery).
What causes a bowel obstruction?
Tumors, scar tissue (adhesions), or twisting or narrowing of the intestines can cause a bowel obstruction. These are called mechanical obstructions camera.
In the small intestine, scar tissue is most often the cause. Other causes include hernias and Crohn’s disease, which can twist or narrow the intestine, and tumors, which can block the intestine. A blockage also can happen if one part of the intestine folds like a telescope camera into another part, which is called intussusception.
In the large intestine, cancer is most often the cause. Other causes are severe constipation from a hard mass of stool, and narrowing of the intestine caused by diverticulitis or inflammatory bowel disease.
What are the symptoms?
Symptoms include:
Cramping and belly pain that comes and goes. The pain can occur around or below the belly button.
Vomiting.
Bloating.
Constipation and a lack of gas, if the intestine is completely blocked.
Diarrhea, if the intestine is partly blocked.
Article Source: Bowel Obstruction Symptoms