Guide to Loosening a Bowel Blockage at Home: 7 Ways (2024)

A partial bowel blockage, or bowel obstruction, occurs when stool (the solid or semisolid remains to food eaten) gets stuck and can't move through your intestines. The problem causes a buildup of food, gas, and fluids behind the blockage. It can cause cramps, belly pain, vomiting, and constipation.

With a partial bowel blockage, some food and stool can pass through the intestines. It can often correct itself with changes to your diet or other nonsurgical treatments. This is more common than a complete bowel blockage, which entirely blocks your intestine and needs prompt treatment.

This article describes partial bowel blockage, symptoms, and ways to remove the blockage at home. It also describes when medical treatment is needed.

Guide to Loosening a Bowel Blockage at Home: 7 Ways (1)

Bowel Blockage: Is At-Home Removal Possible?

The option for at-home removal of a bowel blockage depends on the cause and conditions involving the problem. Many partial blockages open up on their own with supportive care and do not need further treatment. However, that does not mean that the problem is not serious.

Any untreated partial bowel blockage has the potential to become a life-threatening condition if the obstruction prevents blood from reaching your intestine. This type of intestinal blockage can result in infection and gangrene (tissue death). Attempting to do at-home removal of a bowel blockage should not be done without consulting with your healthcare provider.

Bowel Blockage vs. Constipation

A bowel blockage and constipation are two conditions that can interfere with the natural passage of waste from your body.

A bowel blockage is a condition in which stool, or feces, is blocking your bowel. It may require treatment to achieve relief. A bowel blockage can become a medical emergency if the obstruction does not resolve on its own or react to nonsurgical treatment.

Constipation is defined as having three or fewer bowel movements per week. It typically lasts a short time and can be relieved by taking laxatives and/or increasing water, fiber, and exercise.

Undiagnosed Bowel Blockage: How Do You Know You Have Symptoms?

Symptoms of a bowel blockage can vary based on factors including where the blockage exists, its cause, and whether the blockage is partial or full. You may experience the following symptoms if you have a bowel blockage:

Severe abdominal pain or cramping that may be constant or intermittent
A feeling of bloating or fullness
Nausea (upset stomach) or vomiting
Loud sounds coming from your abdomen
Lack of appetite
Diarrhea
Constipation
Rapid heartbeat, dark urine, and other signs of dehydration
Inability to pass gas or stool
Fever or sweating for no reason

If you have any of these symptoms accompanied by fever, increasing belly pain, or constipation that lasts longer than a few weeks, contact your healthcare provider immediately.

Ways to Loosen a Partial Bowel Blockage At Home

If you have a partial bowel blockage, you may be able to loosen it by taking the following steps at home. Before doing so, contact your healthcare provider to discuss your symptoms to ensure that you can safely manage the problem at home.

How Long Does It Take to Clear?

The amount of time it takes a partial bowel blockage to clear depends on the cause of the problem. With dietary or other nonsurgical treatment, a partial blockage can typically resolve itself within a few days.

Conditions That Increase Your Risk of a Bowel Blockage

You may be at risk of having a bowel blockage if you have one of the following conditions:

Scar tissue from abdominal surgery
Hernia
Diverticulitis
Certain cancers of the gastrointestinal or pelvic areas, including pancreatic,
Crohn's disease
Abdominal radiation damage

Treatment for Severe Bowel Blockage

A severe bowel blockage can't be treated at home. While treatment is based on the cause of the problem, it is common to require hospitalization for a severe bowel blockage.

Treatment for a severe bowel blockage includes the following based on your condition:

Intravenous (IV) fluids: This involves using electrolytes (sodium, potassium, and chloride) and IV fluids to treat dehydration while you abstain from eating or drinking. This treatment can often help your bowels reset. IV therapy may also be used if the blockage lasts more than a couple of days.
Enemas or stool softener: Enemas and/or medications to loosen and/or soften a hard stool causing a blockage so it can be passed more easily. An enema can help loosen a bowel blockage by increasing pressure in your intestines and helping the blockage to pass.
Nasogastric tube: It may be possible to suction out fluids and air above the bowel blockage by using a nasogastric tube. This long thin tube is inserted through your nose and into your stomach to empty its contents. This treatment relieves gas buildup and decreases swelling.
Medication: Depending on your symptoms, your healthcare provider may prescribe medications to relieve nausea, vomiting, swelling, diarrhea, or pain.
Colorectal tube: A colorectal tube is a long, thin tube that is inserted through the rectum into the colon. It removes gas, fluid, and inflammation.

If these treatments do not relieve your bowel blockage, your healthcare provider may advise bowel blockage surgery. Surgery is typically the first-line treatment for a complete blockage.

The following types of surgery are used to treat a bowel obstruction:

Removal of an intestinal mass or tumor
Resection (cutting away) of scars and adhesions (bands of scar tissue)
Repair of blood vessels
Cutting away an area of inflamed or dead intestinal tissue
Insertion of a metal stent (tube) into the intestine to open the blocked area
Ileostomy, which opens your abdominal wall to allow waste from your small intestine to exit your body through a stoma (opening) attached to a bag or pouch
Colostom, which removes the damaged or dead part of your large intestine (colon) and creates an opening in your abdominal wall to allow stool to exit your body through a stoma

Gut Health and Recovery: Ongoing Bowel Symptoms

Recovery from a partial bowel blockage can be a slow process. You may have to take your time to return to a normal diet and lifestyle. Lasting discomfort and bloating can occur after the bowel blockage clears. Even if a partial bowel blockage resolves, you still have the risk of another bowel blockage in the future.

You can help reduce ongoing bowel symptoms and your risk of another bowel blockage with the following strategies for maintaining gut health:

Maintain a balanced diet, avoiding foods that are difficult to digest or those that cause inflammation.
Drink the recommended amount of water.
Exercise regularly at an intensity recommended by your healthcare provider.
Manage chronic conditions that can increase your risk of a bowel blockage.
Eat several small meals rather than three large meals daily to avoid straining your digestive system.
Contact your healthcare provider if you have symptoms of another bowel blockage.

Summary

A partial bowel blockage is a serious problem that needs prompt treatment. While not as severe as a complete blockage, a partial blockage can worsen without treatment. This can increase your risk of having a severe infection in your intestine.

Do not ignore symptoms of a partial bowel blockage. Get medical care if you have sustained belly pain with vomiting and/or constipation.

If you have problems linked with a partial bowel blockage, contact your healthcare provider right away for an exam and diagnosis. They can advise whether at-home removal is best based on the cause and degree of your bowel blockage.

As an expert and enthusiast, I have access to a vast amount of information on various topics, including bowel blockages. I can provide you with information based on my knowledge and the search results available to me. However, please note that I am not a substitute for professional medical advice, and it is always best to consult with a healthcare provider for personalized guidance.

Partial Bowel Blockage or Bowel Obstruction

A partial bowel blockage, also known as a bowel obstruction, occurs when stool gets stuck and cannot move through the intestines. This can lead to a buildup of food, gas, and fluids behind the blockage, causing symptoms such as cramps, belly pain, vomiting, and constipation [[1]].

Partial bowel blockages can often correct themselves with changes to the diet or other nonsurgical treatments. However, it is important to note that any untreated partial bowel blockage has the potential to become a life-threatening condition if it prevents blood from reaching the intestine. This can result in infection and tissue death (gangrene) [[1]].

Bowel Blockage vs. Constipation

A bowel blockage and constipation are two conditions that can interfere with the natural passage of waste from the body.

A bowel blockage occurs when stool is blocking the bowel, and it may require treatment to achieve relief. If the obstruction does not resolve on its own or react to nonsurgical treatment, it can become a medical emergency [[1]].

Constipation, on the other hand, is defined as having three or fewer bowel movements per week. It typically lasts a short time and can be relieved by taking laxatives and/or increasing water, fiber, and exercise [[1]].

Symptoms of Bowel Blockage

The symptoms of a bowel blockage can vary depending on factors such as the location and cause of the blockage, as well as whether it is partial or complete. Some common symptoms of a bowel blockage include:

Severe abdominal pain or cramping that may be constant or intermittent
Bloating or fullness
Nausea or vomiting
Loud sounds coming from the abdomen
Lack of appetite
Diarrhea or constipation
Inability to pass gas or stool
Fever or sweating for no reason [[1]]

If you experience any of these symptoms accompanied by fever, increasing belly pain, or constipation that lasts longer than a few weeks, it is important to contact your healthcare provider immediately.

Loosening a Partial Bowel Blockage at Home

If you have a partial bowel blockage, there are steps you can take at home to potentially help loosen it. However, it is crucial to consult with your healthcare provider before attempting any at-home removal to ensure it is safe for your specific situation.

Here are some steps that may help loosen a partial bowel obstruction at home:

Eat a low fiber diet: Consuming too much fiber during a partial bowel obstruction could worsen the obstruction. It is recommended to eat a low fiber diet during this time [[1]].
Stay hydrated: Staying hydrated can help soften stools and make them easier to pass, potentially preventing a bowel blockage. The recommended daily water intake is about 11.5 cups for women and 15.5 cups for men [[1]].
Consume small meals: Eating five or six small meals daily, rather than three large meals, can help reduce discomfort and cramping [[1]].
Chew food well: Chewing food thoroughly before swallowing reduces the chances of undigested food becoming lodged in the intestine and causing a blockage [[1]].
Exercise regularly: Mild or moderate physical activity can have positive effects on the health of the gastrointestinal tract. Physically active individuals demonstrate a lower prevalence of constipation compared to those who are physically inactive [[1]].
Consume easily digestible foods: Choose tender, well-cooked foods with a smooth texture, as they will pass through the intestines more easily [[1]].
Avoid habits and foods that increase gas: Certain habits and foods can increase gas in the digestive tract, potentially worsening a bowel blockage. These include drinking through a straw, chewing gum, consuming carbonated drinks, and eating gas-producing vegetables and fruits [[1]].

Remember, these steps are general recommendations and may not be suitable for everyone. It is essential to consult with your healthcare provider for personalized advice.

Treatment for Severe Bowel Blockage

A severe bowel blockage cannot be treated at home and often requires hospitalization. The specific treatment for a severe bowel blockage depends on the cause and severity of the problem. Some treatment options may include:

Intravenous (IV) fluids: IV fluids and electrolytes may be administered to treat dehydration while abstaining from eating or drinking. This treatment can often help reset the bowels [[1]].
Enemas or stool softeners: Enemas and medications may be used to loosen and soften a hard stool causing a blockage, making it easier to pass [[1]].
Nasogastric tube: A nasogastric tube may be inserted through the nose and into the stomach to suction out fluids and air above the bowel blockage, relieving gas buildup and decreasing swelling [[1]].
Medication: Depending on the symptoms, healthcare providers may prescribe medications to relieve nausea, vomiting, swelling, diarrhea, or pain [[1]].
Surgery: If other treatments do not relieve the bowel blockage, surgery may be necessary. The type of surgery will depend on the specific situation and may involve removing an intestinal mass or tumor, resecting scars and adhesions, repairing blood vessels, removing inflamed or dead intestinal tissue, or inserting a metal stent [[1]].

It is important to note that severe bowel blockages require prompt medical attention, and treatment should be determined by a healthcare professional.

Gut Health and Recovery

Recovery from a partial bowel blockage can be a slow process, and it is important to take your time to return to a normal diet and lifestyle. Some individuals may experience lasting discomfort and bloating even after the bowel blockage clears. Additionally, there is a risk of future bowel blockages.

To help maintain gut health and reduce the risk of another bowel blockage, consider the following strategies:

Maintain a balanced diet: Avoid foods that are difficult to digest or those that cause inflammation [[1]].
Stay hydrated: Drink the recommended amount of water [[1]].
Exercise regularly: Follow the exercise recommendations provided by your healthcare provider [[1]].
Manage chronic conditions: Take steps to manage any chronic conditions that may increase the risk of a bowel blockage [[1]].

If you experience symptoms of another bowel blockage, it is important to contact your healthcare provider for an examination and diagnosis.

Conclusion

In summary, a partial bowel blockage is a serious condition that requires prompt treatment. While some partial blockages may resolve on their own with supportive care, it is important not to ignore the symptoms. If you experience sustained belly pain with vomiting and/or constipation, it is recommended to seek medical care. Always consult with your healthcare provider for an examination and personalized advice based on your specific situation [[1]].