Please recommend tests that would show a PARTIAL obstruction in the small intestine and comment on the endoscopy camera pill. Thanks!

[tyblossom]

I've had a lot of abdominal surgeries. Since 2005 when I had a weight loss surgery reversed, I've had terrible bloating and constipation and pain. I've since had a subtotal colectomy,gastric bypass to help with slow mobility which did help with the constipation as my transit time is much faster. I still have terrible bloating though with pain. Well, the other night I had horrible horrible pain and went to the ER(first time I've ever gone by ambulance as the pain was that bad). I really feel I have a PARTIAL obstruction in my small intestine. Maybe due to adhesions from my surgery. I believe this is the cause for the slow mobility too. I've had a zillion tests, barium enema, CT with contrast, upper gi, colonoscopy, endoscopy, sitz markert test(which showed how slow things were). So my question is, Is there a test that can show if there is a partial blockage on the inside of my small intestine where those scopes can't reach? The other night in the ER I was in doubled over pain for 6 hours and then I was fine. So I believe the backed up food finally went through. I've read a little about the camera, but also that it can get stuck. Can I get your opinion on what might show a partial blockage and if the camera might work for me? I feel like doctors want to give up on me, becasue I've had so many surgeries, but I just can't give up on feeling good again. It's been 5 years of pain and sitting on this couch. I want to live again. Thanks for any thoughts on tests I might get an answer from.

[tyblossom]

I'm so sorry for your loss. I don't have diverticulitus. My surgery that I believe caused this was in 2005 and I believe if it is a blockage that it's only a partial one that might be caused by adhesions. When I've taken all the normal tests they don't show a problem, but I read that the camera pill can show things that don't show up on the other tests, but with a partial blockage the camera pill can get stuck. So where does that leave someone? Just to live out the rest of their lives in pain, because doctors don't want to touch you if they can't see what's wrong...which is understandable, but it leaves me in the pain the rest of my life unless I can find a way to a test that will show the problem. I've had tests so I know that I'm not leaking any of the contents of my intestine or colon. That is sooo dangerous, because of infection and why any of these surgeries are so dangerous. I'm so very sorry again for your loss. I just can't imagine losing a parent so suddenly and not really understanding why it happened.

[Tbrown28]

My mother had a blockage in her small intestines that they could not see on saturday night. She was given a colonoscopy and of course they couldn't get the camera up there. They ended up doing surgery to find the blockage, but found she had a tear in her intestines  along with infection, which lead to sepsis and her passing this wednesday. She did have complications like diverticulitus, but please tread carefully. Our doctors could not find another option besides surgery, and I hope your blockage has passed. If your surgery was recent I understand their reluctance to enter again.