Small bowel obstructions can be a medical emergency. It happens when fecal matter becomes stuck along the intestinal tract and nothing can move past it, causing everything to back up. There are stages to obstructions. For complete obstructions, the only course is surgery to remove it, but for partial obstructions, diet plans and conservative treatment can let the problem work itself out. Please seek the advice of a doctor if you have a partial small bowel obstruction to be sure you are on the right eating plan. You may need a more focused plan, and only a physician can advise you for sure.
Low Residue Diet
A low residue diet is used if there is a mild small bowel obstruction that your doctor wants to treat conservatively. You may only have occasional symptoms at this level. Avoid nuts, seeds and fruits that have seeds or skins. You may remove the skins from fruit. Avoid meats with casings like sausages or some brands of hot dogs. According to "What to Eat When You Have a Partial Bowel Obstruction," avoid most raw vegetables, but raw cucumbers and tomatoes are okay. Do not eat whole grain bread, and stay away from popcorn. Be sure to thoroughly cook all vegetables and eat many small meals throughout the day.
Minimal Residue Diet
If your doctor recommends a minimal residue diet, you may be having more persistent symptoms. This diet lowers the amount of residue introduced into the intestines even more. Avoid all fruits and vegetables. You can have juices strained without pulp and pureed soups. You should stay away from oatmeal, granola, whole wheat pastas and brown or wild rice. Hot and cold prepared cereals are allowed, however. According to "Prevention of Small Bowel Obstruction," such things as cereals, puddings, milkshakes and nutritional drinks may be tolerated when other foods are more difficult to keep down. These foods may be easier to eat when fighting a small bowel obstruction.
Liquid Diet
Liquid diets are reserved for when the blockage is severe and you are having difficulty keeping solid foods down. It is important to stay hydrated. However, according to "Prevention of Small Bowel Obstruction," avoid things such as milk and other lactose containing products if you find that they lead to gas and bloating. This could make things worse. On a liquid diet, all solid food is avoided. Milks and plain yogurts are allowed. Nutritional drinks, puddings and cereals are also allowed. Juices, pureed soups and ice cream, if tolerated, can also be eaten. Be aware that your doctor may have a different idea of what a liquid diet is, so be sure to follow his orders for what exactly to eat and drink when he orders a liquid diet.
Nothing By Mouth
Nothing by mouth or NPO is the diet status you would likely be on if you were hospitalized with a small bowel obstruction. This is to give the bowel a rest and to avoid introducing more material into a bowel that is already blocked. Nothing by mouth is an extreme diet and should not be done without a doctor's supervision. In the hospital, you would be given intravenous fluids to keep your body hydrated. This would give the doctor time to see if the obstruction could resolve on its own or if it would require surgery.
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