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Yikes!  Just saw this result on my CT scan today.  Anyone else have something to share?  I will call my oncologist tomorrow to discuss it. (Stage 3C inoperable high grade ovarian cancer.)

GI TRACT: Scattered left colonic diverticula without evidence of acute diverticulitis. Borderline prominence of a few loops of distal small bowel measuring up to 2.8 cm maximal caliber with mild fecalization. There is focal narrowing of the small bowel just upstream of the ileocecal valve (2; 223) with minor ill-defined stranding/infiltration along this loop, probably related to serosal disease. The remaining proximal to mid small bowel is not frankly distended.

SUMMARY: Borderline prominence and mild fecalization of the distal small bowel with relative narrowing of the terminal ileum and ill-defined serosal spiculation in this region, probably related to serosal disease with possible element of mild partial/incomplete malignant obstruction.

I've always been afraid of a small bowel obstruction because I know a full obstruction can lead to the end happening within a very short period of time and I've lost some friends in one group to some sort of obstruction. Anyone with personal advice and experience on this?

Hey@BellaDonna1959 I have a partial bowel obstruction due to a mass that they were unable to remove when I had my surgery.  The mass is attached to my small intestine, my large bowel and the head of my rectum.  I take a daily medication (Olaparib) which has shrunk the mass slightly and I follow a low residue diet which minimizes risk of a total blockage and also keeps gastrointestinal symptoms to a minimum.  I'm one year post surgery and haven't had any issues, knock on wood.  Don't panic until you get the lowdown from your oncologist.  There is lots of info on bowel blockages on this sight just put it in the search bar.  

Hello Joan

Thanks so much for your reply I can't tell you how much I appreciate it right now!  Good to hear that you are doing well one year later.  Thanks again!

@BellaDonna1959 @JoanEG   There is a ton of information on partial bowel blockages or ileus on this site. You just have to type the key words  into the search bar to find what you are looking for.  Moving to a low residue diet is one of them. You will miss eating some foods that is for sure as the diet will cut them out for you but it is not worth the hassle of the symptoms you will have if you do eat it. The blockages can be painful and so not worth eating the wrong food. I end up getting abdominal pains, bloating, nausea etc with mine. Combined with medication I have to take to combat it is the only thing that calms  it down. No eating and going to a liquid diet usually happens too. A full obstruction is definitely something you don't want to have to have happen either. If you can manage to head it off when you have a partial, you are doing well. Make sure you work with your team during these times and take the appropriate medication as well.  It will help  you get through it, that is for sure. Mine come on suddenly and sometimes are caused by food I ate and sometimes is sporadic and have no rhyme or reason to them. I just wake up like that and know it won't be a good day and manage that way.  If this is a new development for you, make sure you speak to your  Oncologist and get some plans in place to help mitigate the symptoms you will be feeling as they will be uncomfortable that is for sure.  Mine usually take time to go away along with the meds I get told to take to help. Again, there is a wealth of info on the site regarding these symptoms and are really helpful.  I wish you the best with your conversation with your team/Oncologist and hope that you have very few episodes of a partial bowel blockage let alone a full one. They can be scary when occuring due to the pain  you are in but when it passes it does feel so much better.  I hope you find this info helpful and do some reading prior to your appt with your  Oncologist.  This will help when discussing what to do should you have one. It will ease your mind and body that is for sure.  I hope you find the info useful and your Oncologist open to suggestions or tips/tricks to get you through  any and all episodes. I have been living with mine for over 2 years now and pray every time that they don't last long and pass quickly. Sticking to the low residue diet and liquid diet helps immensely too. Wishing you the best with your new development and finding ways to recover from any you have. Take care. 

Hi@BellaDonna1959, reading CT results can definitely be overwhelming before we've had a chance to review with the medical team. Was your CT routine e.g., part of your normal monitoring or were you having some symptoms that led to the CT?

@JoanEG comment is a good one. When do you speak to your medical team? Hopefully soon so you can get the clarity you need in what this all means. Thinking of you. 

Hopefully today they will call me back otherwise in 2 weeks in person.  Thanks

@BellaDonna1959 let's hope they call today. If not, why not call them. Nothing better than advocating for ourselves especially in situations like this. I would hope they would understand the anxiety that waiting can create. 

@BellaDonna1959   @Alwayslearning is right. Why not call them if you are not getting the answers you are looking for.  All they can say is "no". I doubt they will do that and do there best to answer any questions you might have at the time to help you understand your scan better. I am positive your Oncologist will help wherever they can to help you understand the outcome of the scan and what they can do to help. Try it and see what happens. It will be easier than worrying about it at every turn and the symptoms you might be having at the time. All the best to you and retrieving the answers you are looking for. Take care. 

@BellaDonna1959   How are you making out with decision making around partial bowel obstructions?  Have you been able to read any material and understand it better? Are you able to adjust your diet accordingly as well?  I sure hope so. It isn't easy to do in the beginnning but does become easier as time goes on. Or have you not had your appt with your Oncologist yet to discuss any of this? Whatever the reason, I wish you the best. Take care