Medical history (history of illness) represents an important component in the diagnosis of ileus (bowel obstruction).
Family history
Social history
Current anamnesis/systemic anamnesis (somatic and psychological complaints).
- Do you suffer from abdominal pain and nausea/vomiting?*
- Have you noticed a very distended abdomen?
- How long have these symptoms been present?
- When did you last have a bowel movement? What did this look like? Liquid or solid? Blood or mucus accumulation?*
- Did the pain change in intensity?*
- Where exactly is the pain localized? Does the pain radiate?
- What is the character of the pain? Stabbing, dull, burning, tearing, colicky, etc.?*
- When does the pain occur? Are you dependent on external factors such as diet, stress, weather?
Vegetative anamnesis incl. nutritional anamnesis.
- Has your appetite changed?
- Have you lost body weight unintentionally?
- Have you noticed any changes in urination, the amount and appearance of urine?
- Do you smoke? If so, how many cigarettes, cigars, or pipes per day?
- Do you drink alcohol? If yes, what drink(s) and how many glasses per day?
- Do you use drugs? If yes, what drugs and how often per day or per week?
Self history incl. medication history.
- Pre-existing conditions (gastrointestinal diseases, diabetes mellitus (diabetes)).
- Operations (previous operations?)
- Allergies
- Pregnancy
Medication history
- Antidepressants – medications such as amitrityline that are used primarily for depression.
- Catecholamines
- Opioid analgesics – strong pain medications such as morphine → opioid-induced constipation or opioid-induced ileus.
- Neuroleptics (antipsychotics) – drugs that have sedative and antipsychotic effects.
- Parkinson’s drugs
- Tranquilizers – psychotropic drugs that have both anxiety-relieving and relaxing effects.
* If this question has been answered with “Yes”, an immediate visit to the doctor is required! (Information without guarantee)
