Otis Boykin. An ink drawing of Otis Boykin from a U.S. DEPARTMENT of Energy biographical sketch of 1979. Otis Bobby Boykin (August 29, 1920, Dallas, Texas â March 13, 1982, Chicago, Illinois) was an American inventor and engineer.
Without any fluids (either as sips, ice chips or intravenously) people with a complete bowel obstruction most often survive a week or two. Sometimes itâs only a few days, sometimes as long as three weeks. With fluids, survival time may be extended by a few weeks or even a month or two. With a bowel obstruction, things may go better than expected, but itâs important to prepare for sudden, unexpected changes.
Medically speaking, constipation usually is defined as fewer than three bowel movements per week. Severe constipation is defined as less than one bowel movement per week. There is no medical reason to have one bowel movement every day. Going without one for two or three days does not cause physical discomfort, only mental distress (in some people).