Hi,

I guess this is a no brainer but Mark hasn't produce any output from his stoma since 6pm last night (14 hours ago). We did what others on the site suggested with hot drinks, hot compress, grape juice, etc...We've called into the surgeon and are waiting a call back, in the meantime I'm rather nervous about where this could head. His symptoms are:

Vomitting (4 times)
No output at all
Cramping
The day before the problems he had tons of liquid output, then right before 6pm yesterday he had really thick like hay output and then nothing.

I'm nervous since he is only 5 weeks out from his 1st surgery and he is new to the temp ileo gig.

Does this sound like a normal blockage that will work itself out? Are there specific symptoms for blockages that need surgery?

Thanks,
Megan

It definitely sounds like a total blockage at this point. Generally the rule of thumb is if the pain get unbearable or you start vomiting it is time to get yourself to the ER. As he has vomited four times with no improvement I would say he should be seen right away. I imagine this is what his surgeon will say as well. If you haven't try massaging his stomach some. This always helps get things moving for me. Also try getting on all fours with his head close to the ground and his butt in the air and rock back and forth. It looks funny butt can help loosen things up. Don't let this go on much longer if he keeps vomiting without being seen either by his surgeon or the ER.

Definitely get to the ER...sounds like a blockage. They'll most likely put an NG tube in, which is not fun, but usually necessary. It helps to sip water as they get it down your throat...makes it go down easier. Please keep us posted!

Hi,

Thanks for your responses and advice.

Michelle, I know you had an obstruction surgery, was it with your temp ileo? What were your symptoms, etc..?

Is surgery usually the case for a total blockage?

Megan

The ostomy nurse should have given him instructions if he got a blockage but this seems pretty serious with the vomitting.

definitely sip water or swallow ice chips as the NG tube is placed. if they have trouble getting it in see if they can give him something to relax before they put it in. that helped with me, i had a really hard time.

Hi Megan -

First off - don't jump just yet to the surgery conclusion. This is often the "last resort" with a blockage.

The important thing is to get to the ER pronto -and let them take it from there. If possible, have your surgeon call ahead and/or go to the hospital he does surgery at, that way they have a better understanding of your husband's surgery.

I had a near total obstruction in May; went to the ER after vomiting 5 or 6 times, was put on pain meds and sat there for two days. Then the obstruction resolved itself. Note: I refused the NG tube and did just fine, but your husband may want it.

Another note: no obstruction showed up on the CT scan they did. So, don't be surprised/alarmed if they do tests and can't find anything. That doesn't mean it isn't there.

Good luck!!!

Is he moving around? I know how difficult it is to actually move when experiencing a blockage, but it really does help. Get him on all fours and (you) grab his hips and swing them (pretty forceably) side to side. Do you have a pug (or other lap tumor type dog) hanging around? If so, have Mark ignore the lap tumor and when he does that she'll jump right onto his extremely painful tummy and dislodge the blockage. This is how my last partial blockage was resolved.

But as everyone else mentioned, it may be time for the ER if he's vomiting and has absolutely no output. Does that also mean there's no gas as well?

I hope this goes away very soon. Also tell Mark that he'll have abdominal pain for a few days after the resolution of the blockage because those peristalsis muscles are quite insistent. But it's only muscle pain he'll have, nothing serious.

Was there something he ate that could be the cause?

kathy

Lisa R. thanks for the information, super helpful to hear!

Hahaha, a lap type dog with do the trick. No, we do not unfortunately. He has been walking around and doing the hip swing but obviously he doesn't have enough swing

We spoke with the ostomy nurse, and she wanted him to shower first w/out the bag and see if the blockage isn't right at the stoma. Then give it an hour and if nothing go to the ER.

He is burbing so he is passing gas fairly regularly but none through the stoma. Stoma hasn't moved in a while.

Yes, he added cereal two days ago and decided to be risky and have a bowl of raisan bran. We talked about it before he ate but thought he has to try adding new foods at some point, and 5 wks post op and no trouble thus far so it seemed okay. And then yesterday he did eat a tomato from our garden. It is hard to say no to a garden ripe tomato.

Is it standard protocol to keep you in the ER until the blockage has passed?



Megan

Mark/Megan,

Yes, I did have to have surgery for an obstruction after step 2, however, this is not the norm. Normally what will happen is they'll put the NG tube down and Mark will be NPO (no food or drink allowed), until the stoma starts with some output and then they'll introduce clear liquids, followed by soft foods, etc. Much like after surgery. My obstruction was related to a loop of the small bowel that had herniated under the pelvic floor due to some sutures failing, rather than food, so I don't want you to panic and think this means more surgery for you. Usually a couple of days with the NG tube and you're set.
Hope all goes well!

Excellent news, a hot shower and hot tea helped move his blockage along, and after 16 hours he started pooping again full force and with a vengence.

Thanks again Michelle. I am unfortunately a person who needs to understand 'worst case scenario' so that I don't write stories from misinformation and make it worse than what the reality could be.

Thank you everyone for your responses, we TOTALLY appreciate it beyond words!

I am glad to hear the problem resolved itself.
Take care!

Mark,
So glad to hear your blockage is gone and you are moving along! Hope all is well in baggy land
Do you think it was the raisins? I have been having pop tarts and rice krispie treats with marshmallows for breakfast - trying to gain weight so junk food is o.k. for me.
David

Hi David,

You know, it is hard to say what caused this, but I can say that it was not fun. I had been doing so well with everything, so I ate a little Raisan Bran and chewed really well. I then proceeded to watch the raisan parts be expelled with what I thought was no problem. I'm starting to think maybe it was just too much fiber from eating the 'bran' cereal or a technical clitch with my bag choking my stoma? My ostomy nurse had told me this morning to take off my bag and take a long hot shower in case there was something with the bag causing stoma closure. She then said to drink hot tea, and right after doing both those things 'stumpy' started spitting out waste and no raisan in sight.

As for your diet of pop tarts and rk treats, remember your heart health so that you can have many healthy years with your family and jpouch

quote:

As for your diet of pop tarts and rk treats, remember your heart health so that you can have many healthy years with your family and jpouch

The junk food is just a temp thing. I am not that much of a breakfast eater but I need something first thing or my stomache aches. I only eat 1 pop tart most days. Trying to find foods that are kinda bland and don't produce too much output but have alot of calories. Need to put on some weight somehow. Seems like I am emptying the bag or going to the restroom to empty the pouch alot. Using the Phoenix belt helps because it holds up the bag and gives alot of support so I am not emptying as much but I still need to empty the bag or my pouch every 1-2 hours during the day. Do most people empty that much????
Still trying to figure out the "stoma" diet. I have come across quite a few foods that are not stoma friendly. I am always interested in what other people on this site eat. T.D. is 2 months away anyhow so I am too concerned.
David

David,

I hear you on getting calories from the bland foods and trying to eat more frequently. I'm still used UC where when I eat I'm quickly punished for my doing so.

I'm pretty slight in weight and I only gain weight with a balance of high carbs and low protein. My diet so far is TONS of bread (carbs put on weight for me), peanut butter, meat and bread sandwich. Dinner is a meat and rice or potato with bread. I've tried many meats so far ranging from chicken, ham, beef and I think this is working out okay. Also, eating cheese and crackers. I learned to not like food with UC so my breadth of food is small yet.

The only fruit/veggies so far I tried have been some melon, berries b/c I couldn't resist. And then the raisan thing. I also have been doing tomato b/c I want to enjoy them before takedown.

My question is about how similiar will my movements with the stoma be to my movements with the pouch in the beginning? I'm empyting pouch every 2-3 hours and consistency varies.