5 days after surgery, cannot empty jpouch

Hopefully by now, he is back in the hospital. Sounds like he developed a delayed ileus. A setback, but not too uncommon.

Jan

how is he?

Any updates? I am praying that he was able to get relief and is now back on Track with his healing.

Thank you all for asking about my husband. It turns out that he needed to be dilated. Since that day in June, he has had to be dilated three times. He is MISERABLE!! He is unwilling to eat, go for a walk, anything! BM's are a long slow painful process. Nothing is helping. The surgeon put him on Phazyme and Colace, and maintains that my husband is experiencing normal symptoms and that there is no cause for concern. Does anyone have any advice? I would love to help this healing process along!

I had to be dilated five times. After about the third dilation it was much easier for me to empty. Then it just got better from there. I haven't had any issues since then and that was almost four years ago. But those first few months I had a hard time emptying because the stricture kept forming. The doctor is correct in that this is a common occurrence with this surgery. I don't recall feeling poorly though. I hope your hubby feels better soon and the stricture gets resolved.

Seems rather odd that they did not check for a stricture while he was anesthetized for his take-down. I thought that was routine. I hope he does not need more intervention. Maybe he needs a second opinion if his surgeon is dismissing his symptoms.

Jan

Jan,
I'm not sure I was checked at time of surgery either. I never asked. I had trouble emptying right from the get go. But I had no clue at the time. Since then I learned a ton just from these forums! Had I known about strictures, I would have inquired with my surgeon right away instead of waiting a month to say something.

I know I wasn't checked, but I had a 1-step and no ostomy, so I was using my pouch before there was time for a stricture to form.

I guess each surgeon has his own protocol. It just seems like it would make sense to check it after the ostomy is taken down and you are under the anesthesia. That way, if dilation is needed, there is no pain.

Jan

Are you sure he wasn't checked at take-down? I was checked and dilated even though they didn't see a formal stricture. I have been dilated twice since then and have another one scheduled Aug 6th because of trouble emptying.

At my last endoscopy/dilation, my surgeon said my pouch connection might be angled ever so slightly which is what is causing my problems emptying. He is checking it again on Aug 6th and he's hoping another dilation will do the trick. The third dilation did help but I still have to strain to empty.

If dilation doesn't work this time, he said he is going to move my pouch connection down about 1/2 inch and straighten the connection. He thinks that will help.

Although he still thinks my uterus may be causing some of my problems too - so after my next dilation and possible surgery to move the pouch connection, I may have to have a hysterectomy.

Maybe your husband was dilated at takedown and they just didn't mention it because they consider it standard procedure. Do you think that could be possible?

My surgeon made it sound like connection adjustments are pretty normal too. I hope dilation works for your hubby. I'm not sure but it sounds like he is facing a pretty common problem.

Good luck!

Before I was released from the hospital after the take down,the surgeon peeked in an tried to dilate.It was extremely painful.So they had to put me under for like 5 minutes to dilate.Whew !!
I like Jan's suggestion,they should check while you're still under.

They did check him during the take down, and dilated him while they were in there. From what the surgeon says, it is common to have to do this frequently after the take-down occurs until the new plumbing becomes accustomed to its new role. Do you guys have any suggestions on things that were easy for you to eat and digest? We are doing the low residue, but it is not very appetizing for him. So far he haslost over 40 lbs, (6 foot tall, 210 normally)and I am trying to get the nutrition into him. It just doesnt seem to be working.

I'm sorry he continues to have trouble but I do too so I completely understand. I am a vegetarian so don't eat meat at all but I do the best with yogurt, cheese sandwiches, cheese pizza and fried rice. Oatmeal and toast is pretty good too.

It sounds very strange but BM's are also a bit easier if I kind of round my lower back and lean back toward the toilet lid a little bit. Almost like the position a female gets into to wipe after urinating. It seems to put things more in line or something and the BM's flow better.

I don't blame him for not wanting to go for walks. I've been out but for very short distances. I am still very concerned about the availability of a bathroom.

I haven't heard of those meds that your husband is on, what are they for? I asked my Dr. About Lomotil and be doesn't want me to take anything at this point.

Peel the apple skins off, don't eat popcorn, and be careful with nuts..