Another question

Nora S.Member

You all are so informative, I'm learning tons and getting information on what to expect.
Here's my question-I'm 3 months out from my colon removal. I have a mucous fistula right at the top of the pubic bone where I had a rectal stub blow out and it seems like it's oozing more and more. I'm finding that I'm nauseated all the time lately. I can eat very little until I'm full due to the nausea. I still have a good amount of pain in the wound area also. I take Tramadol for the pain and Phenergan for the nausea but it isn't helping, I feel like I'm going to throw up all the time and it's really wearing on me. Any ideas on how to alleviate the nausea? I tried bland, still sick. Nothing seems to work! Help!!
I thought it was the Tramadol at first but I've taken it many times before and never got nauseated. My surgeon wants me to add weight since I lost 65 pounds in about 6 weeks prior to the surgery. I was close to dying and was extremely ill. But, if I can't eat, I can't put weight on and I'm worried it'll delay my 2nd surgery. Any advice? Thanks to all of you, this is a great forum!

6/13/154:14 PM

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Scott FMember

Are you taking any other meds? Nausea is a very common medication side effect. And it really could be the Tramadol, in spite of earlier successes with it.

6/13/156:13 PM

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Nora S.Member

Just Prilosec, Biotin, iron, multi vitamin.
But, I'm nauseated even if I don't take the Tramadol. I am just tired of it. Any idea of what might work well and won't affect the bag?
I cod stop the Tramadol but it does a good job controlling my pain right now. Could my nausea gave sandy thing to do with the mucous fistula?

6/13/156:28 PM

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rachelravenMember

There are other meds that work for nausea. Zofran (ondansetron) works better in some folks. Maybe ask for a change of meds. Iron and multivitamins can upset the stomach, too. Do you take them on an empty stomach? That increases the likelihood of nausea.

6/13/158:37 PM

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Nora S.Member

I do take all my meds with some food, even if its just a piece of bread.
Zofran doesn't work for me, the Phenergan seems to work the best for me. The nausea is getting worse every day! I am so amazed at what your body goes through from the disease and the surgery.

6/13/158:41 PM

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rachelravenMember

There are tons of other meds for nausea. We actually would give Ativan and Benedryl to patients for nausea in the bone marrow transplant and oncology units, with good results. What about Reglan or Compazine? Tigan is another one.

6/13/159:35 PM

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jodiloveslifeMember

So sorry you are feeling crappy. Maybe you are dehydrated. A few months after my colectomy, I became nauseated all the time (drove me nuts) and the nausea was the start of dehydration. Just a thought Hope you find relief soon!

6/13/1510:18 PM

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Nora S.Member

I've tried Compazine and it works pretty good, haven't tried Reglan.
I drink probably a gallon or more of water a day, it's the only liquid I consume with the exception of a diet Dr. Pepper every now and then, so I don't think I'm dehydrated. Food just doesn't seem appealing anymore, one or two bites and that's it, I'm done because the nausea hits. If I take a Phenergan prior to eating, I can take maybe 5 bites before I'm nauseated. And, before all of this illness and surgery, I was a big eater, loved to eat and just munch, especially while reading or watching TV. Bums me out that I have very little appetite now. But, on the positive side of it, I'm keeping weight off and not gaining any!!!! I gotta look for those little silver linings wherever they are!

6/13/1510:40 PM

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JeffsmomMember

Nora, I'm so sorry you are so nauseasted. After my son's take down he developed an abscess and fistula. They are extremely painful, at least according to him. He lost over 100 lbs in the last 12 months, which was great for him! I would think that they will have to get rid of the fistulia first. Theses things are nasty. If you need to put on a few lbs. try ice cream or frozen yogurt. That might be easy on the stomach.

Fell better.

6/14/159:20 AM

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Banks2015Member

Originally Posted by Jeffsmom:

Fell better.

I think what she means by mucus fistula is that her colon wasn't fully removed so she has two stomas and two ostomy bags(one on each side) and the blood and mucus from her remaining colon goes out through the second opening. I have the same issue, what I've noticed from this forum is the Americans have their surgery in two stages and the UK posters have their surgery in three stages. So there is no sub total colectomy in the USA, I asked my doctor why my surgery was in three stages and he said for safety purposes.

6/14/159:37 AM

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Nora S.Member

I only have one stoma and bag. The fistula is right at the top of my pubic bone and, I hate to be too graphic, but it's open to the anus. It is meant to stay open and it oozes blood and bowel.
It probably is what's making me nauseous all the time. I used to like food, loved to eat, but since the illness began and I found I couldn't eat I guess I lost that attraction to food. I open the fridge and about gag at the food smells. I can however drink a Walgreens brand of Ensure. I don't like regular Ensure or Boost and when I was super sick prior to surgery I threw up a Carnation Instant Breakfast, so I can't drink milk anymore.
I'll try some ice cream, it's easy on the stomach and hopefully I can eat it!!!

6/14/1512:23 PM

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Banks2015Member

By mucous fistula I'm assuming your meaning this

https://www.oakmed.co.uk/wizard/mucousFistula.asp

This is what I've had, I use a pouch instead of a cap because it oozes too much blood and mucus from the UC.They give you suppositories for it but the inflammation comes back so I forgot about it.

6/14/1512:52 PM

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Nora S.Member

No, that's not what it looks like or what it appears to be. That's what the surgeon said it was. It's an open wound at the top of my pubic area that apparently opens up to the rectal stub and then out the end of the anus. But the surgeon said it was a mucous fistula.

6/14/151:27 PM

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Scott FMember

It may be effectively the same thing as a surgically created (intentional) mucous fistula, even though in this case it's a misbehaving GI tract. At any rate, I'm thinking about what might be causing your nausea. Does the fistula smell bad? Was it making you very upset before (or when) the nausea started? Do you have a fever or any other signs of systemic infection?

A common GI cause of ongoing nausea is gastritis. That's normally treated by significant doses of anti-heartburn medication (e.g. Zantac or Prilosec) for a few weeks. Nausea can be the only sign, but do you happen to have a bellyache?

6/14/158:11 PM

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Nora S.Member

No stomach ache and it's too low to have anything to do with my stomach. I do take Prilosec.
I think it stinks but wound care at the hospital, I go twice a month for them to check it, they say it looks great!

6/14/158:59 PM

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