How soon is realistic to hope for it to wake up? If I hear my stomach gurgle or feel the urge to belch are those good signs or not meaningful?
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Bowel noises are good. That's what they're looking for. Fart watch is commencing.
kathy
kathy
The normal return of peristalsis is 24-72 hours after surgery. If it goes towards 72 hours and your bag has not started filling up, you need to step up your walking effort. Good luck with that.
Thanks you two. I am clearly being way too Type A about this. 10 laps logged so far but it's good to know there's really no way it would start this soon, so I can stop anticipating (it's only been 15 hours)... 
Liz-
I am sure you will be fine on this, but in my case I went to about 96 hours or more when the ileus symptoms hit full force. At the time I had my surgery (1992), the Internet had not yet been invented by Al Gore, nobody told me about ileus or what it was, and I did not know what was happening to me until it was explained later on after the fact. I was vaguely aware that the intestines shut down and then woke up after surgery, but what I did not know were the consequences of what happens to one physically if that process is delayed.
Keep doing your type A walking and I am sure you will be fine. I would also suggest taking the bare minimum pain meds necessary for you to feel comfortable.
I am sure you will be fine on this, but in my case I went to about 96 hours or more when the ileus symptoms hit full force. At the time I had my surgery (1992), the Internet had not yet been invented by Al Gore, nobody told me about ileus or what it was, and I did not know what was happening to me until it was explained later on after the fact. I was vaguely aware that the intestines shut down and then woke up after surgery, but what I did not know were the consequences of what happens to one physically if that process is delayed.
Keep doing your type A walking and I am sure you will be fine. I would also suggest taking the bare minimum pain meds necessary for you to feel comfortable.
I had a single-stage procedure, which is a different thing entirely, but it took 10 days for things to get moving. I'm sure your wait will be shorter. You'll be fine in any case.
Stoma started rumbling about two hours ago and is sporadically passing gas and brown/green liquid now. Yay!!
Congratulations on the tummy rumbles and the liquid coming out...great sign...keep up the walking.
Sharon
Sharon
Glad you are recovering.
Hope you were able to get into a room by now.
We know how crowded it is there!
Take care
Hope you were able to get into a room by now.
We know how crowded it is there!
Take care
Thanks all! I had clear liquid diet today and the stoma has been handling everything like a champ. I am a little bloated now so just rubbing my tummy and trying to shift around a little to get those little burps out.
beckysmom, you aren't kidding. Some of the single rooms on 14, mine included, have been converted into double occupancy... it wouldn't be so bad except for when we're both waiting for our fluids to be collected/measured. Yuck!
beckysmom, you aren't kidding. Some of the single rooms on 14, mine included, have been converted into double occupancy... it wouldn't be so bad except for when we're both waiting for our fluids to be collected/measured. Yuck!
A feeling of being bloated would be normal right about now. It's good to hear that peristalsis seems to have returned quickly in your case.
Quick question GI gurus! I'm getting GI soft solids today. One of the foods they are bringing me is yogurt, but it's the sugary Dannon kind that I hate. Do you guys think Fage greek yogurt would be OK if I smuggle some in?
I don't see how substituting one yogurt for another would be a problem. I would suggest you be careful and eat small quantities of each new food you add to your diet. When I had the temporary ileostomy the only real problem food I ate was raw carrots, which caused a blockage.
I agree with CT, just be mindful what you eat. And be careful when they switch you to solid foods. Sometimes I don't think the people preparing the meals have clue what kind of surgery we had. One of my first meals was lasagna. I sent it back thankfully and asked for something much more bland.
Absolutely substitute good yogurt for that horrid Dannon! I can't believe they even serve it.
kathy
kathy
Ha ha Holly. They did the same thing to me with the lasagna! Wth?? Problem was I, like an idiot, ate it.
Sigh... having a bit of a setback... I haven't had any stoma output since before lunch, about six hours ago. I had a pretty light lunch -- a few bites of mashed potato, some cottage cheese, some chicken soup and then went for a long walk hoping to get things moving before I started eating again. Still waiting. Until then I'm back on clears.
They were talking about doubling up on the rooms when my daughter was there.
Are you drinking enough? Well, I guess so now that they have you back on liquids. The food they serve in hospitals always amazes me. The jello is always RED and then they ask have you seen any blood in your stool? Get another color jello! I was always running to the store for my daughter.
Hopefully things will be moving again shortly for you
Are you drinking enough? Well, I guess so now that they have you back on liquids. The food they serve in hospitals always amazes me. The jello is always RED and then they ask have you seen any blood in your stool? Get another color jello! I was always running to the store for my daughter.
Hopefully things will be moving again shortly for you