Not doing well

Hi Tracy,

No cramps NOT normal, you should be cramp free and you should hear many stomach sounds as you are so empty. Also you should be outputting every time you swallow this early in the game. Even when my end stoma was new it farted audibly. Sounds like you are still in the ileus OR that you have the de nuvo (new) adhesions that your doc will lyse for you. BE REALLY GLAD he thought of this and did not just chalk you off to "slow guts" or extra long ileus and toss you out in the bad way you are. You have to hand it to this doc; he's a keeper. If you are having this complication, I am really glad you have the smart doc that you do. Best of luck and I hope things miraculously resolve on their own by tomorrow. Praying for you. Rosemary

Tracy,

I know how scared you must be. Especially tonight as nights are always the worst no matter what. Anyone in trouble and/or in places like hospitals have a touch of sundowners syndrome. I even have a touch of it at home. Thinking of you tonight. All my prayers, Rosemary

I did good yesterday and my output had increased and I was feeling better. DR came in today, early and we both thought I was on an upswing. WRONG

I threw up again today and have had severe pain. GAS pains is what I assume they are. It seems like I can't eat or drink anything because I will throw it back up eventually.

i AM SICK SIKC SICK AND I AM TIRED OF IT. Please pray for me. I am waiting for my dr to come in and see what he has planned.

Ct scan tonight or tomorrow if they can't get to me tonight. Thanks rosemary for following me thru this

Good Tracy, they need pictures. The CT scan should show if there is mechanical blockage such as a twisted intestine caught on an adhesion. Even then my doc said they can twist and untwist themselves. So even if the CT is done at the time the bowel is not twisted all will LOOK normal. Then when you are standing or have food going through you and you are in a different position, the bowel can retwist around the adhesion.

Do ask your doc about this if the pictures look normal. I was confused about this when my doc told me this. That is what he thought was my issue when I had the food blockage on mashed potato 2 years out from surgery. Your doc will likely be able to explain this phenomenon with some more clarity.

BUT if all looks good in the pics they might just assume long ileus. But do ask your doc about the above. Let me know when they do it and what they see. Your doc is right on. I have a good feeling that he will get to the bottom of this for you and see you through to health. Hang Ten, Rosemary

oh Tracy, poor thing.. hope your dr can figure it out soon! praying for you!

Tracy,

Good luck with the CT scan. They should be giving you Zofran antinausea meds every 15 minutes or so to coincide with the drinking of the CT oral contrast. Otherwise you will throw it up, that is a given. One time one of my ER nurses forgot to give me a dose of the zofran and I threw up all the contrast. THEN she yelled at ME. I said YOU were the one who did not come with the zofran when I rang the bell to remind you. She just grumped at me. Be strong and MAKE them come with the antinausea meds. That will help you hold down the contrast. They can't get good pics without it.

Yep, NPO sure feels good doesn't it? They SHOULD be giving you some short acting Ativan so you can get some sleep.

I am happy for you that you have family. You are right doing my whole 13 months of this alone AND then the lysis of adhesions and ileo 3 week ileus recovery all alone was not easy. Some friends did see me through some of it which was lucky. I had to pay them their hotel bills to do it, but oh well, you do what you gotta do. And I would not expect them to have the money to stay at nearby hotels for me as who would. All I know is that I could not go through it again, I just don't have it in me. I have no idea what I would do if I ever reobstructed. I don't have the strength to battle it all over again, that is why I worry so much and I think that is why I sleep so much, to escape the worry of recurrence. But, so far so good, and one day at a time.

Good luck to you. Let me know how it goes and ask for those antinausea and sleep meds I mentioned. Rosemary

Post Edited (esoR) : 6/30/2011 9:13:57 AM (GMT-6)

Hi Tracy,

Yeah, if it was iodine that has definite laxative properties and I would think that it would be "in the bag" by now. BUT, how do you feel? ANy nausea? If not, that may be a good thing. It is also a good thing that you were able to keep it down. So far this is good news. I am amazed you could keep it down. Glad they did the scan. Your doc is all good. Let me know if you keep it down and what time you start to see it in the bag. (I just had 3 cups of coffee and could spray paint the side of my house it's pouring out of me, but I am not recent post-op.) Hopefully soon you will be able to spray-paint your room at the hospital and get the heck out of there! Wishing your CT shows all OK and things speed up for you. Let me know what it shows and how you do. I will check in on my blackberry if I am out.

Hang in. THis has been soooo long this has got to be over the edge for you. Thinking of you always, Rosemary

Hey Tracy,

When are they going to read that CT scan? Tell them to hurry up I want to know how you're doing I had 2 pieces of bread for lunch....not a plan. I still don't have this diet down. I am going for ileostomy diet help and counseling and going to see a nutritionist, and a neurologist and an otolaryngologist about my dizziness. There have to be some diet regulations to follow even after one is healed. And I gotta find out why I'm so dizzy. It is getting me. Best wishes, hang in, and I will check back when I get back from an appointment I have. RJ

Oh yea and the contrast has not came out yet. I will probably throw it up. Ewww

i hope he has answers for you Tracy. why is your stoma swollen? can't wait for you to feel better!

The stoma is bigger than when we changed it last time. It is obvkiously rounder and fatter. I have not thrown up yet, but am nauseas. Miserable as hell