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Posted 9/5/2011 6:18 PM (GMT 0)
Is it possible to have a blockage without any nausea/throwing up?

Friday I ended up back in the hospital about a week after having surgery. I was mostly concerned with the agonizing pain I was having at the JP drain site (oddly enough when they did the CAT scan problems were found elsewhere but nothing was wrong where the drain had been). Today around 11 I started having throbbing pains around/beneath my stoma and I haven't had output for a few hours. The doctor that stopped by told me that according to blood work I was getting better and it was probably a combination of fluid they found on Friday and me getting my period today. She said that if I had a blockage I would be nauseous.

Oh, and they found some partial blood clots that they weren't too worried about but I have been on Heparin through the IV for a couple of days now.

Any thoughts?
Posted 9/5/2011 7:11 PM (GMT 0)
During the blockages I've had, I am just in pain at first for like a few hours until it gets like 8 hours in, and I am nauseous.
Posted 9/5/2011 9:37 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks for replying, 80sChick!
So I might be partially blocked, yes? Even if nausea has yet to hit me? I just can't imagine what else this pain could be. A tiny bit of fluid has come out in the past couple of hours (after hours of no activity) but I usually have WAY more output than this. I also have a mild fever, and pain meds so far have done nothing to help with the pain. It also hurts a lot more when I walk.
Posted 9/6/2011 12:49 AM (GMT 0)
Definitely possible, Sana...

Have they done any tests? Every time I've had an obstruction they always take an xray (don't get how that shows anything) and then also a ct scan where I have to drink contrast.
Posted 9/6/2011 1:30 AM (GMT 0)
The doctor that came to see me didn't want to do any x-rays because I am scheduled for a CAT scan tomorrow morning. But a bit earlier some output finally pushed through and I do feel better (just not 100%), even though the area is really sore now and I feel like there's more that needs to get through. I almost feel like saying "I told you so" to the doctors because every time I mentioned a blockage they shrugged it off like it wasn't even a possibility.

Ugh, I never had any of these problems with my end ileo.
Posted 9/6/2011 3:55 AM (GMT 0)
Nettie,

I just hate it when docs just blow off what we say. WE are the experts, WE are the ones with the issue! Normally they do a standing and a lying down Xray. Then the CT scan. You may have either a food blockage or an adhesion (scar tissue) blockage.

My story way too long, but prior to getting adhesions cut off of my small intestine and a permanent end ileostomy, when I got small bowel obstructions the pain would come in waves over the naval, I would really bloat, all gas and stool would stop passing, then I would throw up what I'd eaten and even "food" I hadn't eaten, then poop.

I have heard of docs looking right at patients who are throwing up poop through an NG tube saying, "There's nothing wrong with you." It is an unbelievable medical world sometimes with some (certainly not all) medical people. Hang In, I'm sure the CT scan will show something.

Do they use adhesion barriers (like Seprafilm or some adhesion prevention spray) if your surgeries are done lap? the more surgery one has, the more likely they are to get adhesions that can cause obstruction or pain. Maybe that was why you were fine with your end ileo?????

Good luck. You are soooooo young to have to deal with all of this. Bless you. Rosemary
Posted 9/7/2011 4:22 PM (GMT 0)
Hi I don't know I have not had the surgery, I have a ileostomy and have only ever had one blockage and felt sick and was sick, sorry I wish I could help, good luck.
Posted 9/7/2011 4:45 PM (GMT 0)
Rosemary, thank you so much for your reply! I do think it was a blockage. And the CT scan only showed small fluid collections that they later sucked out with a big needle (I don't know if any of these were causing some of the pain?). But I am now very suspicious that this loop ileo is a lot more narrow and the opening is not as easy to pass through as the one on my end ileostomy. I ate whatever I wanted to when I had my end ileo, now I'm going to have to be more cafeful. Also, I never did get nauseous so I think it might have only been a partial blockage.
I have never heard of adhesion barriers, I don't think...

Thanks, RarelySeen!
Posted 9/7/2011 5:15 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Sana, I am glad it is better, I hope you have no more problems, personally I have never chewed so much in my life and I am not sure my teeth are going to hold out at all as I don't have many left idea all i can say is chew chew chew that seems to be working for me cool God bless and good luck..
Posted 9/7/2011 6:00 PM (GMT 0)
The other night when I was blocked up, I had some gas and liquid come through but mainly I just had really bad pain, then when it finally loosened up I felt like someone had gone through my insides and scraped them out. It just ached for a while.
Posted 9/7/2011 10:25 PM (GMT 0)
Does anyone take Milk of Magnesia for blockages? I read *somewhere* that it's ok to take a couple T if you get blocked. I was thinking a tablespoon or 2 a night would prevent blockages??? And someone on here (or some other ostomy forum...) uses mineral oil, a couple T a night to keep things flowing. I plan to ask the surgeon if it's alright to use Milk of Magnesia as a preventative. I'm totally paranoid about a blockage, have awful thought of getting one & things just not loosening up! So basically, your stoma should have semi-solid output about an hour or so after you eat, every time? Does it ever just put stuff out when you haven't eaten in 5-6 hours? And as long as you see stool coming thru, there's no blockage? Sana, I know next to nothing about ileos, but I bet you're right, the loop ileo is smaller than an end ileo. Makes sense! Glad to hear things are moving again!
Posted 9/8/2011 12:45 AM (GMT 0)
There is normally always something going into the bag with an ileo and an increase after eating. If you drink a lot of grape juice LOTS moves really fast then the bag fills and fills with grape juice. Grape juice is the Laxative of the Day for ileostomates. I have and end ileo and have had 2 blockages on mashed potato. I had to walk for about 6 or 8 hours and drink a TON of hot tea then the mashed potato shot out into the bag ALL AT ONCE!! THANK GOD!

Now potato will never cross my lips again. I take a LOT of vitamins and supplements and eat very bland. Scrambled egg, white toast, cream of rice cereal, yogurts, frozen yogurt, baby food meats. I got REALLY into ice cream and gained a TON of weight I now have to take off. I miss being able to eat salads, etc. Some people with ileos still eat normal bit I can't go I just go with it and get a lot of blood work done then take supplements.

Good luck to you. Rosemary
Posted 9/10/2011 12:55 AM (GMT 0)
I think that output varies a lot for everyone. It is not unusual for me to go a couple of hours with little or nothing coming out. Typically I have to empty in the morning, and then again about 30 minutes after breakfast. I will then have 2-3 hours with pretty much no output. This is the time of day when I usually run, so I think that has something to do with it....but even on the days I don't I still go quite awhile.

I seem to have a pattern of needing to empty about 20 minutes after a meal (always food from the previous meal) and then very little or no activity until I eat again. Then the action of eating the new food seems to stimulate things and move the food from the previous meal on through. I am pretty thick and low output though, so this might not apply to everyone. Just sharing to give another view on how everyone is different.
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