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post ileostomy reversal scar tissue issues?

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Posted 5/27/2012 11:29 PM (GMT 0)
Just wondering if anyone has had issues with scar tissue at their ileostomy site. I had my reversal almost 5 years ago now, and sometimes I eat something I shouldn't have and have trouble eliminating. I have learned to stay away from certain foods, like corn, cabbage, nuts, whole grains, hamburger etc. Just recently I have been having some pain and a lot of cramping. It feels like it is blocked a bit where I had the ileostomy. Last night I remembered I ate green beans a few days ago. I think this may have been the culprit. Anyone else have this experience??

I have read a lot of posts about trying to avoid diarrhea and just shake my head, because for me, diarrhea is normal. When I start to have solid stools is when I start to worry, because I tend to get backed up and very sick. In my case, I use stool softeners, and laxatives to keep it loose. I would rather have to go 20 times a day than get constipated! :-)
Posted 5/28/2012 5:38 AM (GMT 0)
Auugh! scar tissue is my middle name. I had to get an ileostomy due to scar tissue from a GYN surgery. NOW four years out I am getting scar tissue and stenosis at the stoma AND nobody wants to deal with it. Having to live on liquids as the stoma is squeezed in so much. I'm not going to last forever on Boost and Ensure. SCARY!

Good luck. Rosemary
Posted 5/28/2012 7:21 PM (GMT 0)
Hi there.. sorry to hear you're having such trouble. I can't comment from personal experience as I still have my ileo, but it might be helpful if you could explain what surgery you had and for what? I'm guessing you had most of your colon removed?

Something doesn't sound right though and could be a stricture, adhesions or some sort of dysmotility? Have you had anything investigated??

Sounds like you may need to have some tests..
Posted 5/28/2012 10:43 PM (GMT 0)
thanks for your replies. I had colon cancer and yes I had most of my colon removed. I had a colostomy first, then when they did the surgery to reverse that, they found too much scar tissue, so they gave me the ileostomy to allow the other to heal. After about 6 weeks or so, I had the reversal for the ileostomy, and for the most part I do fine. Just occasionally, if I eat something I shouldn't, I go back to having the gas pain, bloating thing, and trouble eliminating. For example, I absolutely cannot eat sauerkraut, or corn. Hamburger tends to cause me issues, but not steak so much so I think it is the fat in the hamburger maybe??? (or the pink slime. haha) I haven't even tried celery, pretty sure that would be a mistake! Nuts sometimes don't go through well. I haven't seen a doctor for quite awhile... no insurance, no job, and no money kind of makes that tough. :-) but if it continues to give me trouble, I will probably have to do that.

It has been 5 years since my initial surgery, and in September it will be 5 years since the last one. Like I said, most of the time I am fine... just was curious if anyone else had similar experiences this long after surgery, and wondered if it will ever get any better. Guess I should be glad it isn't worse. I don't think I could handle a permanent ostomy. I pray I don't have to find out!!!! And Kudos... to those of you that have them. It certainly changes your life.
Posted 5/29/2012 7:48 PM (GMT 0)
Do you always have problems after certain foods? if that's the case, you should be able to avoid things that cause problems. Try doing a food/symptom diary for a while.

I don't think there's anyone on here that has had bowel surgery of some sort that eats a perfectly normal diet ever again. It's trial and error for sure and we all have our cross to bear. Bowels do not like being tampered with. It's annoying, but hopefully should be manageable with a little dietary management.

Sounds like you have adhesions and scar tissue, but so long as you don't get an obstruction you'll be fine if you can figure out the foods that cause trouble and then avoid them.

I struggle with anything high fibre, skins on fruit (apples, cherries, grapes etc), baked potato, most red meat, burgers sausages, nuts, corn, celery, carrots (go figure!) and alcohol.. boo!

A permanent ostomy isn't so bad.. it's given me my life back and is a state of mind. Many people have much worse to contend with.

If things get worse or you're getting problems when not eating your problems foods, then possibly get checked out.

Good luck and keep us posted
Posted 5/30/2012 3:53 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks again Sarah.. I do know most of the foods that give me issues.. I haven't noticed a problem with baked potato's or carrots, but the rest of the stuff on your list is not good for me either, along with sauerkraut, and pizza. I did have sausages and some beer the day before my latest issues, so maybe that was it along with the green beans. Haven't had any alcohol since either. Kinda scared. lol. I guess I have been managing ok for the most part for awhile now, but this last episode kind of came out of the blue I thought. So I got a little freaked out. Now that I have a few foods to blame I feel much better! The problems are almost gone again now, so all is well.

thanks for the advice and help. Will keep this forum bookmarked and check in once in awhile. :-)
Posted 5/31/2012 4:22 AM (GMT 0)
Hi! I had a total colectomy in November of last year and was reconnected...I just wanted to let you know I also feel much better when I have diarrhea-like stools...and lots of foods seem to bother me. I'm dealing with it ok - but I just wanted to let you know you're not the only one!

If I may ask, what types of stool softeners/laxatives work for you? I take Milk of Magnesia every night but lately I've been having quite a bit of bloating.

Allie
Posted 5/31/2012 10:52 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Allie,

I use dulcolax occasionally when I start to feel the need. I also have some "Rugby" stool softener that I have used occasionally. These seem to do the trick ok for me. I definitely would never take anything to make my stool more solid, but only because I have had a few bouts of constipation that were very very very unpleasant! (It has to come out one way or the other.....and if it can't get out the usual way... well.. yeah. yuck!!! No fun) I guess I shouldn't say never tho, because you don't know what could happen, but anyway.

Hope things start to get better for you too.. I have been at this for awhile now, and still get a surprise once in awhile. Then sometimes foods that bothered me at the beginning are fine now... so .. trial and error I guess.
Posted 1/12/2022 1:53 PM (GMT 0)
Scar tissue from any surgery can wreak havoc on the movement of and resting placement of the visceral components of the abdomen, including the intestines. I had an open iliestomy after the robotic procedure was abandoned because of my sigmoid colon rupture and adhesion to the wall of the pelvis. The incision from by belly button to the pubic bone left me with significant depth of scar tissue all the way down to the spine. Since I have been trained as a physical therapist in visceral mobilizations, I took it upon myself to mobilize the scar tissue and have had great results. The same can be said after any surgery. The tissue most often mobilized is fascia which is the continuous tissue that holds everything in its place in our bodies. Think of it as a body stocking with invaginations through each cavity and around each organ, bone, nerve, artery and vein. When scarring occurs, the fascia becomes less mobile and can constrict and restrict movement of the organs or body parts making movement and positioning painful and difficult. Find a good manual physical therapist who has training and experience in visceral mobilization and get those tissues mobilized. The run of the mill PT is not trained in this technique, make sure that you ask for someone who has visceral mobilization.
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