Posted 7/11/2012 2:42 AM (GMT 0)
I had a blockage that was first thought to be ileus right after my colostomy. The gut wouldn't work for a few days so I was given a barium swallow CT. The barium didn't go anywhere. I had another swallow with gastrografin on about day 10. They went up the colostomy and found no blockage in the large intestine. But there was blockage right at the junction with small bowel. I won't take barium anymore because it's hard to remove if it doesn't pass and can cause serious problems if there's a leak into the abdomen.
I had a second surgery to remove parts of small bowel and the blockage. I was on TPN for the next 2 weeks. I am rxtremely sensitive to sulfites, so I had to ask the pharmacist to make sure the TPN was the new sulfite-free type. It's basically the same as gelatin which makes me very sick.
If you've been in hospital for 3 days and expect to be there significantly longer, ask for a PICC line. No more daily stabs to take blood and you can have your meds and TPN too.
Not everyone can put in an NG tube. There's a trick to twisting it so it bends downward. I've had sinus surgery and nurses keep trying to push the tube straight into my brain. I have very small nasal passages and don't tolerate a full size one. You can ask for a pediatric NG. I've also had a Nissen fundoplication and the tubes always curl and refuse to go past the wrap or start going into my trachea. It's best for me to have them put in under anesthesia during the surgery, but I still have horrible pain and gagging if they use a full size tube. I have to be careful not to swallow at all as long as it's in.