New ileostomy...need to see what is normal

Hello everyone, I just joined this tonight after googling symptoms. I am a 28 year old active male with a family history of UC and Crohns. Because of this, my GI recommended I get a colonoscopy. Long story short, he perforated my colon (which was otherwise healthy). He didn't realize it and sent me home. A few days later, I was extremely sick, went to ER with septic shock and the whole nine yards. Needed emergency surgery, they removed 6 inches of my intestines, and I woke up with a temporary ileostomy. I spent 4 days in the ICU and 2 days on a regular floor. I will hopefully have the reversal mid-February -- 8 weeks post surgery.

Concerns (sorry if it's TMI):

Every day for the past week or so, I have been having severe cramping, as if I took a laxative and need to do diarrhea. It is paralyzing and usually happens after I eat a meal. I usually go to the toilet, and pass a large amount of watery mucus through my rectum (about 1 cup each time, and this can happen up to 10 times per day). Often it is accompanied by a small amount of bright red blood. When I wipe, the toilet paper is reddish brown. Anyway, usually the cramping subsides until the next episode.

I called my surgeon and even went back to the ER (they did not do a CT scan or ultrasound - just gave me fluids and asked symptoms). Everyone keeps telling me it's normal, especially because I have output from my bag still. But it does not feel normal and it has been scary, not because I'm passing mucus, but because of the amount of mucus and how often it is happening. My biggest fear is that if they are missing something, I will not be able to have the reversal.

I have been watching my diet. Not eating fruits or veggies, nuts, anything with seeds, etc. I am eating pretty bland, because I can deal with a limited diet for 5 more weeks. I don't want to mess anything up.

Has anyone else experienced this? Can you help ease my fears?

Thank you all for reading.

-Justin

polishdan said...
Justin
How about a second opinion? Fresh eyes can see what others do not.

Dan

Hi Dan, thanks for your reply.

I forgot to mention, I called my old GI -- from where I used to live, not the one who perforated me . He prescribed me antibiotics...Cipro and Metro-something. I told my surgeon and she said since I don't have fever or any symptoms other than cramping/mucus passing, there should be no reason for me to take such a powerful antibiotic. So as of today, I stopped taking them.

I am so confused and scared that this is not normal. Without wishing these pains on someone else, it would be comforting to have someone say "oh yeah, I had exactly that...don't worry!" - lol.

Justin

Thanks Sara.

I spoke with my surgeon again who insisted I stop the antibiotics. She prescribed me hydrocortisone rectal suspension enemas to help with the mucus. Has anyone used these?

Also, this morning I woke up at 4 am with stomach pain and passed mucus. I took a gasx and laid down and I could hear the gas working its way through my gut, eventually passing through the stoma. I felt better for a few hours after. Is it possible the cramping pain could be gas?

Post Edited (Justin342) : 1/14/2014 1:06:44 PM (GMT-7)

I'm glad you are getting the ct.

The retarded dr should have done it sooner.