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Posted 12/1/2015 5:06 AM (GMT 0)
I'm having a lot of stomach pain and hearing a lot grumbling noises. I think it's trapped gas. I can't seem to expel it through my stoma, any suggestions on how to get rid of the gas? Also I feel a tugging motion on my stoma, a pressure kind of pain. They say you have no nerves on your stoma so you shouldn't have any pain there but I def feel some pain. I'm brand new to this stoma thing as I just had the surgery a week ago so I'm open to any recommendations or suggestions with anything related to the stoma/bag lifestyle. Thank you

Post Edited (You-See) : 12/12/2015 11:57:56 PM (GMT-7)

Posted 12/1/2015 11:20 AM (GMT 0)
Was your surgery laproscopic? If so, you would still be filled with gas a week after! I found the best thing for getting rid of that gas was walking as much as you can. Hot drinks, like tea can help too. I also found a hot water bottle was good.

A week post-op, you would have pain in general - I only got off strong painkillers a week post-op. I still feel pulling on my stoma sometimes, usually when he's trying to push something out. And in your case, the stoma is still swollen & tender from surgery. So I wouldn't worry about a bit of pain. Are you passing stuff ok from the stoma? And still on a low residue diet?
Have you mentioned it to your surgeon? Are you still in hospital?

Hope you're managing to adjust ok after surgery!
Posted 12/1/2015 2:16 PM (GMT 0)
Hopefully it's cleared by now but it sounds like an obstruction. Most obstructions with an ostomy form right behind the stoma (where the bowel is 'kinked' to turn it towards the outside of your body). The stoma itself doesn't feel pain but during a blockage it can swell and put pressure on everything around it, which causes pain.

The UOAA has an info sheet about dealing with blockages: www.ostomy.org/uploaded/files/ostomy_info/blockage_card.pdf. The home interventions can be very effective but don't be afraid to go to the ER if things get worse. I think most of us who have had bowel surgery have dealt with blockages at one time or another (I know I have).
Posted 12/1/2015 3:17 PM (GMT 0)
I would imagine any pain you have is mostly related to the surgery at this point. After I got home from the hospital, I had pain around my stoma. I think it was a lot of my own doing, firstly, I was using a flat wafer and I needed convex so I had output on my peristomal skin and it was making healing take longer... Eventually things got on track and I healed well. Another thing I did that was always uncomfortable in the beginning was wearing the pouch in my underwear and then wearing skinny jeans on top. I would have that downward pull on the area and it would feel painful. I think you're going to have to give it some time. One thing I never had a problem with was passing gas, mine was constantly filling up with air. Now with my jpouch, I barely ever pass gas. Go figure. All the plans of getting people back for doing it around me have not panned out.
Posted 12/1/2015 7:02 PM (GMT 0)
I'm going to agree with Pluot on this one; if you are not passing stool and it's making a lot of noise with some pain then it is most likely a blockage.

You need to be very careful right now with chewing your food and choosing the correct soft foods. Your intestine is swollen from the surgery and in a few weeks the swelling will go down and thus decreasing the likelihood of blockages.

I had 4 blockages with my ostomy. It happens. Usually when it clears you'll get a lot of stool coming out for the first 30 minutes or so.
Posted 12/2/2015 12:51 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks for the replies. The pain is still there, seems gas related. I'm passing stool through the bag and some gas but it just feels like every time I eat, drink or sometimes doing neither I have the cramping gas kind of pain. Still the pressure pain as well around my stoma. I just left the hospital and they didn't seem concerned and they say my stoma looks really good, color wise and all that
Posted 12/2/2015 3:02 AM (GMT 0)
With your surgery so recent, your bowels are very swollen and tender. It is natural to have pain, gas, and difficulty passing both gas and output for the first six weeks or so. That's why, as Keith said, you need to be extra careful with food at first. If your output stops then my advice about obstruction applies, but if you are still outputting, it's just a matter of taking it easy, choosing soft foods, chewing well, and staying hydrated. Try different positions (lying on my side helped me) or a warm bath or shower to encourage the gas to pass. Gas-X can help too.
Posted 12/2/2015 7:07 PM (GMT 0)
Right now you have an end ileo but when you get your next surgery you'll have a Loop and those are more prone to obstructions.

Coffee or wine usually helped me clear the blockages. But once I had to be readmitted to the hospital for an obstruction with the Loop ileo.
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