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Partial Blockage? Help!

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Posted 3/25/2011 9:57 PM (GMT 0)
What is a partial blockage like? I had my second soft foods meal at lunch and maybe I overdid it? about an hour and a half ago I heard a good bit of noise and looked to see bubbles coming out of the stoma...gas. My output has decreased, but I expected that with the switch to soft food plus they cut my iv fluids in half. They just brought my dinner tray, so I'm trying to drink the hot tea first and see if that helps. I keep having off and on pain around the stoma and sometimes on my left side, too. I was feeling nauseous, but that has improved since I started the tea. I'm about to go empty so I can see what my output is like, but wanted to get this up so you guys can hopefully help. I will definitely check with the nurse if it doesn't get better, but I dont want to raise the alarm if I.don't have to. Thanks!
Posted 3/25/2011 10:07 PM (GMT 0)
Just talked.to my nurse assistant and he said to finish the tea, empty, then go for a walk. If I'm still having trouble I'm supposed to let him know. He thinks maybe its just gas.

Sorry for my horrible typos, I'm on my phone (and vicodin, LOL).
Posted 3/25/2011 11:10 PM (GMT 0)
I feel like such a dork. When I got up, I started belching like crazy. The walk definitely helped, too. Output was decreased, but that's expected from the switch to foods. I ate very little dinner but kept all the juice and some applesauce for if I get hungry later. Looks like I will be ok, but they will keep an eye on me.
Posted 3/25/2011 11:25 PM (GMT 0)
Don't beat yourself up over the scares and worries...you're going through alot and none of it is a walk in the park.  Walk as much as you can...go easy on the 'solids' and try and rest as much as you can, it'll help you as much as the walking does.  Never worry about asking foolish questions...it's only foolish when you keep your worries to yourself.  Take care :-)
Posted 3/25/2011 11:25 PM (GMT 0)
Ok, I promise to quit talking to myself here soon...but is it too late to take gas-x after I've eaten? My stomach is huge with gas! Stoma still functioning well, but wow the gas. Any advice is appreciated. Going to go walk some more to hopefully work some out. Never thought i'd say this, but I would love to pass a big fart right now! LOL
Posted 3/26/2011 12:38 AM (GMT 0)
I had a lot of painful gas early on, but it went away after about 8 weeks. I know exactly what you mean about wanting to fart but being unable. You just want to be able to push it out:) I would still take the gas-x as it might help. Are you drinking through a straw at the hospital? Sometimes that can make it worse.

Now that I am several months out, I still get enough gas to puff up my bag a bit sometimes, but it rarely hurts. My stoma sends out really frothy, bubbly liquid output sometimes. Usually this happens first thing in the morning after I have eaten... not every day... just at random times for some reason. I figure it has something to do with my digestion waking up in the morning. It is usually gone about an hour after eating.

On a side note regarding gas... I really like the Osto Easy Vents that you add to your pouch. My filters always get clogged the first night and this allows me to let air out of the pouch an easier way then opening the tail. Actually, I just started using a two-piece system and I am still adding the Easy Vents as I find it easier and less dangerous than "burping" through the ring.

Don't worry about being scared or worried. It is so hard to know what your body is doing with all the new changes and it is best to ask. I was always calling my surgeon the first couple of months with questions. knowing the answers instead of always speculating helped keep me from becoming overly anxious.
Posted 3/26/2011 1:19 AM (GMT 0)
Blueheron, who makes to osto easy vents, as they sound interesting?
Posted 3/26/2011 1:36 AM (GMT 0)
I use the Osto EZ vents on my son's pouches as well. They are wonderful. He drinks from a sippie cup, so we are constantly needing to burp his bag. I order mine from his ostomy supplier.

Here's a link: 
http://www.kemonline.com/content/home/

Run4Pancakes, sounds like you are progressing wonderfully !  Great to hear.

Post Edited (J's Mom) : 3/25/2011 7:44:42 PM (GMT-6)

Posted 3/26/2011 11:45 AM (GMT 0)
Gas is usually the culprit:( but walking will help with all of that! Walk as much as you can tolerate...I would walk at least one lap around the entire floor every hour. If you cannot do the whole floor just do half an cut through by the elevators until you can do the entire floor.

Be careful with nausea since that can be an indication of an Ileus...even if you are given soft foods you may want to listen to your body and stick with liquids until the feeling has passed.

Keep us posted on how you are doing!!!
Posted 3/26/2011 4:56 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks J's mom, have had a look but don't think they supply to UK but have sent them an email to check and no one else in UK has anything like them for what I have seen. Fingers crossed someone does something similar.
Posted 3/26/2011 5:35 PM (GMT 0)
it's normal to have a lot of gas in the first month or so post op. it will soon start to pass and you'll have relief. i had gas bursting out like trumpets, it was hilarious lol. it all gets better with time, after your whole system adjusts to it's new route of outlet.
Posted 3/26/2011 7:38 PM (GMT 0)
The whole night last night was rough. Anti nausea meds and pain meds by iv all night. I was groaning and sweaty and my aide kept putting cold cloths on my face. They were so gentle and good to me. I have been off food since dinner, they had to bump my iv fluids back up. Just ice most of the day with a little G2 recently. Finally got up and walked. It's. Easy how much this set me back! I think I am turning the corner now. I still haven't taken the gas-x. I guess I feel nervous about bringing it up (which is kind of silly).
Posted 3/26/2011 7:50 PM (GMT 0)
They gave me antacid at the cc. I was scared to ask, too, but my roommate did so I said can I have some, too?

I remember that I was doing well (maybe day 3?), then the next day was awful and I thought I would be there forever, but obviously I wasn't. I went home on day five and that was right for me.

Take care and ask us whatever questions you have. I am glad they are taking such good care of you. What is the aide's name? I had one there and she was the sweetest young woman. She had to give me a sponge bath and she was so nice, I was so embarrased that I couldn't care for myself, but she put my mind at ease.
Posted 3/26/2011 8:09 PM (GMT 0)
The aide I had overnight was a man named Shy. I've had two other aides I liked real well, one named Erica and the other Carol. Poor Erica had to help me today because I dropped the tail of my bag while cleaning it and spilled it all over my flip flops! I was so embarrassed, but we ended up laughing and she cleaned them for me.
Posted 3/26/2011 10:04 PM (GMT 0)
Took one gas-x 45 mins before dinner. Drank juice from a peach fruit cup and ate about 1/4 of the fruit. Also had a little hot tea with milk. Followed up with a walk. We will see if that goes a little better.
Posted 3/26/2011 10:45 PM (GMT 0)
As the saying goes....'stuff happens'  tongue    I've had some wonderful nurses and assistant nurses in my many times in the hospital...they can truly make a difficult time soo much nicer.  Glad you have some good ones. Keep up the positive outlook and spirit, walk lots, and all this will be a distant memory before you realize it.

Take care

 

Posted 3/27/2011 12:49 AM (GMT 0)
You'll find as you recover there will be some good days and suddenly you'll hit a wall and have a bad day. It just happens and at the time feels like end of the world and as if it is all going wrong and never ending. But it is just a small blip and you will soon bounce back, think sometimes it's the body's way of reminding us it been through a lot and to give it a bit of tlc.
Posted 3/27/2011 12:49 AM (GMT 0)
You'll find as you recover there will be some good days and suddenly you'll hit a wall and have a bad day. It just happens and at the time feels like end of the world and as if it is all going wrong and never ending. But it is just a small blip and you will soon bounce back, think sometimes it's the body's way of reminding us it been through a lot and to give it a bit of tlc.
Posted 3/27/2011 2:07 AM (GMT 0)
I hope the fruit went well. My visit for reversal next week I have to be on a liquid diet for a week. I am not looking forward to that.

Do you have a roommate? Just wondering how busy it is there. I went in 1/4 and had a room by myself for a couple days. It was heaven. Then I had a not so courteous young lady. Not so much fun when you are already not feeling well. I did get a window, though.

Take care and I hope you get to go home soon!
Posted 3/27/2011 9:27 AM (GMT 0)
run4,

I still worry and it is 4 years out for me. So you are doing fine. Watch the applesauce if you eat it, it tends to really thicken the output. Good luck, Rosemary
Posted 3/27/2011 12:31 PM (GMT 0)
Disney: my roommate left mid-day Friday and I've been alone in here since. I have a window also and can see the helicopters come and go. It's pretty cool. We took pictures of them for my son. It seems there are plenty of empty beds right now because they have brought new people up but nobody in here.

Had a good night overnight. Went several hours yesterday with no pain meds and got through the night without feeling sick. I did break into a couple of coughing fits and wow that didn't feel good! I squeezed a pillow against me and tried to cough as shallow as I could.

Hoping to get good news when they round today to get out of here today or tomorrow.
Posted 3/27/2011 1:30 PM (GMT 0)
Oh, I hope you get out today, too. Sneezing is awful, too.

It sounds like you are doing much better today. I am so happy for you. Hope things continue to go well.

I'm glad you had a window and a few roommate free days!
Posted 3/27/2011 2:42 PM (GMT 0)
Well, now looking at another 24-48 hours. Breakfast went well. My output is kind of high, so we are back to cutting the iv fluids down and seeing if I can hold steady on less, them shutting it off, etc. Those are my last hurdles to getting out of here. Let's hope I can make it happen!
Posted 3/27/2011 2:52 PM (GMT 0)
if I remember correctly anti nausea was given thru the IV for hubby

he also had a room on the 5th floor @ Mayo in Jacksonville with the heli pad below..we could hear the helicopters in the distance and I could get the camera ready to take photos as they approached and took off

walking is the definite key to getting things working

as low as your appetite may be "PROTEIN" really aids in your healing and strength - if you just don't want to eat a Slimfast shake with 8 oz of milk gives you 15 grams - in the beginning I think 2 cups of milk a day is a recommended max

hubby was not very hungry but I tried to get one of those a day into him and he still has one now when he just doesn't want breakfast or lunch
Posted 3/27/2011 2:56 PM (GMT 0)
Sound like you are doing really well yeah Glad to hear it!

It was Spring Break in Northeastern Ohio so I bet there weren't a ton of surgeries last week...good for you to have a room to yourself :-)

You might get instructions for Metamucil and/or Imodium to control that high output...it's a pain to take before you eat but it really does help enough to get you out and recovering at home.

How's your walking going? Have you taken a field trip to the rooftop yet? If you haven't, get permission to leave the floor and have your family take you up in a wheelchair...it's a beautiful day to see the city!
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