blockage

I have had a couple of blockage with my ileostomy leading to stomach pains vomiting and I was wondering is it wrong food and what are some of the solutions to unblock and when should you go to the hospital and how
do they unblock at the hospital

It could probably be something caused by food. Solid foods are actually not good if you have ileostomy. Try drinking more water and if there is no improvement, better see your doctor for solution.

Here is a link to a card about ileostomy blockages -- www.ostomy.org/uploaded/files/ostomy_info/blockage_card.pdf

I have had a lot of them, and I am having surgery in a few weeks, because mine are being caused by a portion of my intestine being too narrow (which is either because of adhesions, a twist in the bowel, or a hernia -- won't know until I'm opened up).

When I had blockages that were just food, I was able to clear them on my own with grape juice, other liquids, hot baths/showers, walking around, knee to chest pose etc. But that doesn't always work anymore.

I go to the ER when I'm vomiting and can't hold any fluids -- then I start getting too dehydrated and need an IV. I've been to the ER three times this year for blockages. Treatment always includes an IV and zofran for nausea. Usually they do an X ray right away, although last time I got an ER doc who does research on ultrasound, and he did an ultrasound instead, which was better. This test confirms that there's a blockage, which has not been much of a question w/me.

Usually some resident comes and wants to stick a pinky finger in my stoma..... you have to be careful here besides that they can hurt you, they often have no idea what they're getting into if the blockage is only partial .... one time I got covered w/poop twice, very disgusting...

Once I had a tube in my stoma (no big deal really) and once a NG tube (very big deal, quite traumatic).

Upshot is that every time for me the blockage has cleared on its own .... I mostly have needed the ER for the fluids and zofran. Oh, they always want to do a CT too, which I tend to refuse, as I've had a lot of radiation from them. I have had to stay overnight if I was too messed up from being blocked.

With a long blockage (say 12 hours), my intestine is spasming for a day or two later and it takes about two weeks to get all the way back to normal. If the blockage is only for a few hours, it's not that big a deal, and I'm better in a day or two.

I am told that I'm not the norm, so not sure how much this helps.... for some structural issues, people stay blocked for a week in the hospital w/an NG tube.... hasn't happened to me, fortunately.

Upshot is pay attention to your hydration. Lots of vomiting w/an ileo, for any reason, can require IV fluids.... I also find that when it's hot out, foods that were fine for me when it was cooler can cause blockages because it's just harder to hydrate.

It's the tube that goes in thru your nose, down into your stomach and is hooked up to suction to empty your stomach when your stoma isn't working because of a blockage or after surgery before your intestines wake up. I am sure it has other uses but those are the two that I have read about.