Gastric Pseudo Obstruction Experiences and Ostomy Solutions

I have another friend who is now down to 90Lbs and continues to suffer with a problem known as Gastric pseudo obstruction........I dont believe an ostomy has ever been offered up as a pososible solution,  so I am on here asking if anyone has made it here through an illness like that and are now  better off being an ostomate..........I know i tend to simplify things, but hey im just an ex patient and have very strong opinions.......Hoping to hear from anybody who knows about GPO..........

Thanks to all of you , and the inspiration you provide, we are all a family...........Thats right I feel      I am closer to alot of you, more than even my family members...........Oh well dont want to give up too  much of the family history.......LOL..Till next post..Michael

Beyondpar

Gastric pseudo obstruction is what I had.  It goes by many names, mostly "colonic inertia"
It is the inability for the intestine to push the material along.  The paristollic muscle movement is lost.  Resulting in, constant constipation and enlarged colon.
Mostly it is Idopathic, meaning without known cause.
There is a drug that came out a couple of years ago call "Amatiza"  If I spelled that right.  
It did not work for me.  There was another drug that did work, however it was pulled off the market due to side effects.

An ostomy can be of last resort.  But I mean last resort.
The only fix is a colon resection.  Removal of most of the colon to shorten the travel distance.

If it is left untreated it will cause mega-colon and at some time the colon will rupture.

Not much is known about it in the US.

In some foriegn country's they have tried 4 or so electric stimulators along the colon to try and
Stimulate the muscle into contracting.  I do not know the success of this.  In my many contacts with different clinics, they were not even aware of any electrical implant to try and stimulate the colon.  So much for US medicine!

My resection would have been OK, except the doctor screwed up.

Tell your friend if he or she gets a resection, make darn sure the doctor follows the agreed upon plan.  If something is amiss.  Get stitched back up and discuss it.

Rick.....

Thanks so much Juno,

I think her problem is that the Colon inertia is in the upper and lower bowel..........therefore we may be at severe crossroads and was hoping if an ostomy might be the cure..........Can you tell me why the ostomy is the last choice.  Is there any benefit to the ostomy?  What were your issues if you can expand so i might understand more fully.  Anything you can add Juno will be greatly appreciated?

Thanking you in advance....Michael    OSTO-NY

If I understand you right.  Both the small and large intestine are not moving?

Usually the problem is in the large intestine (colon) only.

When my colon was removed in total.  My small intestine became extremely active.  Very fast movements, a lot of little movements I could feel all the time.  They are kind of hard to describe.  Something like a stomach growl is the closest thing I can think of.

To this day I can feel it moving around like it is twisting and turning.  I take Lomotle(sp) to slow it down.  

Rick.....

Hi Rick & Michael, after many years of bowel infections I was diagnosed with colonic inertia due to probable damage of the nerves in the large bowel from the constant diarrhea and antibiotics I had taken. My large bowel was not removed because it was suppose to be a temporary measure to allow the bowel to recuperate. I had the ileostomy 3 years ago.

Other than having problems with the stoma itself the ileostomy worked. No further trips to the ER and no hospital stays.

I have spoken with the surgeon regarding electric impulses but he says they are light years away from happening here.

Michael from what I understand is that if your friend has been diagnosed with colonic inertia it is much safer to have the ileostomy before she suffers from a mega colon and other very serious problems.....Cathy

My Ostomy Journey: April | Hollister