Severe Nausea, Pain & Bloatedness After Reversal

Posted by Past Member, on Sun Jul 25, 2010 5:01 pm

Hi I'm a newby so forgive my lack of knowledge but wondered after reading the boards if anyone after having a stoma reversed could offer any help on recovery time.

My husband had a reversal of his Ileostomy 20th July 2010.

In Jan 2010 he woke up with stoma bag after a 10hr emergency surgery to save his life after a Pancreas Transplant went wrong.
Currently he is in a lot of pain, abdomen very swollen, bloated feeling all the time, severe nausea & has gained 11lb yet hasnt eaten.

He was thinking he would be back at work within two weeks but reading the forum it sounds like years rather than weeks!!
Thankyou in advance. Kizzed x

Last edited by Past Member on Wed Jul 28, 2010 9:34 am; edited 1 time in total

Reply by Pinky, on Sun Jul 25, 2010 5:25 pm

He won't be back at work in two weeks.

I had a colostomy reversal and it takes time for the bowel to work in the regular way again. But it sounds like your husband has really SEVERE gas and distension (he should chew gum to get the bowel moving and release the gas) OR a bowel obstruction which is an emergency the doctor should handle immediately. Given all the weight gain and the retching now I'd say it the second possibility - so don't let those nurses put you off. Call the doctor on call - act hysterical if you must - and get some action out of those people!

I hope this helps. I know you're in a scary place. I'm sending good thoughts your way.

Reply by Past Member, on Sun Jul 25, 2010 5:42 pm

Thanks Pinky,

I just phoned my husband & read out your reply.
I spoke to a sister who said that although he feels he hasnt opened his bowels properly, the fact that even a little came out is a good sign.
He only passes watery muck no stools.
She said she doesnt think its a bowel blockage cos the doctors have listened & hear movement.
She said it could be slow or asleep whatever that all means.
All I know is he is drinking water, had the odd bits of soup but everytime he takes anything in he feels sick. Although not actually being sick anymore he said he wish he could be just to feel relieved of something.
He isnt urinating much either so he feels its all going in & not much coming out. The hospital staff just keep saying he must be dehydrated so his body is retaining it.
Tomorrow morning his surgeon is coming to see him so I am gona ask that he ring me as visiting isnt til afternoon.
Its just so worrying after all he has been through. That hospital has been on the ball & saved his life so I guess he's in good hands but you just always feel what if they miss something.
Thankyou for replying so prompt.
God Bless Kizzed xx

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Reply by lottagelady, on Sun Jul 25, 2010 6:18 pm

Hi Kizzed - I really think they should be scanning/x-raying him at least - if he has gained 11lbs since surgery and hasn't been passing stuff, I cannot believe that no-one is listening to him or that hasn't flagged something 6 days post-op ....

Someone didn't listen to me 12 years ago and now I am in the state that I'm in, disabled, pretty unhappy, unemployed and unwell. Don't want to panic you, but I think he should know his own body better than they do, after all, he has lived with it for some years!

Rach xx

PS if you can - try go and see surgeon with him tomorrow?

Reply by Past Member, on Sun Jul 25, 2010 6:52 pm

Hi Rach, thanks for posting in the ask a question for me I found it before after writing this.

I have again phoned the ward & spoke to the nurse looking after him. i asked if I could come see the doctor tomorrow which was a 'no' I need to ring at 8:30am & possibly they will talk to me or I will have to make appointment.
I find it frustrating never seeing the doctors...as my hubby is an adult they think he doesnt need support...but unfortunately he suffers memory loss & has trouble retaining information. I have often said I feel it should be flagged on his records & I should be consulted on everything. They never listen. I have again repeated my concerns. They dont know how insistant I can get though.
Its almost midnight & I need to sleep but am too worked up. Its sooooooooo frustrating. I just hope the doc who sees hubby tomorrow is thorough & explains everything in plain english & is willing to speak to me.
On that note I oughta go to sleep.
Night ladies & thanks for your support.
God Bless Kizzed xx

Last edited by Past Member on Wed Jul 28, 2010 9:39 am; edited 1 time in total

Reply by Pinky, on Sun Jul 25, 2010 10:02 pm

We'll be praing for the both of you, Kizzed.

PS - sounds like UK docs are even more annoying than they are here in the US - guess here they're worried about bad PR and losing customers. Smile

Reply by Grammybec, on Sun Jul 25, 2010 11:28 pm

I have heard so many horror stories about the reversal of a Colostomy, that I am scared to even think about it. I have only had mine since March 2010, so they don't even want to talk about it until it's been a year. But hearing everything I hear in person and on line, I'm afraid I might be keeping this a part of me forever. I was hoping someday to get back to normal, but I'm not sure there is such a thing as normal once you have had problems large enough to warrant a colostomy. Good luck to your husband and keep us posted.

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Reply by lottagelady, on Mon Jul 26, 2010 6:00 am

Kizzed wrote:

Hi Rach, thnks for posting in the ask a question for me I fond it before.

I have again phoned the ward & spoke to the nurse looking after him. i asked if I could come see the doctor tomorrow which was a 'no' I need to ring at 8:30am & possibly they will talk to me or I will have to make appointment.
I find it frustrating never seeing the doctors...as my hubby is an adult they think he doesnt need support...but unfortunately he suffers memory loss & has trouble retaining information. I have often said I feel it should be flagged on his records & I should be consulted on everything. They never listen. I have again repeated my concerns. They dont know how insistant I can get though. I have kinda told our story in another thread 'I want to quit' & I have said how snotty I can get if I dont think specialist are doing something when something needs doing.
Its almost midnight & I need to sleep but am too worked up. Its sooooooooo frustrating. I just hope the doc who sees hubby tomorrow is thorough & explains everything in plain english & is willing to speak to me.
On that note I oughta go to sleep.
Night ladies & thanks for your support.
God Bless Kizzed xx

Hi Kizzed - hope you got a bit of joy out of them this morning?? If not, go and have a word with PALS, the Patient Advisosory? Liaison Service and they will assist you ... have found that they are pretty good and will advocate for you in case of a complaint - may be good to have them on your side anyway ... make notes about any calls or people you speak too with names and times.... good luck xxxxx

Reply by beyondpar, on Mon Jul 26, 2010 9:56 am

Kizz,

Take control or ask your husband to start demanding a CT scan or MRI to see why he is not passing much .........either gas or fecal matter.how he has gained 11 pounds is beyond me....pain after eating something and then throwing up tells me the bowels arent fuctioning properly yet, but that doestn mean they wont in the near term, however you dont want another problem developing due to a blockage or rupture.......STay proactive and push......You must be your husbands advocate ........Period..Yell and scream if you have to.......Pain might be normal but i believe throwing up and not passing anything at this point is not , while gaining wieght......Let me know how you make out...............

YOu are not alone as you have many on this site who can help you..Till your next post......Michael

Reply by ostralian, on Mon Jul 26, 2010 10:04 am

HI Kizzed - have you ever thought of getting a Medical Power of Attorney for each of you? I don't know how you'd go about getting it over there, but it would mean you would have the Medical Power of Attorney for each other in cases of emergency - it means you would be able to have the legal right to get answers and speak on behalf of each other to medical staff. We did our own, and we both signed them.

Hope this helps.

Cheers Trish

Reply by swiffer, on Mon Jul 26, 2010 11:57 am

Any updates ? I agree with every post here about getting all the answers you can. Your med system is different than ours but people are people every where and you should be advised of your husbands condition any and every time you ask. They should find what they think the problem is and consult with you on the procedure they want to take.{ I know wishful thinking }
Hope in the future this is all just a story for you both to tell to your grand kids.

Last edited by swiffer on Mon Jul 26, 2010 1:55 pm; edited 1 time in total

Reply by Past Member, on Mon Jul 26, 2010 12:50 pm

Hi

I had a stoma reversal about 5 weeks ago. I lost 2/3 of my bowel in an accident and originally was given a stoma.

The nausea and pain should be managed on the hospital ward - normal to get this after a reversal. Your husband should be given painkillers.

The bloated and painful tum is really down to the operation and will get better - again very normal. It's down to tummy muscles getting cut during the operation and the bowel getting used to working normally.

Your husband needs to make sure he is being cared for as a reversal is a big operation. The feelings after are not great - give it a month and things will really start improving.

Caroline

Reply by cancerfree, on Mon Jul 26, 2010 1:19 pm

It could be from incisional swelling which is hard to tell how long it will take to go down. Everyone's body acst differently. The hospital shouldn't release him until his system is running better. You have to remember how tramatic all this is to the internal tissue.

Reply by swiffer, on Mon Jul 26, 2010 1:53 pm

Caroline, i have wondered about some one that loses some of their colon. I don't have any anymore so it is just a question. I am guessing you have a 1/3 of it working again. Does that harden your stool enough to consider it {normal like before}? And do you have more trips to the bathroom now with that much of a working colon or the same amount of trips as when you had your whole colon? Wow when i was young i would have never thought i would be asking these kinds of questions.

Reply by beyondpar, on Mon Jul 26, 2010 4:23 pm

While we dont need a colon to live,  I think we need all of our colon to  have a fully formed and normal bowel routine,

Great questions Swiff as that is something the doctors wont tell you........I m going to guess that there is no way for her to have the same bowel habits as before as caroline is missing 2/3 of her colon..........Im also going to guess that her stool is not as formed since there is less colon,  im also going to guess that she has more frequent trips to the bathroom as well.........I hope I am wrong,  but since hers was a result of an accident and not a diseased colon I willl bet she has a better chance than most at a full recovery.......Please caroline  I would love to hear about it all too...........Know that  I dont have any colon or rectum or anus and want to stay educated in all colon issues and to help those who have no clue on what to expect ,  as I still feel doctors dont tell the whole truth going forward.......

so sorry you had to make this journey via an accident and its pretty couragoues of you to have come onto this site to share...For that I thank you..........Most people  want nothing to do with this site until they are at the end of the journey with and illness and need assistance and support.

Again Thank you and I do  hope I am wrong in all my guesses........Whatever ,  please share..Michael

Reply by Past Member, on Mon Jul 26, 2010 5:42 pm

Swiffer and Michael, I can answer that question easy, a lot of people have to have there gallbladder taken out, maybe not the way it was done in my case, Peritonitis with Gangrene and I was Dying for sure and 4 surgeries later and one infection I am still here. This did not damage my colon but it did cause me to map where and when I would have to go to a restroom. If I went to an apt. I couldnt have coffee or anything to eat that morning. A long trip I had to train myself that I could only have bottled water until I got there as I am not one to use a public restroom. Almost any person who has lost there gallbladder will tell you the same thing, when they have to go they have to go now, so people without having bowel troubles also can know and feel and live a horrid life, but we found a way to live around those problems. I became a great believer in Fasting and it was something I had always done throughout the year anyhow, but it made it easy for me to get away with going out with the girls and just have my bread and water during those hard years. But do I know that I can have them back now and even better than before yes I do. My stools are firm and normal and no problems at all. My Doctor said I probably will always have normal stools now. After the tests I had to go through for my reversal, it only showed I lost three inches of my large intestines, so If I can go normally while knowing my girlfriends are living in Silence with loosing there gallbladders and nothing can be done, then as much as I wanted to die, I am glad I am alive to at least tell a true story of what happened to me for really just being in the wrong place at the wrong time. I know Several Doctors dont believe in Psychiatry and thats fine with me, I just dont want there beliefs rubbed off on me. I have no I dea why my husband said that he took me to one, maybe other than our daughter died the year before and I was depressed. It dont matter how I got here, cause now I am here and I am going in the Hospital in October for a Reversal and I want to know if my Bm's are the same as after you loose a gallbladder or what. But all in all I think you both might be wrong if you are betting on any of the colon being taken out and then being reconnected. They have some awesome groups here in Atlanta and a lot of reversls that have been a great success. Just remember everyone of us still need Hope and Faith. Whatever you all are working on is fine with me, but I want to hear the good news also, not just the bad news

channel. Sometimes good things do happen to good people, it dont always have to be bad. God Bless, Jenny

Reply by swiffer, on Mon Jul 26, 2010 8:08 pm

I was asking Caroline if loosing some of her colon changed the way the rest of her colon now works. Beyondpar was asking the same question in case he comes upon the same question asked by someone else so he may give a reasonable answer to them. Doctors don't usually answer questions that are not asked them directly and a lot of people that have colon problems don't ask those questions while in recovery and by the time they want to know ,places like this may be the only place to get the answer. Hopefully Caroline or some one like her that has had a reversal with 2/3 rds of their colon removed can give us all first hand information.

Reply by Past Member, on Mon Jul 26, 2010 8:57 pm

Wow thankyou for all your replies.

Ok now to update you all & hopefully answer some of the questions too.

PALS I have used before & they are excellent & I had forgotten them so if further annoyance happens I will contact them.

Hubby & I are down as next of kin thus if unable to make a decision for ourselves medically we can for each other. Also we always state on entering hospital that we are to be informed at all stages of treatment.

Gaz got an xray...theres no blockage but its been decided to put tube down nose to relieve pressure & act as overflow, possibly it will syphon excess out too.

There is no leakage. Its just plain old ileus I think they called it, which they said is the colon gone to sleep or gone into spasm thus retaining anything & everything.

His weight gain is due to that retention as he isnt urinating much either, they said that was because the colon is absorbing everything including water drunk.

Apparently this ileus is common & can last up to two weeks. I pray for both our sakes it doesnt.

All my love & prayers to each one of you & thankyou for all your support. Kizzed x

Last edited by Past Member on Fri Jul 30, 2010 4:26 pm; edited 2 times in total

Reply by lexus1, on Mon Jul 26, 2010 9:40 pm

I'm with beyondpar; No colon, no rectum, lost part of my small intest...ileostomy But I am also very interested in any info you may share about 1/3 colon. I am alone in my small town with my issues; This is my link to "normal" if you get my drift. Thanks for taking the time to share. Sorry about your accident, my issues are Crohns related. lex

Reply by Past Member, on Mon Jul 26, 2010 10:06 pm

Thank You Swiffer for letting us know that you all are just trying to understand what us women want to know. Same here as most of these women would love one day knowing how sensitive you men really are. Thanks again for saying what this s about. Good Luck on those Highways and you are right, those Frogs do taste so much like chiken it is a joke to us; Thanks again for helping me understand what you are doing as I feel about this and I felt as low as I could get right now. I handle men well when I was out today but the women find out and they are so cruel.
PS. Keep MO a safe place to live and Our children safe on the streets, it was a safe and great place to live.

Swiffer, I will have to write you later, I cant think straight right now, hope my letter made some sence, I have one bad flu bug. sorry talk Later, Love Jenny

Reply by Past Member, on Tue Jul 27, 2010 5:20 am

Hello

I lost 2/3 of my colon (large bowel). Those formed from the ileum (small bowel) are called ileostomies.

Yes I need to go to the loo more often. This morning I needed to go 5 times after breakfast but other days usually twice. When I had curry the other day for dinner I needed to go straight after eating and I emptyed my bowel.

So it's really about what I eat and when I eat it! I really can't eat anywhere without a nearby loo, but that's how it was when I had the stoma so i'm OK about it

Caroline

Reply by Past Member, on Tue Jul 27, 2010 8:00 am

The latest on hubby is that he has paralytic ileus which can eventually right itself. However they now see adhesions on one side & the collection of hard stools on the other side so they now think he may have slight blockage. They have now catheterized him, gastro-tube now back (they took out earlier), he had to drink some dye for scan at 3pm, nil by mouth except sip of water every hour, drip attached to replace electrolytes. They still think it will resolve without surgery but not sure how. I pray they are right. Pinky I forgot the chewing gum...medscape on ileus declares gum helps also...drat!!
Am gona get train down to hospital as too tried to drive the hour or so.
Caroline thankyou for answering the guys questions...its through talking we all learn. Will keep you all posted as it may help someone else later.
Swiffer, Michael, Trish, Rach they are now pro-active & answering all my questions...they seem to be doing everything that medscape advocates...it seems quite informative heres the treatment link if anyone interested
http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/178948-treatment
there is the overview etc to click on to read more...its about the best I found for info on ileus anyhow.
Thanks again guys for all your support. Hope your all doing ok...I seem to be concentrating on hubby at mo & not asking about you all...how rude & selfish of me...promise I will get round to seeing how you all doing in your journeys. I do read this out to hubby, think it helps him know he's not alone. Your all so brave. God Bless you all.
Love Kizzed xx

Reply by beyondpar, on Tue Jul 27, 2010 12:06 pm

Caroline thanks for sharing but if you dont mind I have a few more questions

Do you have any urgency issues as you say you cant eat anywhere where there is not a loo?

Do you have any accidents?

Is your stool formed?

How confident are you about your BM'S  and do you feel secure your bottom?

A normal day for you is how many BM's?  or trips to the loo?

Why with a stoma you needed a bathroom around,  didnt you have a pouch which kept it all in?

Again thank you as your helping  more people than you know.....

Till next post  Michael

Reply by lottagelady, on Tue Jul 27, 2010 4:10 pm

Thanks again guys for all your support. Hope your all doing ok...I seem to be concentrating on hubby at mo & not asking about you all...how rude & selfish of me...promise I will get round to seeing how you all doing in your journeys. I do read this out to hubby, think it helps him know he's not alone. Your all so brave. God Bless you all.
Love Kizzed xx[/quote]

Hi Kizzed - so pleased that things are resolving slowly and that they are now listening ..... 'Slight blockage' .... I think we all knew that!

Don't worry about us - you have enough to worry about, I for one will be getting my own back in September when it is my turn to go under the knife and will be needing my mates on here!

Take care and don't forget to look after yourself a little, Rach xxxxxx

Reply by Past Member, on Tue Jul 27, 2010 7:29 pm

Rach thanku...I am relieved to say they did scan & surprisingly NO blockage afterall. Definately no leak either. Its just what they suspected Ileus which is lazy bowel or sleeping bowel or whateva other name they use.
The weird thing is as soon as they came & told us hubby rushed to the loo & altho water-like passed a load of muck out, then another few times on top. They said the dye has that effect...well why not just give it even without the need for scan its worked beta than enynama or laxatives have?! Hubby frightened that a few blasts then bunged again but I suspect now he's relaxed cos defo no medical problem his bowel will also relax & hopefully all will come out.
Thanks again for all your support.

Jenny G...I know what you mean by

"but I want to hear the good news also, not just the bad news

channel. Sometimes good things do happen to good people, it dont always have to be bad."

But I believe that bad has to happen to guide us through to the good or help us appreciate the good.
Its all about what we do with bad...if we choose to wallow, then I'm with you, I dont wana hear cos its not constructive.
But if we use bad as a base & turn it around into something good then to me its worthwhile as wisdom is gained.
My son used to say "Mum I aint clever enuf to decide which bits of bad to cut outta my life without creating worse, so since it got me to here & now, & it aint that bad...its ok to have bad as long as we learn from it"
Maybe watch the film 'Butterfly Effect' its defo thought provoking.

Take care all God Bless xx

Last edited by Past Member on Fri Jul 30, 2010 4:30 pm; edited 1 time in total

Reply by Past Member, on Wed Jul 28, 2010 4:28 am

Hi Michael

I had my stoma reversed 5 weeks ago. I originally had the stoma last year after 2/3 of my colon were removed.

I need a toilet nearby as I usually need the loo straight after I eat. My stools are very loose but generally I do have control as long as I can get to a loo.

I do have accidents if i'm not prepared. The other evening we had curry and it came straight out of me all over my clothes. So I do need to be prepared i.e. I don't eat if there is no loo near me.

I usually need the loo up to 6 times a day but it really depends on what I eat.

Caroline

Reply by Past Member, on Wed Jul 28, 2010 4:49 am

Hi Kizzed

I have just read your post. 3 weeks after my stoma reversal I was still not able to empty my bowel. I had a scan to see if there was a blockage and had some coloured dye pumped up my rectum. The scan showed no blockages.

This dye acts as a laxative which is probably why your husband passed something, the same happened to me.

The ileus is obstruction in the bowel. It's quite likely that your husband does have a blockage near his rectum that does not show up in the scan. This is what I experienced, it was almost like constipation. I was given enemas to help release the blockage.

After this I stayed in hospital for 3 days to ensure that I was passing stools naturally and not an after effect of the enema.

Caroline

Reply by Past Member, on Wed Jul 28, 2010 5:09 am

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Kizzed, The Butterfly Effect is one of my all time favorite movies, you cant know someone very well on a chat line. I am going in for my own reversal real soon and I need some encouragment cause one year ago I really had a gun to my head and if it werent for a Doctor friend of mine and my oldest son, I would be dead. Then I met Michael on here and he needs his Ostomy to live and I dont. Plus until you know someone or at least know how suicidal that someone is, please dont tell me something that can take me back in to a time I wanted to die. I will make it with this reversal and no one is going to tell me otherwise. My BFF is also a member here and she is very hurt that anyone would even try to disscourage me, when I rooted for her with her surgeries she is doing the same for me. I even told her I was afraid for her life and she had those surgeries anyway and so far so good Thank God. I am not upset with you or anyone right now, I am just Praying every second of every day that I live through all of this and Yea I have been told it isnt so easy, I can take what will be dished out to me, I also know I will fight with my Soul to be the person I am on the inside as well as the outside. I know you are new on here, but I am walking on to thin of ice right now for anyone to be pushing any advise on me, Thats what I am paying the big bucks for and why I hired a Specialist. I only wish the best for you and your husband and I have no reason to bother you and you should have none to bother me. I dont feel like a party right now,I want to get this over with as it is coming up on a year and it is my time to have a chance of being myself again. God Bless you all, hope you keep having fun, but remember Ostomates live a very touchy life, I woldnt play God with that, Jenny

Reply by Past Member, on Wed Jul 28, 2010 7:53 am

Caroline thanks hun think hubby now feels beta knowing its all normal & will pass soon. The dye has seemingly like u said acted as a laxative & think moved part of the constipated mass but not all. It does sound similar to u so thankfully accordingly it should sort out.

Jenny hun I think u have read my entry different to the way it was meant.
It was meant to be encouraging.
I dont wish to upset u & was only meaning to point out that sometimes bad is worthwhile cos it gets us to the good. Its not advice just reality.
I joined cos my hubby going through bad at mo, but it got me on here & therefore good has come out of his bad.
Hope that makes more sense to u.
I hope u heal both physically & emotionally...I wish u all the best & am sure your friends & Michael can get u through what your goin through & back to happiness.

Much Love & God Bless Kizzed xx

Reply by Past Member, on Wed Jul 28, 2010 8:48 am

Hi Kizzed

Yes what your husband is going through sounds very similar to what I went through.

If he cannot move the last bit of what is left I would definitely recommend he asks for a enema or supository. Then he should be able to pass stools naturally.

Tell him to keep positive. At the moment he probably doesn't feel great but he will feel so much better once things start working again.

Caroline

Severe nausea, pain & bloatedness after reversal

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