Blockage

Hi all, I think I might have a partial blockage as every time I have something to eat, I get these bad cramps before the waste comes out. It feels weird taking Busapan for it.

I don't have an ileostomy (yet) but I have a friend who does. She said when she feels she has a blockage, she drinks warm-hot tea and also grape juice. She does a lot of walking and within a few hours, her "output" starts up again. I hope this works for you. Do you have an ileostomy or a colostomy?

I had some kind of blockage yesterday. I got worried and called up the out of hours health line. I was quite quickly referred to a hospital clinic where I saw a doctor. He was very nice and jolly but to my horror he suggested putting a suppository into the stoma, which I eventually agreed to. It worked and quite quickly things were moving again. The point that I want to make is that all the health professionals took the situation quite seriously, and obviously a blockage could have serious consequences. I think that the problem for us is to be able to figure out when it is serious-time to see a doctor, or when a cup of tea and a walk can do the job.

Marjorie

Hi, I have ileo and yep, I think we always get some blockages. I get them now and then. It's very painful. And the lady was right, cuppa tea or hospital... I usually go lie down on my side. Probably shouldn't, but I kinda lie on the stoma a bit. Kinda like roll on it just a bit. It can take awhile or not long. I have had so many, I really can't avoid all the food. I have eaten some food I can't resist, then blockage, then eat it again after maybe a few months and no problems... But the serious one I had was a blockage when I ate a small chocolate bar. The pain was sooo bad, sweating, vomiting. I rang my stoma nurse, she said ring an ambulance. I was soo bent over. Yep, one look and I was in for one week. NO FOOD, just pumping water to flush my abdomen. It was so sore. They said adhesions and a small twist in the bowel. OMG, so do what you think is best, me luv... MARE -mooza xxx

try these suggestions
eddie
HOW TO TREAT ILEOSTOMY BLOCKAGE
Symptoms: Thin, clear liquid output with foul odor; cramping
abdominal pain near the stoma; decrease in amount of or
dark-colored urine, abdominal and stomal swelling.
Step One: At Home
1. Cut the opening of your pouch a little larger than normal because
the stoma may swell.
2. If there is stomal output and you are not nauseated or vomiting,
only consume liquids such as Coke, sports drinks, or tea.
3. Take a warm bath to relax the abdominal muscles.
4. Try several different body positions, such as a knee-chest
position, as it might help move the blockage forward.
5. Massage the abdomen and the area around the stoma as this might
increase the pressure behind the blockage and help it to pop
out. Most food blockages occur just below the stoma.
Step Two: If you are still blocked, vomiting, or have no stomal
output for several hours:
1. Call your doctor or WOC/ET Nurse and report what is
happening and what you tried at home to alleviate the
problem. Your doctor or WOC/ET Nurse will give you instructions
(ex., meet at the emergency room, come to the offi ce). If you are
told to go to the emergency room, the doctor or WOC/ET Nurse
can call in orders for your care there.
2. If you cannot reach your WOC/ET Nurse or surgeon and
there is no output from the stoma, go to the emergency
room immediately.
3. IMPORTANT: TAKE THIS CARD WITH YOU TO THE EMERGENCY
ROOM AND GIVE IT TO THE PHYSICIAN.
4. IMPORTANT: TAKE ALL OF YOUR POUCH SUPPLIES
(eg., pouch, wafer, tail closure, skin barrier spray, irrigation
sleeve, etc.)
United
Ostomy
Associations of
America, Inc.
United Ostomy Associations of America
P.O. Box 66
Fairview, TN 37062
800-826-0826, www.uoaa.org
EMERGENCY ROOM STAFF:
ILEOSTOMY OBSTRUCTION
Symptoms: No stomal output; cramping abdominal pain; nausea
and vomiting; abdominal distention, stomal edema, absent or faint
bowel sounds.
1. Contact the patient's surgeon or WOC/ET Nurse to obtain history
and request orders.
2. Pain medication should be initiated as indicated.
3. Start IV fl uids (Lactated Ringer's Solution/Normal Saline)
without delay.
4. Obtain fl at abdominal x-ray or CT scan to rule out volvulus
and determine the site/cause of the obstruction. Check for local
blockage (peristomal hernia or stomal stenosis) via digital
manipulation of the stoma lumen.
5. Evaluate fl uid and electrolyte balance via appropriate
laboratory studies.
6. If an ileostomy lavage is ordered, it should be performed by a
surgeon or ostomy nurse using the following guidelines:
Gently insert a lubricated, gloved fi nger into the lumen of the
stoma. If a blockage is palpated, attempt to gently break it up with
your fi nger.
Attach a colostomy irrigation sleeve to the patient's two-piece
pouching system. Many brands of pouching systems have
Tupperware-like fl anges onto which the same size diameter
irrigation sleeve can be attached. If the patient is not wearing
a two-piece system, remove the one-piece system and attach a
colostomy irrigation sleeve to an elastic belt and place it over
the stoma.
Working through the top of the colostomy irrigation sleeve, insert
a lubricated catheter (#14 16 FR) into the lumen of the stoma
until the blockage is reached. Do not force the catheter.
Note: If it is possible to insert the catheter up to six inches, the
blockage is likely caused by adhesions rather than a food bolus.
Slowly instill 30 50 cc NS into the catheter using a bulb syringe.
Remove the catheter and allow for returns into the irrigation sleeve.
Repeat this procedure instilling 30 50 ccs at a time until the
blockage is resolved. This can take 1 2 hours.
7. Once the blockage has been resolved, a clean, drainable
pouch system should be applied. Because the stoma may be
edematous, the opening in the pouch should be slightly larger

than the stoma.

Hello Tello

I have had an ileostomy for one year.

Thanks Eddie, very useful, wish I had known that before, when I was having blockages.
I found a shot of Demerol would do the trick, 'cept last time I drove myself to emerg. and they gave me an analgesic instead, took 5 days to clear that one.
Cheers Bob