Having an Ileostomy for 40 years, I have had my fair share of "blockage" events. Not very pleasant. The first major bloockage I had, they had to operate and that was only 10 days after my Ileostomy operation. I was so weak. They found out in the end that they need NOT have operated, as the "blockage" was caused by narrowing of the intestine about 3 inches down from my Stoma, and it was scar tissue. For a week, they had to "widen" the narrowing with a small balloon like device they passed down the stoma via a tube, and then inflated it, to widen the narrow bit. Apparently, narrowing of the intestine near the stoma from scar tissue is common.
The main cause of blockages is from food that doesn't "dissolve". My Ileostomy is perfectly happy with ALL sloppy food (the hottest curries included). The main culprit is MUSHROOMS. Unless you chew them really well, into bits, you stand a chance of a blockage. Also, oranges, cos' when the juice is chewed out of the segments, you are left with a solid mass of fibre, which can build up into a "dam". Hard vegetables, lile raw carrots and celery are also culprits, as they won't dissolve and can lodge with other food and cause a mass which is difficult to pass. Because Ileostomists don't have the ability to "strain" to push food out when going to the toilet, the food passage has to rely on "peristaltic action", which is the name of the natural movement of the bowel. This action can slow with a blockage, as the peristaltic action weakens somewhat with the continued effort of trying to push jammed food through.
A total blockage is VERY danagerous and should not be treated lightly. If nothing passes within a couple of days, a trip to the Hospital should be considered, especially if vomiting is happening. Vomiting usually signifies a totally solid blockage. It's difficult to drink when you feel sick, but drinking of water is essential.
Taking the appliance off and soaking in a very warm bath for half an hour can help, because the stoma is free to move to its widest opening spread.
I've never tried the Mineral Oil, but the oil has got to get to the place of the blockage to free it, so that may prove difficult with a bad blockage, cos' it might not get through to the blockage "site". Mushrooms would just "slip" on mineral oil and would not have any "grip" to get out. A surgeon friend of mine says the majority of blockages he sees are from MUSHROOMS. Hmmm...pity...I LOVE them...so make sure I chew them to absolute bits.
When sitting in a chair, I keep "turning over" putting one knee up, etc. and this sometimes shifts it. The pain is most unpleasant though and can make you feel sick, even if you aren't physically sick. Awful...yet another bain of having an Ileostomy. After 40 years of having an Ileostomy, I still HATE it....although having the op. did save my life after 6 years of debilitating Crohn's Disease.