Greetings everyone,
I'm currently on day 3 of my new loop ileostomy and experiencing some gas issues. My bag isn't ballooned, but I'm feeling rumbling in my stomach and pressure as if I need to pass gas, but I can't. I was able to pass some gas anally right after the surgery, but now it's a bit uncomfortable and annoying. What are some remedies?
You shouldn't be passing gas through your anus, I think. If you have a stoma, it should all be going through that way. I think only mucus should be coming out of your butt.
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In both of my cases, I had no choice. It was surgery or be put 6 feet under! I thank God that He has been with me all these times. Without Him, I never would have known what to do and might not have gone to the hospital when I did. I don't know if you have had your surgery or not yet but I hope you will hang out on this website when you are done. I have learned a great deal through the people here and it is so great having others who have had the same thing done and been through what you are about to or have gone through. The only thing I have turned down is a reversal of the ileostomy. When the doctors did the emergency rebuilding of my original ileostomy this last February, I told them I did not want to go through this again. My doctor told me at that time that I was no longer a candidate for the reversal. In a way, I was very relieved. The last three years of my life have been a nightmare for me. I do not want to go through any of it again. If you wish to be rehooked up and they say you are a good choice for that, research it carefully. Every surgery I have ever had except for Old and New Maxine and the emergency surgery on my broken foot, I have spent weeks researching. I recently had my C5 C6 disk in my neck replaced with an artificial one. I went to my pre-op with 2 pages of questions for the doctor. I knew everything that they were going to do and could talk intelligently with them. I always try to research my adversaries! Don't cancel your surgery. It is nice not to have to suffer any longer with horrible pain. We all had to change a few things around when we had our surgeries but in the long run, most of us are glad we did it. I know I am. Good luck to you!
It's just your new plumbing trying to work out what the hell happened; it should calm down before too long. I seem to recall the same.
Yes, it is possible to pass a small amount of gas from the rectum after a loop ileostomy. While the ileostomy diverts the flow of waste from the intestines into the stoma, the rectum can still retain some gas and mucus. Many people experience the ability to pass gas anally, especially in the initial days after surgery. However, individual experiences can vary, and factors like swelling, gas production, and overall digestive function will influence this.
Since you're only a couple of days out, your stoma is very swollen and you need to watch what you eat. Start with slow, easy-to-digest foods. Mushy stuff. Being that swollen, you can easily get a blockage if you're not careful. Also, your output is going to be very different for the first couple of weeks, and your output will also be slow until your stoma normalizes and your body adjusts. Just be careful and take it easy.
Yep - 4-year ileostomate here and occasionally I experience "fartlettes" as I call them… they make me giggle…
As a kid, Mom would say, "Lay down and put your butt in the air." Not sure that would work today with the new equipment…
It'll most likely dissipate and hopefully not be a problem as you adjust… jb
Hmm.. interesting, I'm just wondering where that gas could be coming from? I'm over four years into my ileostomy, and have never had any gas pass through my bum. I have what is called a rectal stump, that ends where my bowel used to be. I will sometimes feel like I'm about to have a fart, but it always turns out to be some mucus that is waiting to get out.
Terry
Yep. There I was sitting on the couch about a week post op. Felt the urge to "pass a little gas." Forgot my butt was no longer connected to the colon. What...a... mess. For about 6 months, I constantly reminded myself.... "butt is disconnected."
Well, hello. I've had my loop colostomy for about seven months now. I sometimes pass tiny bits of gas through my butt, but to be honest, I've never had anything else ever come out. Sometimes I think that maybe that's why I get so distended, and sometimes it can get quite painful because I have something in there that needs to come out, but it just will not! To be honest, I have heard of using glycerin suppositories to help move it along, but don't take it from me. Ask your caregiver if this is the correct approach! I'm a little leery of actually trying it because it scares me. I don't really know how they sealed up the other part of my colon; it's just a little unnerving, but that's probably just my weird issues!
If you have a loop, your intestines are still connected to your rectum. The loop part Surgeon pulls a loop of the colon, cutting the top of the loop. And as far as getting mucus out of the bottom end, an enema is the best to try.
