Hi,
My husband is 7 weeks post-loop colostomy for Crohn's disease. He has had 4 episodes of severe cramping/abdominal pain in the past 2 weeks, coupled with high ostomy output. He has never had these episodes before, and when small amounts of stool come out, he does not have this experience. He is describing 10/10 pain. He has some relief when he evacuates mucus from the rectum. Does anyone know what might be going on?
This is all so new and tough to navigate.
7 weeks... still healing and the body is getting used to its new normal.
Definitely consult with a gastroenterologist.
All we can do here is guess at what's wrong.
Good luck.
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I'll guess he's getting a blockage causing the pain and then relief as he gets output. Having small amounts of output gives the pressure release.
It's actually very profuse output, thicker->thinner. Could that still be a blockage?
Best to avoid guessing. Consult with a gastroenterologist or, if in severe pain, go to a hospital emergency room. Don't go to an urgent care place; they are not equipped to deal with an ostomy. Good luck.
He plans on going tomorrow, but it's strange that it's so episodic, only 4 times in two weeks. In the past, his blockages were constant pain.
IMO, yes. When I've had intense stomach pain and then the output comes, it's instant relief, and I'll usually have to empty 2-3 times back to back, with the first one being much thicker than the second or third one. For me, after that usually means I won't have to empty for at least 24 hours and usually longer. My “normal” output is a little here and a little there. Just tonight at work, I got a little stomach ache, which is a sign that I'm gonna have a good amount of output. Then, as I'm walking my train to do some work, the thick stuff came out with heavy pancaking. No more ache. 👍 I emptied that and then got on the rear of my train to ride it about 3 miles. Crap, here comes the much looser second round, and I'm not near a bathroom. The train stopped, and I got to the engine to empty again. 👍 Got our train to where it needed to be and went back to the depot, and here come the last remnants of whatever was left inside me. 😮 Nothing for hours after that, and I'm guessing I'll be good till Tuesday now. Now that you're grossed out by my pooping diary for today, just know others get the same stuff, and for me, it's always been a slight blockage or I just ate stuff that didn't “flow” well. 😁 But a call to the doctor may be needed if not just for peace of mind.
Alex, I could feel the pain as you described these stages of output! I get the same with my ileo, especially after eating too much or something that thickens things too much, but without the benefit of being good 'til Tuesday 🫤. Ileos just keep on going.
Amillman, over time we get to recognize what's going on, but since your husband had his surgery so recently and is so new at this, I agree with others that it's best to check with his doctor to see what's going on.
