Dealing with Ostomy Complications: Seeking Advice and Support

 
 
 
 First, thank you
 

I was able to read the latest issue of your Ostomate newsletter from a hospital bed. After not feeling very well on Thursday morning with a slight pain in my side and then 6 hours of throwing up, I was able to get into a car and head to the hospital.  The hospital where I have had 15 surgeries in 2 years. First an ileostomy, then eventually a reversal, and then many other issues and fistulas—so many fistulas.  Finally, a surgery that really helped in April of 2024: ostomy surgery.  This weekend, I was sure another surgery was going to be the outcome.  It was not.  I had a kink!  Many X-rays, a tube down my nose, more X-rays, and more throwing up things unkinked.  I was told this can happen, it could happen again, and to go live your life.   Does anyone have a few suggestions on how to avoid this?  I have living to do!  Wedding next week for my granddaughter, a cruise in September, etc.  I appreciate any help, suggestions, or hugs.   

Need a little more detail about this... "Kink."

And throwing up things... "unkinked."

So, what you had was a blockage?

I didn't know MaO had a newsletter.

I had a kink last year thought to be caused by chemo at the time. I feel for you; I first had diarrhea followed by vomiting and no output from the stoma. The vomiting was so projectile without warning that I eventually got a tube down my nose with a drainage bag, not before several times waiting for help, laying in bed covered in it! I too thought I would need surgery, as whatever they were pumping through my nose tube didn't work for ages. Eventually, my stoma unkinked, which did a volcanic eruption after ten days, and I was able to leave the hospital looking like a skeleton. I have been making up for it by eating lots and putting weight back on with a bit extra just to make sure. Rapid weight loss plays havoc with wrinkles!

I don't know how you can avoid it, but just be careful what you eat. I was told chemo caused mine, but since being on this site, perhaps it is something that can just happen. Enjoy your wedding and cruise. Lots of hugs.

by chemo

Kink is just a bend in the intestine, so nothing can go through. My doc showed me by bending his finger. What you vomit is bile, as it keeps going even without eating or drinking. Not much fun having a tube through the nose to the stomach emptying into a bag!

Getting a "kink" in your intestines can indicate a hernia. I had a loop in my intestines that was the result of a hernia. And that could be considered a kink in my intestines. Is that what you mean? Did your "kink" cause a blockage? Is that why throwing up and an NG tube helped? I hate NG tubes. Those things that go up your nose and down your throat. I have had that 3 times, all of which were unpleasant. But the first one, the nurses were gentle about it. The second one was awful, and the third one hurt like heck but was done rather matter-of-factly. It sounds like you had a blockage due to the "kink" in your intestines.

How to Adjust to Life with an Ostomy with Bruce | Hollister

Kink = a natural blockage (versus a food blockage)

I had one once many years ago before I got my stoma. It was miserable. I'm sorry you had that experience. Based on my own experience, it isn't predictable, and unless you have an issue like a hernia causing problems, you may never have it happen again.

Interesting... not pleasant for sure. First time I've heard of this. An actual physical kink in the intestine.

I learn something new every day. 😊

Also learned today: Mucosectomy. Surgical removal of the mucous membrane lining. Interesting procedure.

Hello again, I had hernia surgery in April 2025. It was a year after my ostomy surgery. Regarding the 'kink'

It was explained to me that our intestines can move a bit... between that and scar tissue and a possibility of a blockage, it is a perfect storm... well, I stormed... lol...

I appreciate your weekly writings...

Hello again, I had hernia surgery in April 2025. It was a year after my ostomy surgery. Regarding the 'kink'

It was explained to me that our intestines can move a bit... between that and scar tissue and a possibility of a blockage, it is a perfect storm... well, I stormed... lol...

I appreciate your weekly writings...

Hi Infinitycastle 52777,  

I did have hernia surgery in April 2025. Who knows what goes on..... I don't know if throwing helped, but it did get me to the ER. At the hospital after 24 hours, they poured a solution into the tube, and then as it moved down my system, X-rays were taken. Two tries, many X-rays, and the study was stopped because I began throwing up again. But apparently, they had enough X-rays to see the issue. They said it usually resolves itself with some help.....

One thing, when they first put the tube in, (I was not brave) the nurse put a very generous amount of lidocaine cream just inside my nasal passage, and then said, "Okay, sniff it up." And I did...... it was a reverse nose blowing but a nose sniffing..... that numbing agent really made it much easier to get the tube down.....

I'm amazed at our intestinal system. So much "stuff," packed into a relatively small space.

I have a parastomal hernia under my colostomy. A CT scan revealed a loop of small intestine pushing up into the space where my stoma is, tilting it toward my belly button.

I'm glad you posted about a "kink." I was concerned about my small intestine possibly being strangled by pushing against my stoma. But it's more likely a kink will occur and cause a partial or full blockage. Now that I know this... I'll be on the lookout for it if I get output trouble.

Thanks for enjoying my weekly writings. A little humor helps us all.

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I wish they had done that for me. The lidocaine cream in the nose. They just did it straight. They let me drink water to swallow the tube, but that was the only help I got with the process. It hurt a lot and was not comfortable to have the tube up my nose and down my throat. And they put it in too far and had to pull it out some, which was scary because I thought if they pulled it too much, they might pull it out and have to put it back in again. But fortunately, they didn't pull it all the way out. But it was sore in my throat. I didn't like it at all. When they pulled it out, they told me to hold my breath and bear down like I was having a bowel movement, and I couldn't do it. I have forgotten how it feels to have a bowel movement. So I just held my breath and hoped for the best. It was sure sore coming out. I had a frozen ice slushie after I got it out, and that helped a lot. I needed to have that cold on my throat. I was also starving after four days of no food. I wanted to order everything on the menu that I could have, so I got jello, slushie, and iced tea, and I don't know what all; the only thing I didn't get was the broth. I didn't want lukewarm chicken broth, yuck. When I was in for my blockage and had an NG tube, when I got done with that after four days again, I got clear Ensure. It was so sugary I couldn't stand it. I couldn't finish it either. But they didn't offer that at the hospital I was at this last time in May. So I am glad. But it's a rough experience having an NG tube put in.

Ugh, that clear Ensure is simply awful. I used to think nothing could be too sweet for me, but I revised my opinion after trying that stuff.

I bought a 4-pack for a colonoscopy 2 years ago and ended up throwing out 3 of them. I just couldn't force them down.

The lidocaine really helps, a game saver...... yeah, they have to give you water to drink; it is part of the protocol.

They disconnected my tube and said we will leave it in 'just in case'. My surgeon said sometimes you 'accidentally' pull out when it is hanging like that. Gently........ no issues..... she is great.

Macs

Thank you ... it is not my wedding, it is my granddaughter's wedding.

We are ready to rock and roll!!!