This topic revolves around a person who had a colostomy due to diverticular disease and bowel resection. After eating chips, they experienced some unexpected symptoms and are seeking advice and insights. Here’s a breakdown of their experience and some helpful suggestions:

- After eating chips, the person noticed their stoma output became hard and scratchy, with visible chip fragments, despite thorough chewing. They also experienced severe, cramp-like pain below the stoma. A hot-water bottle and Lactulose provided some relief.

- By Monday, the stoma was functioning again, but a lingering “bruised” pain moved upward toward the stoma over several days. A new tender, slightly swollen, warm area appeared across the pubic region, different from the earlier pain.

- They have a history of a left-side inguinal hernia (never repaired), a massive bowel resection with bladder separation, and a postoperative wound infection that is still being treated. Despite eating higher-fat foods, they continue to lose weight rapidly, but there are no hydration issues or malignancy found in the resected tissue. The stoma looks healthy, with minimal wind and no obvious blockage or parastomal hernia.

- They are concerned about possible post-surgical bone infection, a new infection, or other complications and are awaiting a GP assessment.

Additional information from a follow-up post includes:

- The GP could not detect the inguinal hernia, which contradicts previous examinations. The stoma function has returned to normal, but the pubic pain persists and varies.

- The person suspects malabsorption is causing the weight loss, as the large-bowel length is now so short that the output resembles ileostomy consistency. Pre-op blood work showed high levels, but no visible blood has been seen since surgery.

- They are experiencing severe chronic fatigue, mixed anxiety/depression, and fibromyalgia. They are starting therapy soon and plan to request iron studies. Their main concerns are unexplained pubic pain, ongoing weight loss, and feeling overwhelmed by multiple life changes.

Here are some pieces of advice and insights offered:

1. Seek further medical work-up rather than self-diagnosis. Imaging (CT or MRI) and direct stoma inspection are recommended to check for inflammation, obstruction, abscess, or spreading wound infection. Comprehensive blood tests, including cancer and infection markers, should accompany imaging.

2. Consider malabsorption or inflammation of the small bowel. Undigested food and weight loss often point to a diseased or inflamed small-bowel lining, such as Crohn’s disease, which could also explain pain from bowel wall stretching.

3. Recognize that potatoes or chips often slow or thicken ostomy output. Several people report similar thickening, so the initial hard output may simply be a common reaction to potatoes.

4. Monitor weight loss proactively. Encourage the GP or consultant to create a structured plan to investigate the ongoing weight drop, and ask about nutritional assessment and possible supplementation.

5. Ask specifically about adhesions or scar tissue. Scar-related kinking could cause transient slow-downs and pain.

6. Re-evaluate the inguinal hernia with imaging. An ultrasound is suggested, as hernias do not usually resolve spontaneously and may be missed on palpation.

7. Emotional and fatigue issues are acknowledged. Support is offered, and continued follow-up with healthcare providers and mental-health professionals is encouraged.