Anyone have experience with blockages

Deb -

I guess this is a continuation of that other thread?

It's great that you twisted that nurse's arm and got her to get
your boy friend to the hospital; that's exactly where he needs to be
until the condition is resolved!

I wouldn't worry about a "blockage" until they determine there
actually is one. And even then, a blockage is repairable, although
not much fun...

He may end up with another colostomy, or an Ileostomy,
if the surgeons feel it's the best way to resolve the issue,
and if you really like the guy, it shouldn't be much of an
issue relationship-wise... He's going to need some heavy-duty
reassurance regarding that, though....

Either you, or he, or both of you, should make sure the spots for
an ostomy are well marked out well ahead of any abdominal
surgery. A spot for a colostomy -and- a spot for a possible
ileostomy is a good precaution to take, since the placement
of a stoma will effect his quality of life; a well placed stoma can
be easy to adjust to, while a poorly placed one can be hell.

The surgeon should have a wound/ostomy nurse (WOCN) make
a visit, and mark out the best spots! That is something you
should insist on, if there is to be -any- further abdominal surgery!

Aside from all that?

This may be a case of "Ileous" as I mentioned on that other
thread, and it's curable, so have no fear. He'll be miserable
with an "NG" tube up his nose and down into his stomach,
but most of us here have lived to laugh about it... (yeah, right)

But please do have those spots marked out if there's talk about
surgery. Insist on it !! Both my ileostomies were totally unexpected,
and although my first one in 2006 was well placed, my second one
in 2010 wasn't. I presently have two to maintain, and the new
one is living hell. Get the spots marked ahead of time!!

My best wishes for you both,

John

deb824 said:

Blockage
Actually it was his Mom that took him to the ER. She called me a little while ago to tell me that they did a cat scan and his upee colon is totally blocked. It ay require more surgery. He had a temporary colostomy before and he abslutely does not want to live with a bag. I don't care at all, I love him and want him to survive any way he can. But he has a mind of his own.....

Deb -

If it's an "upper colon" blockage, he may very well end up
with an ileostomy. It may not be his "choice", and I doubt
anyone here made an ostomy their "choice", but feces happen.
And they will continue to happen, but they'll be into an
ostomy appliance instead of his as....err.. uhh... rear end.

On the bright side, he can send the full pouches to people
he doesn't like; How's that for a plus?

Cancer changes our lives permanently; make no mistake about that.
It changes us both physically and psychologically, sometimes
for the worse; rarely for the better..

If you plan on being with this guy forever, it wouldn't be a
bad idea to ask and go to some counseling sessions. There's
a rocky road ahead, and many long-term couples have lost
their momentum with the ordeal. There's so much going on
in the cancer patient's head, that the caregiver often gets lost
in the mayhem. As a "caregiver", there can be an awful lot
dumped onto your plate to have to deal with. Having someone
to help get -your- head together can help with your own survival.

It ain't no picnic. No sandwiches, just ants and mosquitoes.

Be well and try not to worry so much. I was DX'd in 2006
and I'm typing to you, right? To look at me, I'm no different
than any other Italian guy that's old, tired, weak and appears
to have one foot in the grave. (just kiddin' again)...

Best wishes,

John

John23 said:

Deb -

I guess this is a continuation of that other thread?

It's great that you twisted that nurse's arm and got her to get
your boy friend to the hospital; that's exactly where he needs to be
until the condition is resolved!

I wouldn't worry about a "blockage" until they determine there
actually is one. And even then, a blockage is repairable, although
not much fun...

He may end up with another colostomy, or an Ileostomy,
if the surgeons feel it's the best way to resolve the issue,
and if you really like the guy, it shouldn't be much of an
issue relationship-wise... He's going to need some heavy-duty
reassurance regarding that, though....

Either you, or he, or both of you, should make sure the spots for
an ostomy are well marked out well ahead of any abdominal
surgery. A spot for a colostomy -and- a spot for a possible
ileostomy is a good precaution to take, since the placement
of a stoma will effect his quality of life; a well placed stoma can
be easy to adjust to, while a poorly placed one can be hell.

The surgeon should have a wound/ostomy nurse (WOCN) make
a visit, and mark out the best spots! That is something you
should insist on, if there is to be -any- further abdominal surgery!

Aside from all that?

This may be a case of "Ileous" as I mentioned on that other
thread, and it's curable, so have no fear. He'll be miserable
with an "NG" tube up his nose and down into his stomach,
but most of us here have lived to laugh about it... (yeah, right)

But please do have those spots marked out if there's talk about
surgery. Insist on it !! Both my ileostomies were totally unexpected,
and although my first one in 2006 was well placed, my second one
in 2010 wasn't. I presently have two to maintain, and the new
one is living hell. Get the spots marked ahead of time!!

My best wishes for you both,

John

2 ileostomies?
John - how does someone have two ileostomies. I am new to this and probably getting a temp colostomy in August. In my reading i have not heard of someone having two. How/why does that happen?

Deb - i am hoping the docs are successful with the non-surgical options for your boyfriend. It totally sucks that he has ended up back in the hospital.

John23 said:

omrhill -
Re:
"how does someone have two ileostomies"

I had an ileostomy placed in 2006.

In 2010 after surgery to resolve an obstruction in
the small intestine (due to adhesions from 2006 surgery),
they resected the small intestine to less than 1/2 length
and gave me a new ileostomy.

The old ileostomy has an unknown amount of intestine feeding it,
and the output is total mucous. But the amount is so much, that
it requires pouching. Medicare does not pay for pouching for a
mucous fistula. Secondary insurance only pays for what medicare
allows. But a mucous fistula is an abnormal (but not man-made)
occurrence. My "mucous fistula" is "man-made", and the remains
of an old ileostomy.

The surgeon reports it as "ileostomy 1" and the new ileostomy as
"ileostomy 2".

Unheard of, yes... But how else to describe it? Normally a mucous
fistula does not require much of a pouch, but my nifty thing outputs
between 1 and 4oz per hour. I have to use a urostomy appliance
for it, since nothing less will do.

Cancer and it's ramifications takes it's toll on all of us. It doesn't matter
if we do western medicine, TCM, or any alternative; we pay the price
regardless. Like a rape victim, a victim of a drive-by shooting, or
a victim of child abuse, cancer victimizes us in the same manner by
taking away what we once had - by robbing us of a normal life forever.

It stinks.

Hopes for better health!

John

Weird
John - this just shows me how much I don't know about all of this. I just assumed they could sew it closed and be done with it. I'm torn between thinking this is great that modern medicine can do this for you, or that it sucks that modern medicine can't fix this for you. Regardless, your attitude prevails. Thanks for responding.
Robin