colostomy or illeostomy question

MelanieT
MelanieT Member Posts: 186
edited March 2014 in Colorectal Cancer #1
Chris has both and has really never had pain with them but the last 3 weeks he is having severe abdominal pain. Could it be from the ostomies? and if so what could it be?

Thanks,
Mel

Comments

  • John23
    John23 Member Posts: 2,122 Member
    #2
    Adhesions
    Re:
    "colostomy or illeostomy
    Chris has both "

    Both? Are you sure? An ileostomy terminates at the end of the ileum,
    leaving the colon doing nothing. A colostomy terminates prior to the
    rectum, and the ileum feeds it as it usually/normally does.

    That aside.... The pains are most often from "adhesions". That condition
    is normal for any abdominal surgery. The organs have been manipulated,
    and the "stuff" that's usually around everything (like that fat in a canned ham?),
    is gone, leaving the organs rubbing against things they normally don't rub against.

    That...... causes the organs to stick to things, like other organs. Its
    painful, and sometimes it goes away, sometimes not.

    The real problem is -if- the intestine gets "kinked" or twisted because
    it's sticking to something. Worse case, is -if- it kinks enough to
    close the flow off altogether; a blockage.... or if it's strangulated,
    and it's blood supply is cut off. Those are the only two cases
    that are serious enough to operate.

    Any operation to remove an adhesion will cause more adhesions.

    Repeat that a few times, because it's a fact of "adhesion life".

    Chewing food well, can help things pass through even a kinked
    part of intestine.

    Remember also, that there should be no heavy lifting. Muscles
    will pull in against the organs, making them move around. The body
    needs time to heal and rebuild some of that natural packing.

    And of course, you don't want to get a hernia..... It's easy to happen,
    when you have had so much surgery. Give things time to heal.


    Good luck!
  • MelanieT
    MelanieT Member Posts: 186
    #3
    John23 said:

    Adhesions
    Re:
    "colostomy or illeostomy
    Chris has both "

    Both? Are you sure? An ileostomy terminates at the end of the ileum,
    leaving the colon doing nothing. A colostomy terminates prior to the
    rectum, and the ileum feeds it as it usually/normally does.

    That aside.... The pains are most often from "adhesions". That condition
    is normal for any abdominal surgery. The organs have been manipulated,
    and the "stuff" that's usually around everything (like that fat in a canned ham?),
    is gone, leaving the organs rubbing against things they normally don't rub against.

    That...... causes the organs to stick to things, like other organs. Its
    painful, and sometimes it goes away, sometimes not.

    The real problem is -if- the intestine gets "kinked" or twisted because
    it's sticking to something. Worse case, is -if- it kinks enough to
    close the flow off altogether; a blockage.... or if it's strangulated,
    and it's blood supply is cut off. Those are the only two cases
    that are serious enough to operate.

    Any operation to remove an adhesion will cause more adhesions.

    Repeat that a few times, because it's a fact of "adhesion life".

    Chewing food well, can help things pass through even a kinked
    part of intestine.

    Remember also, that there should be no heavy lifting. Muscles
    will pull in against the organs, making them move around. The body
    needs time to heal and rebuild some of that natural packing.

    And of course, you don't want to get a hernia..... It's easy to happen,
    when you have had so much surgery. Give things time to heal.


    Good luck!

    When the first took out his
    When the first took out his tumor they had to give him the colostomy then a week later his bowel ruptured causing emergency surgey and left him with the illeostmy... the colostomy does not produce anything he just puts a stoma cap on it.. the illy is the funcioning one but he as had alot of pain around both of them and it does not seem to be going away. He is hopin that if his scans are clear in march he can have them both reversed in april... Just was wondering if the pain should be something to be concerned over..thanks for the info

    mel
  • KATE58
    KATE58 Member Posts: 299
    #4
    MelanieT said:

    When the first took out his
    When the first took out his tumor they had to give him the colostomy then a week later his bowel ruptured causing emergency surgey and left him with the illeostmy... the colostomy does not produce anything he just puts a stoma cap on it.. the illy is the funcioning one but he as had alot of pain around both of them and it does not seem to be going away. He is hopin that if his scans are clear in march he can have them both reversed in april... Just was wondering if the pain should be something to be concerned over..thanks for the info

    mel

    you did not say what kind of
    you did not say what kind of pain he had around the ileostomy.
    i did not have a colostomy ,but i have an ileostomy.when the (reg) nurse showed me
    how to change bag ,she said to leave a space between wafer and stoma.
    i had a burning pain after.when my doctor saw it ,she said that space is only for colostomies, and with an ileostomy the wafer should be snug,but not tight,around stoma.
    feces from the small colon has digestive juices in it that can be very caustic to the skin.
    so you want to avoid contact as much as possible.
  • MelanieT
    MelanieT Member Posts: 186
    #5
    KATE58 said:

    you did not say what kind of
    you did not say what kind of pain he had around the ileostomy.
    i did not have a colostomy ,but i have an ileostomy.when the (reg) nurse showed me
    how to change bag ,she said to leave a space between wafer and stoma.
    i had a burning pain after.when my doctor saw it ,she said that space is only for colostomies, and with an ileostomy the wafer should be snug,but not tight,around stoma.
    feces from the small colon has digestive juices in it that can be very caustic to the skin.
    so you want to avoid contact as much as possible.

    the pain is inside his
    the pain is inside his stomach.. he always says my guts hurt so bad.. its not around the stoma. I know what you are talking about we also had that problem at the first when we were trying to figure the whole thing out. Also i have noticed his stomach swelling a little..
  • KATE58
    KATE58 Member Posts: 299
    #6
    MelanieT said:

    the pain is inside his
    the pain is inside his stomach.. he always says my guts hurt so bad.. its not around the stoma. I know what you are talking about we also had that problem at the first when we were trying to figure the whole thing out. Also i have noticed his stomach swelling a little..

    I think you need to call
    I think you need to call doctor
    swelling could be fluid collecting in abdomen.
    he could have a blockage.did you say he just had recent surgery?he could have a leakage.
    at least if he gets checked out and it's nothing ,you can be relieved
  • MelanieT
    MelanieT Member Posts: 186
    #7
    KATE58 said:

    I think you need to call
    I think you need to call doctor
    swelling could be fluid collecting in abdomen.
    he could have a blockage.did you say he just had recent surgery?he could have a leakage.
    at least if he gets checked out and it's nothing ,you can be relieved

    thanks kate we are going
    thanks kate we are going today... he had surgery in july thats why it bothers me. he has not had pain for awhile now and all of the sudden he hurts again.. thanks for the advice:)

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