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Bowel obstruction 🙁

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Tigerlily
(@tigerlily)
Joined: 4 years ago
Posts: 421
Topic starter  

After 8 years with an ostomy, I had my first bowel obstruction 4 days ago. I was alone at the cottage (of course!) so I had to call an ambulance since I was in too much pain to drive. My husband and son drove furiously from the city to meet me at the hospital at about 1am. I was spared the naso-gastric tube because the X-ray didn’t reveal that it would be particularly helpful, I guess. So they gave me an IV drip with anti nausea and pain meds, which really helped. By the time I was discharged about 8 hours later, I was able to pass gas and a tiny bit of output. There was nothing conclusive about why this happened, but I suspect the large amounts of Imodium I have been taking daily for years. Mostly it has worked, but I think on that day, I rolled the dice and lost, with disastrous results. I still feel as though I’ve been hit by a truck. I wonder if I’ve cracked a rib from all the vomiting - I am having difficulty taking deep breaths and finding a comfortable position to sleep. I have renewed empathy for all those who have experienced this fifth ring of hell!

 

The ER doctor suggested I try Questran (cholestyramine) instead of the Imodium. It’s a drug normally used to treat cholesterol, but it also treats chronic diarrhea. He’s given me a one month prescription, which I intend to use when I get back to normal. Apparently, it coagulates and bulks up stool. My question to VO is, has anyone here had any experience with this? Thanks in advance for your help. 

Laurie

Just a semicolon


   
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(@john68)
Joined: 7 years ago
Posts: 2058
 

Hi Laurie, I can’t help you with your query, But best wishes getting back to normal. These problems such have a way of rocking up at the worst possible time. 🙏

ileostomy 31st August 1994 for Crohns


   
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 LK
(@dlkfiretruck)
Joined: 7 years ago
Posts: 1561
 

Hey Laurie... I'm so sorry to hear you experienced all that "fifth ring of hell" blockage stuff, glad you were able to skip the NG Tube.  So not fun at all!  

As far as that medication goes, I have'nt heard of it before. Sorry, I wish I could help there. The feeling like you broke a rib or two,  including sprained tonsils, been there!  Hang in there & rest up as much as you can!! A hot bath does help soothe the chest muscles with some Epsom Salts. You have every ounce of my sympathy & a hug! Gently ofcourse! 

Linda


   
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LLNorth
(@llholiday)
Joined: 6 years ago
Posts: 563
 

Oh, Laurie, goodness, I do hope that you are feeling much better. 

Colostomy 4/30/18.
I love the smell of coffee in the morning. It smells like .... victory.


   
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VeganOstomy
(@veganostomy)
Admin
Joined: 11 years ago
Posts: 4375
 

Oh, Laurie. I'm so sorry to hear about the obstruction. Do you know what caused it? Was it food related or something else?

I haven't heard of Questran, but looking up studies related to ileostomies, at least, there is some mention of it.

Bile acid deficiency

Traditional bile acid diarrhea resulting from bile acid malabsorption is not possible in the colectomized patient, as the secretory mechanism resides in the colon. Thus, bile acid binders such as cholestyramine may only serve to worsen fat malabsorption and steatorrhea and should not be prescribed in patients with end ileostomies. (source)

Are you able to run this by your GI doctor? The ER doc may have been well-intentioned, but our messed up insides require a bit of finesse when it comes to prescribed meds.

Just your friendly neighborhood ostomate.
~ Crohn's Disease ¦ Ileostomy ~


   
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Tigerlily
(@tigerlily)
Joined: 4 years ago
Posts: 421
Topic starter  

So, in the ongoing saga, I had to go back to the ER on Tuesday, and I’m still there.  I had a gallbladder attack, and it’s looking like what I thought was a bowel obstruction might actually have been gallbladder. So the surgeon is trying antibiotics and fluids to calm my gallbladder down. He would rather not remove it while it’s so “hot”. Hopefully, it will stabilize, and then it can come out in 6 weeks or so. 

Regarding the Questran, I won’t be embarking on a new protocol of any kind until this gets sorted. I’ve had enough fun for awhile.

 

Laurie

Just a semicolon


   
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(@john68)
Joined: 7 years ago
Posts: 2058
 

Hi Laurie, That’s not fair. Hopefully they will be able to pinpoint the trouble and get you back on track. Best wishes and keep in touch 👍🙏

ileostomy 31st August 1994 for Crohns


   
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Chelly
(@chelly)
Joined: 2 years ago
Posts: 605
 

Oh gosh Laurie, I’m so sorry to hear what you’re going through. I hope the docs can find the cause and get you sorted. 
thinking of U! 


   
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Cat momma
(@cat-momma)
Joined: 2 years ago
Posts: 94
 

Dear Lauri, I'm so sorry to hear of your troubles. I hope the doctors will figure this out for you soon! 

Incontinent in a better way, since 12 July 2023


   
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(@squeakyandliza)
Joined: 6 years ago
Posts: 1038
 

Hi Laurie, 

I am sorry to hear what you’ve been going through. I’m glad they have figured out the true culprit of your pain. 

I am always so careful of what I eat, to avoid a blockage, so also have no idea what it feels like. It is easy to see how intense stomach pain would lead you to that conclusion. I’m sure I would think the same thing. So, this is a good reminder to me to not assume any tummy problems are ostomy or Crohn’s related. 😊

I hope everything is all sorted out soon. 

-Liza
Ileostomy 6/18/2018
“May your day be bright and your bag be light.”


   
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Kirsten
(@kirsten)
Joined: 1 year ago
Posts: 56
 

Oh dear, Laurie, I'm so sorry to hear about your adventures! I enjoyed some gallbladder "colic" when I lost a bunch of weight very rapidly. It's awful!!! I hope you get to the bottom of it - and the end of it! - very soon!!


   
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Tigerlily
(@tigerlily)
Joined: 4 years ago
Posts: 421
Topic starter  

I came home last night. The pain is greatly diminished, and I’m back on solid food and antibiotics. I’m hoping that things will settle down before I have my gallbladder out in 6 weeks. Now I have to begin a low fat diet, or I will enrage the thing again.👿 A whole new learning curve. 

I want to comment on the VO community. While in hospital, I didn’t have much to do, and didn’t really have the attention span to read much of the book I brought. But I did look at my iPad, and I read ALL of the comments people left for me. Thank you for your kind and encouraging posts. I know all of you understand the fear and isolation and uncertainty that inevitably accompanies a hospital stay. We don’t know each other, but we are connected in a different way - by compassion and optimism. With all the hatred and uncertainty happening in the world right now, doesn’t it feel good to belong to such a caring community?

Laurie

Just a semicolon


   
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LLNorth
(@llholiday)
Joined: 6 years ago
Posts: 563
 

Gall bladder trouble can have such a variety of symptoms. I’m glad your pain has lessened and that you are home. Good wishes for your surgery; when I had my gall bladder removed some years ago it was immediately life-changing for the better.

Colostomy 4/30/18.
I love the smell of coffee in the morning. It smells like .... victory.


   
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