Hi Alex, Really sorry to hear about all you have went through. The spuds are gonna cause output to be thick. Yep the soup is a good idea and maybe a few fruit smoothies. I also thought of nut milks that are available and make a shake. Even short walks just to keep the system moving. Best wishes for a speedy recovery 👍

Alex... Sorry to hear you've had such a nasty go of things! I've had my share of blockages & most always came out of it with more surgery or feeling like my abdomen has been used used for a group punching bag. I have an ileostomy with short gut syndrome & my residual guts are bound with too much scar tissue so any gas build up is nasty stuff in the pain department.

Theres a few things I do to help ease the pain & speed things up as much as my body allows but time & patience, as hard as that can be, heals.   Heating pads or warm hot water bottles help to soothe the tightness & relax the outer muscles. Plus a water bottle adds a little pressure to encourage gas movement.  Apply to your back also.  Extra strength tylenol or regular if you can take it for pain.   Lots of rest & soups as John suggested & short walks at first do help too.  I test myself out with a few walks around my home for a few days then move to the street.  Buckling over in public can mean a neighbor induced ambulance ride.  :{  ... not fun either.  Lol! When your ready move on with longer walks outside. Breathe deep while resting  & walking as your pain allows,  this  helps move your guts & gas.

As far as foods go, try & stay with fluids & cream soups or well blended for about 3 or more days or until the bloat starts to go down.   I take Gas-X or a no name brand to help.  When you do start adding foods, start soft & put your fork down to chew  to disintegrate or to a powder.  As you know, small meals several times a day eating to satisfied not full, full can be hard on your gut action.  Avoid any gas causing foods. Brown or red beans seem to cause more gas for me then white or Chick/ Garbonzo Peas.  Avoid Yeast risen bread products, so even food risen with Baking Soda & B. Powder can cause gas too.  Flat breads, not Naan at first & crackers with little amounts of rising agents work good for me.  We can buy a Pretzel cracker here in Canada,  called Flip Sides, tasty, & if you can't get that try pretzel sicks if your needing a chew & bread type product but start with a small amount & drink with it. Prestzels dipped in Hummus after cream cheese are tasty & add nutrtion.  A creamy cheese melts in your tummy verses slice of cheese.  I find No-name brand pretzel sticks are heavier salted & it could be you need a little extra right now. Start with a  .25 cent size handful until you know how they go down. 

 Fruit smoothies made at home with yogurt & juice or nut milk & really well blended fruits are good.  I make mine with 1/3 Yogurt, 1/3  O.J.  or milk & 1/3 fruits in the blending cintainer. I use a blend of frozen blueberry, strawberry & mango,  heavier on what you prefer . No ice, the frozen fruits cover that plus your guts have already had a shock from the blockage.  Frozen fruits make a thicker drink but still smooth.  Eating a plain bowl of yogurt is good for your guts too. To the smoothy,  I shake in about an 1/8 teaspoon of Tumeric, more if I'm using a blender & make a lot to have ready, verses made in the magic bullet.  You can make Popsicles from the smoothies above if you need a frozen treat. Too much Tumeric can leave a bitter after taste so go easy until you know what you enjoy & it helps with inflamation.  Its hard to avoid seeds with some fruits,  but I've never had an issue with blueberry & strawberry seeds. If your concerned try eating a few 3 or 4 crackers chewed well with the smoothy, maybe they'll help collect them a bit. But only a few as the seeds are so teensy.

When your ready for a soft unblended meal, start with crackers & a cream cheese which melts, rather than slices & a cream soup for a day or two then move in to more substantial foods but chew well. 

V-8 Juice or tomatoe juice is good for adding some of the vitamins & nutrients & fine fibre you may feel missing during this time.  Try adding a good pinch of herbs, salt & black pepper. Plus its a different taste compared to fruit smoothies. If you enjoy puddings try making Tapioca with the small beads. Think nutrition & flavors while waiting for your guts to settle down. You can add blended fruit to Tapioca or use applesauce. Avoid cinnamon it can cause gas, try a bit of nutmeg for added taste. 

I'd suggest keeping a food journal during this time to keep track of what works best for your guts regarding bloating & feel in your tummy & satisfaction incase of a "next time".  Change positions from left to right sides & try a careful cat stretching position as well to encouage gas moving lower down your abdomen towards your stoma. 

I hope this is helpful. Feel better soon & let us know how your doing. 

Linda

Ouch! Thanks for sharing that @alexanderuk.

Rest is going to be the #1 factor in healing. Don't overdo anything.

As for diet, I'd also suggest keeping it really light (more on the liquid end of things) and as easily digestible as possible. Just like with the post ostomy surgery diet, nothing that will block you up, but as John hinted, don't thicken your output up too much.

I like @dlkfiretruck's smoothie idea. I'd personally take some kind of meal replacement powder to make sure that I'm getting my nutrients covered without needing to eat more.

Good luck with your recovery!

Thanks for all the feedback everyone, I'll certainly be giving much of it a try!

One thing I've been curious about, has anyone ever taken charcoal supplements to reduce excess gas (colic) post an incident like this? I only ask because I know most stoma bags come with charcoal to absorb excess wind - and post trauma, our stomas tend to get a bit gassy (to the point of cramps, pain and ballooning bags like crazy). So I figured maybe targeted charcoal at our guts might assist the situation. Or maybe not, either way, I decided it was relavent enough to query.

@alexanderuk  ... Alex, about the charcoal filters... all they really do is help let gas out before 12 hours use with  little odor, but they usually plug before that time. The Hollister filters, well, good try Hollister but thats a failure!  I digress! Lol!   I have heard of edible charcoal, but maybe try that in an off recovery time.  It may be best to just avoid foods you know that cause gas.

Hang in there!! 

Posted by: @alexanderuk

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Hey Everyone,

Just thought I'd provide an interesting update (for those who don't know me I've got an Ileostomy that's suffered intestinal twist, hernia & prolapse in the past). I've been back in hospital again, this time because I suffered a blockage. Not the standard (whoopsie wrong food) type, but apparently my hernia sealed over the exit hole preventing all the grot from escaping me! Thankfully the doctors after a lot of positioning and poking managed to squeeze the exit open again without needing to go in surgically and the stoma is draining.

Here's the downside, my guts feel like post surgery because of the trauma so obviously it'll take a while for a stomach forced into ileus (and then discharging lites of horror) to recover. The surgical team said I didn't do anything wrong as it's down to the hernia however obviously they won't operate unless they have to (due to the high chance of reoccurrence of hernias).

Here's my question: Is there anything I can do to speed up the healing process? I tried soft mash food yesterday but I just ended up with colic pain like you wouldn't believe. So I'm reverting back to soups (little and often) to stay hydrated in the hope that my gut will stop giving me angry pains so it can heal (and withholding output until dumping it all at once, probably due to being in shock). I'm not able to do much exercise to work through the gas because the cramping is so intense.

Thoughts and ideas welcome!

so sorry to hear of this. I did have an ileus twice once before a stoma and once after my proctocolectomy m. I was always told by the nurses after going home that if I feel like cramps or blockage feelings go back to liquids. Gatorade G-2, broths etc.. then I would slowly try soft foods. Go slowly . Very, very slowly when moving from liquid to soft to regular. When you feel it hurting or crampy then step back again, it took me a few months. I took simeticone or it’s called gas x. For gas per my surgeon That always helped me and you can get those cheap at the drug store. 
I would be very careful as to trying any remedies in your own with your tummy in this state. 

I second the Gas-x. Actually I use a generic from Walmart called Equate Gas Relief which works wonders!

@veganostomy    Eric..  Do you use a meal replacement product? If so how does it affect you,  as in Gas or?...   I've haven't considered this bcuz I always felt eating my vitamins & minerals was important but with short gut syndrome I'm starting to lack a lot of what I can't absorb in a faster transit time. 

If so..  May I ask what kind of meal replacements you use IF you use any?? Do you use them regularly? Can the cost be claimed on income tax?  I've tried the bottled liquids but they are costly & gave me rather unwanted side affects. Recognizing every body reacts differently,  I am wondering if theres a powder that can added to a smoothy that may be used. My eyes just don't allow for a good look into these  products.  A recent phone call from my attentive GP has revealed I need to up the Vitamin B shots again to every 10 days. My question is due to not absorbing vitamins & minerals from foods, let alone  tablet form, even broken in 1\4's go thru me mostly as they went in & covering all on an individual basis is  expensive & frustrating.  But in powder form added to a smoothy... I have to wonder if it would help...  ugh! there must be something you or others here recommend??? My transit time with a meal averages 3 to 4 hours even before changing mostly to Vegan. I'll be needing to keep up with a 3 yr old again soon & man, I forgot how those babies have energy to burn!! Lol!  Her Dad goes back to work soon after my coming surgery so I have a little time to try something else here  . I'd love some input on this, but,  I'm just not sure if this is the right forum for it...? 

Posted by: @dlkfiretruck

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Eric..  Do you use a meal replacement product? If so how does it affect you,  as in Gas or?...   I've haven't considered this bcuz I always felt eating my vitamins & minerals was important but with short gut syndrome I'm starting to lack a lot of what I can't absorb in a faster transit time.

I don't use them regularly, but I do use them for added calories/nutrients when I'm bike riding long distances. Maybe a few times a week.

I've found that they don't impact my output at all, except if it's fudge or chocolate, then my output becomes sludgy.

There's also a difference between products. Some are simply protein powder, and others are true, high-calorie meal replacements. Others are "green drinks" with a focus more on vitamins and minerals from various veg and greens.

They are all so easy to mix into a smoothie, into oatmeal or cold cereal, or on its own as a flavoured drink.

I don't really have any preference, but I do enjoy Soylent (the Original flavour is very bland, but I enjoy it).

Cost is the biggest factor, or else I would probably use the more often. I don't think there's any way to write them off as a tax expense, unless maybe if they are sold as a prescription diet or something like that.

@veganostomy  ... Thank you Eric!  Is this an online powder?? This is also something I'll be seeing what my GP recommends too before I make a choice. I'm so frustrated with crashing after 3 or 4 hours of being up on most days. I can push myself thru which is what I do on Gwen days, but I'm so much more exhausted during her days & after she goes home & usually I'm shaking by the time I get to go rest.  Something I can use for those days may be ideal.   

The only saving grace here is that this little human still LOVES a daily Nap & I need to rest at the same time! Then it's usually only an hour or so till her Mom & Dad come get her. 

If anyone else has suggestions I'd love your input!  

Posted by: @dlkfiretruck

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Thank you Eric!  Is this an online powder??

99% of the powder I get is from Amazon.ca :)

Low vitamin B12 will cause tiredness, as will low iron, as will low vitamin D :( 

If it's NOT an absorption problem, then supplements or diet can help. But if you are having trouble absorbing them through diet/oral supplements, then other options are usually given.

Vitamin B12 shots are common. I typically take sublingual (under the tongue) B12 as it bypasses having to be absorbed in the ileum/small intestine. I believe they also have B12 patches.

Sometimes liquid supplements work better than pills.

Lab tests to show deficiencies are better than guessing, and it sounds like you and your doctor are already doing that, which is great.

Hi Alexander,

just checking in to see how your coming along. I hope your healing and on the mend. 

I'm getting there. Starting to tolerate normal foods but one curious thing is happening. Since the incident with the parastomal hernia blocking my stoma (with the paralytic ileus) my bladder has been misbehaving (feeling like I need to pee all the time). I've not got a UTI (done a dipstick test) and theres no sign of any kidney stones (got a history of those) but I'm wondering if the hernia (based on it's position) might be pressing on the bladder causing the issue? No idea if anyone here would have any experience of such things but I thought I'd throw the question out there as urology haven't got any answers for me (I've seen them and had the usual tests and got an all clear), haha.

@alexanderuk  ... Hi there!  Its good to hear your moving forward. Be patient with yourself and your body. Its going to take time for everything to settle down for you. 

I have some bladder issues that have become worse since my ostomy but I've also got a bladder disease called Interstitial Cystitis.  My GP has prescribed a little blue pill that works great for me..  most days. Don't be afraid to tell this problem your having to your GP!  When you think about all the messing around that went on in your abdominal cavity including the placement of a catheter for during & after surgery your bladder is likely rebelling and honestly we can't really blame the little sucker can we?! Lol! 

Try and track how often you have issues, how long and approx. how much is leaked if its not just dribbles on laughing & take that info to your GP.   I'd suggest doing some Kegel excercises to start with.  It can help strengthen the bladder muscles to hopefully avoid adding a pill. 

Stay as well as you can be or in  an ostomates day... as well as our body lets us! Lol!

@alexanderuk I think maybe your right. Maybe something is pushing on your bladder. Or maybe something is now lifted off the bladder and you’re going more now? Have they done a ct scan to take a look to see if something is pushing there?

Sorry for the late reply! I've been in the hospital, and they finally uncovered some kidney stones! They apparently had been there but had gone unnoticed due to lack of initial symptoms and (ironically) because my naughty stoma decided to have that blockage which had me nil-by-mouth (so I got dehydrated for a brief time). Either way they've zapped them so I'm sore but back to normal (as we get at least).

One curious thing I've noticed since my stoma blockage is an odd patch of (maybe) skin? below the stoma itself. It's not sore or wet so I don't believe it's broken, but it feels smooth and unlike regular skin. I'd hasten to say a granuloma but it's stretched over a wide area and the edge is uneven. I've attached a photo in case anyone has any fun ideas! I'd bring it up with the stoma nurse but as it's not annoying me it's more of a curious paint blob mark than anything I'm worried about at this time.

@alexanderuk  ... Hello Alex! Sorry to hear about the kidney stones but Yahoo they found them! Stones are no fun to pass so having them big enough to blast may have been a blessing. 

That paint splotch of skin looks very much like angry skin about to go raw!  It usually means there was a leak there.  If it goes raw it can be bleed and become pretty sore to deal with.   If that happens when you change your pouch let the skin dry well.  If you use Skin Barrier Spray or wipes, you'll want to apply that as usual then stoma powder sprinkled on & blow off the extra to help absorb moisture.  If that area is on the underside of your stoma it can be hard to blow off the stoma powder, try using a straw or rolled up piece of paper to help reach the area.  You may need more frequent pouch changes until it heals.   

I hope this helps. Keep healing from all you've been through & listen to your body.   Stay hydrated. 

Linda

@alexanderuk oh gosh! You really are going through a lot lately. I’m glad they found the stones and took care of them. The red blob I think LK is right maybe the start of some irritation. I get weird things like that too from time to time. But it always goes back to normal after a while. It may be just leaking a bit on that edge. Try a ring or a barrier wipe maybe?