Posted by: Marcie

Tony, you are lucky-but that little of colon helps too. Either way we do HAVE TO  empty..  Are you able to get out for trips etc.? without major worries?  I am sure that you as I, are ready for such and emergency..--in the car or walking in the woods.. I think  that your doing great in such a short amount of time.. In many areas, I am still a new-be.. So any input you have to offer me I take in with much gratitude. I don't have much of the gas issues.. But if I get into the Gattex injections, that may become as issue as the say.. Still working on that issue WITH my husband in tact. Paper work going now---------- I need a life..  And I am ready to get up and go places besides infusions.. Time will tell........... Thanks Tony. :-) Best to your and yours. M.

Hey Marcie , I have no problems getting out and about , my only real problems are that I have a slight hernia which I control well with a comfizz belt and I have a fair bit of joint pain which can be bad at times but compared to before my op I am in good health .

Sorry to hear about the joint pain.. I am sure your weather doesn't help much at all !!  Glad that your keeping the hernia within its proper form.. From what I have read, that is a difficult one to get used to and a good fine of a proper belt.. Hope your happy with it..  I remember you were dealing with the belts issues for a time.. All in all, I am doing o.k. just the weight and not able to absorb fluids.. But as I read on it could be worse with the after surgery and odd pains that I am sure will affect me later on.. (no surgeries please) As we age, we get weak=bones etc.  Got a left knee that pops out once in awhile.. Got a brace for that but don't use it much..... At least not yet.. :-) Good luck with that hernia Tony!! Looking good!! 

Hey Marcie , you have a great positive attitude , I think that having a positive outlook helps you get over or at least be able to deal with most things , the weather here does not help with joint pain , I get over to Portugal a few times a year and the joint pain nearly disappears as soon as I land , its a wonderful country with great weather and the friendliest people .

That what is hear from people that travel there..  Even beyond the tourist areas.. That is what we always did when we traveled over seas etc.  No tourist areas, Take in the inns/pubs and stay there and eat with the country/towns people. The history!! NO fancy hotels for us!! Take it all in.. :-)

Got to old for that now, but the memories stay put.. Hotels u can find anywhere.. Same 'ol same 'ol. And with Nellie having to empty when SHE says NOW kinda limited. I'll inch along  

Hey Marcie you are lucky you can go back to sleep at night after you get I am always up for an hour or so after my mind gets going and that's it 

Posted by: kiya

I should apply this strategy next time I have a blockage like symptom ... 

This would be a good strategy to avoid blockages (i.e. when you have a large meal), but I would not encourage it if you already suspect a blockage as it may compound the problem.

As with other laxatives (or foods that cause a laxative-like effect), it's nice to have the option to use them when needed.

Eric, I thought that taking Laxatives were a total No No !! Causes blockages to worsen. Etc.

Eric, Marcie has a good point.

Forcing a blockage can be very dangerous. If it causes a rupture,  sepsis will kill you. 

My experience has been to deflate the intestinal tract with a NG tube to suck out the gastric juices from the 'front' end and let the back end empty by itself.  All this in a hospital setting  due to the many dangers involved.

After some time, when you and the gut relaxed,  nature will run its course.

This has been my experience.  2 to 3 days in the hospital and then home till I was able to go back to work. 

Eric, thank you very much for your very helpful advice.  You are right.  I already have enough complicated issues and I certainly don't want them to become more complicated!  I also agree with you that I shouldn't use foods and drinks that have a laxative-like effect regularly unnecessarily but should reserve this option for occasions when I really need it.

I no longer have my large intestine and my consultant says laxatives mainly work on large intestines and this is why laxatives don't always work for me in the way I want them to.  I am prescribed medicine called 'prucalopride' which works on the brain rather than on the intestines.  I avoid using any medicines as I have some liver issues and I am also concerned about side effects which all medicines have.  I use prucalopride only when I really need it and I usually take only a quarter of the usual dosage and only once (people who suffer from slow transit chronic constipation are advised to take the medicine daily).  What's good about prucalopride is that it works within a few hours.  I used a specific type of herbal laxative daily for a few decades (which must be one of the main causes of my present situation) prior to my surgeries (three years ago and four months ago) and I always had to wait for at least 6 to 8 hours before it worked (and it often didn't work).

So, everyone, avoid laxatives if you don't want your system to be messed up!

Marcie and Zvitusk,

Thank you for your kind comments.  Of course, if I really suspect a blockage, I would go to a hospital's A&E as soon as possible.  When I had my second ileostomy operation in September last year, a new patient who was admitted as an emergency patient due to a blockage came to my room (next bed) and I watched and listened to what she had to go through - she was vomiting violently at least every few hours on her first day (she had the same treatment that Zvitusk described).  I had heard and read about a blockage but it was my first time to see a person suffering from the condition in reality.  It frightened me so much!  I decided that I would be extremely careful to avoid any occurrence of a blockage and that I would eat and drink only the foods and only in the way that would practically (at least theoretically) be impossible for me to develop a blockage.  So when my output stopped and I suffered from extreme pain in December, as I wasn't vomiting at all, I felt almost certain that it wasn't a blockage but because I was in extreme pain, I went to the A&E.  Because my output had stopped, I was allowed no food or drink for four days and received IV fluids during this time.  Eventually I began to have a very small amount of output (very sticky - like honey) and I was discharged a few days later.

Z, I has sepsis along with backed up bile, bleeding interenaly with U.C.  Which out me into a 2 month comma, when I entered the hospital..  3 1/2 yrs, ago along with C-diff... All a surprise to me,  that I was so sick when I came out of the comma.. Then Nellie arrived a few months later.. I used M.O.M. to un-block me. nothing.. So I gave up on that idea real fast.. Although this did not cause me my major problem, but sure glad I didn't go any further with this simple area of un-doing what was stuck so to speak.. After reading so much on this blog!!!

Kiya, Yes relaxing the mind is much better than these over the counter of laxitives.. Even mussel relaxers are better.. That Is what they give u in the hospital to help..  IF u took these meds. on a daily basis, on a very low count, it may be best for you.. Talk with your Dr.  about this.. When we get nervous -- we always yes, always tighten up every where.. Until u get your issues into proper place, and working regular, etc, no problem going off them..  As your liver goes, talk with that Dr. also.. Don't forget, EVERYTHING IN OUR BODYS  gets tightened up when we get strung out... Yoga, cannot help you now.. (nice quiet music is nice) Yoga is  much streching and balance, which your NOT ready for now.. Got to keep a low profile body wise.. But after your taken care of and back on your feet so to speak, maybe a big of soft Yoga will be nice for you.. It is a nice mental release but most of these moves WE cannot do ever.. 

I have Valium here for me when I get tight.. Low dosages... Really --- but if I get into a hurting tight feeling in my gut, I take 2 of them and some tea and a nice hot bath to relax. I only ask for 15 pills of these.. and have many left-- Not big on oils either my friend.. BUT!! If  needed? it worth the try before the E.R. Then your talking about lots of med big time.. Honey, your so sick right now and nervous NO ONE can relax if we were on the normal side any ways and you/we at times, have it rough right now.. or at times.. Once your get to your chosen Dr. and get things straightened out, you will learn your new-NEW normal..your not there yet.. Got a ways to go... Then a better Kyia and kiya will be in control.. Once again!! 

As being uptight -- When I/of some of us have to pee, and in a hurry or someone is waiting to use the bath room, Kids yelling, just cant really empty the bladder... "hum, I though I had more to empty of peeing?" It just stops...... = nerves, and getting uptight.. Body language once again.. Now my Nellie is a different story she just keep on going...no control.. When NO blockages... :-)  

Soon you will see the emptying of ease and no pain or worries once you feel mentaly secure and feeling better.. Good Luck on your adventure of wellness!!!!!!!!!!!  You will make it.. M.

Marcie,

Thank you very much for your kind and thorough advice.  You told me your story before and it's amazing that you overcame all these.  I admire you.

I know I get nervous easily and I have been working hard on this.  I tell myself to 'relax' but motility is controlled by the autonomic nervous system which does things outside my consciousness ... : (

My constipation or blockage-like symptom begins with 'a hurting tight feeling in my gut' that you describes.  Like you, perhaps I should try something like valium that can calm my system when this happens. 

Posted by: Marcie

Eric, I thought that taking Laxatives were a total No No !! Causes blockages to worsen. Etc.

Posted by: Zvitusk

Eric, Marcie has a good point.

Forcing a blockage can be very dangerous. If it causes a rupture,  sepsis will kill you. 

 Of course, which is why I stated that I would NOT encourage people to use laxatives if they suspect a blockage. It's very risky and often leads to more complications. 

 the valium is good for when you KNOW that your starting into trouble as you seem to be doing a lot lately.as any one would.. Only human.  In the early years, I was a mess.. I was put on anti-depressants.. That was a major help to me, and I was able to conquer  Nellie and get my mind back into focus to make the climb to my new normal. Some of us just need some help in this area.. I found in my support group everyone was on them :-) Then slowly went off. I am back to a lower dose now, and plan on keeping these in my formation of life.. Life at times offer many difficulties and I get upset easily - So With these I can pass it by without a whim.. OR take care of it and off to another day of easy goings.. so the valium really doesn't enter my body at all.. I got 15 pills of these for over 2 years  and still many left.  I hate having lots of meds around Get confused..  If I find what works for me and I CAN WORK WITH IT, So what????????? I find YOU/I have to WORK WITH medications like this.. Nothing really takes care of "IT" I work WITH the med.. Simple as that.. That is what they are for.. Some over use them.. But in reality, over use doesn't work.. I always ask for the low does.. Work up if needed and if needed back to the low dose. Then off......  What ever get you/me/anyone through something hard as what we/me are going through.. Brought me back to Marcie-- And my family like this very much.. :-) I can think better about new things like this Gattex injection.. Yes, I am scared and thirsty for MORE medical people informations. Mentally, I am ready to follow through at my convience.. I can go forward, or say no..

IF this works, My major emptying will become less. And I may become healthy.. 

NG tube gosh I hate that thing . It's torture but has to be done . I had one 1 week straight I was about to loose my mind . 😢😢😢

Kiya, talk with you Dr. as the above, I am sure that they will give you something to help you along for awhile.. Don't have to be a lifer.. which I don't find you to be in such a state of such needs.  Your in an area of life of more surgerys and difficult options that MAY come your way..  A healthy mind is or helps to make a healthy body. You have a lot ahead of you.. 

Telling my mind to relax is like telling Nellie to knock it off..  Trust me I tried it.. No body lessoned to me.. So I sought out some little help--

After my relaxing, my emptying became a bit less, and no more cramps.. I was wrapped tighter than a drum.. 

Bubbles, I woke up with an NG tube.. why did they put that stupid thing in me? Is this for blockages and getting you to empty?

Does this belong as a reply to the lounge?  / hospital? Lets go there.. :-)

I took your advice and answered in          " NG TUBES AND OTHER HORRIBLE STORIES "

You are right to keep conversations on topic.

I realize this may be a little late for some of you...but, I noticed when I cut bread out of my diet that the gas was haugely  decreased for me.  I also empty about 11 times a day and one to three times during the night.  I am always full liquid output and if I am fasting I empty about four times a day...and still once at night.

Linda

Eric...I have a question regarding the DTC Certification...also I am not sure how I missed out on being included in this when it was happening.   THere does not seem to be a lot of space for the doctor to write down the things you suggested we make note of.  Should the doctor make comment about the length of time and duration, time it takes when travelling, leaks and blockages time and healing....my numerous hospital stays and so forth.  How did your doctor do this?  I made notes of your points t take to the office when he fills it out.  I am also in the middle of the week in tracking what time and how long it takes to care for the requirements of the Ostomy.   Can he and should he include another paper with this information on it?  Thank you for your help.

Linda