I know the name now. Will Google. Thanks

Kerby, Just to know some of the images can be quite intense! Eric has warned of this previously. If it is this their are many different levels of severity!

Hi. I read the card about what to do for a blockage. I have 2 suggestions: (1) for Step One: At Home, #2 - should read "only consume clear liquids". And, even though 'Step 1 at home' says to drink coke, I would be cautious about this because carbonation can increase gas and bloating, thereby producing more intestinal pain. For Step 2 (no output, vomiting), #2, another sentence to read, "Do not drink or eat anything, not even water."

I'm also a bit concerned that the bulk of the instructions for the "uninformed" hospital staff deal with intestinal lavage/food bolus obstructions and not with blockages caused by adhesions. I wonder why no instructions were included for this scenario which is not uncommon. Insertion of a NG tube (yuck!!!!) followed by bowel rest (i.e. IV nutrients only, nothing by mouth) for 3 days is commonly prescribed in order to try to avoid surgery to remove the adhesions.

Blockages can also be caused by part of your bowel being captured or caught in a abdominal hernia. Symptoms feel pretty much the same as the result is the same, stuff stops going through. Nausea and pain ensures. . The treatment and diagnosis as well as the potential for ongoing problems and serious heath issues are quite different. It happened to me.

Ask questions!

Posted by: bluesgal

(1) for Step One: At Home, #2 - should read "only consume clear liquids". And, even though 'Step 1 at home' says to drink coke, I would be cautious about this because carbonation can increase gas and bloating, thereby producing more intestinal pain.

The important distinction, which might be worth putting in italics or bold is that those specific instructions apply only if there is still output.

If there no output, then I would definitely not recommend carbonated beverages! 

I'm also a bit concerned that the bulk of the instructions for the "uninformed" hospital staff deal with intestinal lavage/food bolus obstructions and not with blockages caused by adhesions. I wonder why no instructions were included for this scenario which is not uncommon. 

They do advise in step 4 to "Obtain flat abdominal x-ray or CT scan to rule out volvulus and determine the site/cause of the obstruction. Check for local  blockage (peristomal hernia or stomal stenosis) via digital manipulation of the stoma lumen."

Blockages due to adhesions probably require more than what's given on the card (friends of mine needed surgery to resolve them).  

You cannot educate the hospital with one page. All you can do is play the odds and hope that they do no harm.

Possible solutions include education of emergency room nurses by WOCN. 

It is a scary world out there .

Posted by: VeganOstomy

That was quick! The UOAA published it, but their original link is not working. 

HERE is a copy of the file  :-)

Thank you very much...  hope not to need it, but have in case I do!    :mrgreen: 

Where is the link for this card mentioned for ER visits?

Posted by: Littlered1

Where is the link for this card mentioned for ER visits?

HERE

Posted by: @veganostomy

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That was quick! The UOAA published it, but their original link is not working. 

HERE is a copy of the file  :-)

 Sorry if this is a dumb question but I notice it’s aimed at ileostomies. Do these procedures apply to colostomies too?

Posted by: @dalby

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Posted by: @veganostomy

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That was quick! The UOAA published it, but their original link is not working. 

HERE is a copy of the file  :-)

 Sorry if this is a dumb question but I notice it’s aimed at ileostomies. Do these procedures apply to colostomies too?

I'm sure it's possible for those instructions to be applied to a colostomy, but colostomy blockages are quite rare and not likely to be as severe.

Posted by: @veganostomy

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I'm sure it's possible for those instructions to be applied to a colostomy, but colostomy blockages are quite rare and not likely to be as severe.

Thanks for the reply. Much appreciated. 🙂