Stoma issues

[Eriksendi]

I had a stoma after my second chemo due to a bowel perforation. When I had my TAH my bowel was resected as well but my stoma was not reversed at the same time as I was still having chemo and the fear of another blockage was too great. It's healed and ready for reversal but I've been too frightened to have it done. However now I'm getting bloating and having to take laxatives the whole time. When I eat it feels like the food is stuck just under my ribs. I am not being sick and not having any pain. I feel sick though. If I take another laxative it clears through and I can eat again. Been to my gp who says my stomach feels ok, I've had a ct last month which is clear and my ca 125 is holding at 11. My team have said it's not cancer. Went to a and e who examined me and told me it's constipation, more laxatives. I'm going to see the stoma nurse tomorrow to see if she can help - any ideas what could be going on with it?

[Eriksendi]

P s I recently had a course of steroids and antibiotics and it's not been right since. I put on a stone in weight on the steroids - could this have something to do with it?

[Coldethyl]

Hi- is this an ileostomy or colostomy ? I have an ileostomy and 2 yrs out from surgery I’m getting problems which have been put down to hernias and adhesions - it does sometimes feel like I’ve swallowed a hippo and hurts like hell until it passes - I’d imagine thaf the antibiotics will have altered your gut bugs which can make bloating and discomfort ( they don’t know as much about bugs in small intestine as colon) so maybe try a prebiotic or probiotic - kefir is good or a live yogurt- lots of fluid too to help things through but remember to take the necessary additional salts if you’ve an ileostony otherwise they just rush through - your stoma nurse is best place to start as they usually have good ideas about what to do - laxatives are ok for a bit but get less effective if you use all the timex

[Eriksendi in reply to Coldethyl]

Thank you for replying. I've had my stoma since July 2017 - it's a colostomy. Weird I am, like you, getting problems now. I've got a hernia too. The stoma nurse says she thinks it could be getting stuck behind the hernia or I could have a 'kink' in my pipework!!!!! We'll see. I can feel mine pushing to get out and it's struggling. Comes through ok when it's liquid. I am trying kefir at the moment to try and settle it down too.

[Coldethyl in reply to Eriksendi]

I think anything that doesn’t allow a smoothie run through can cause issues - my GP said it only takes a slight kink or bit of bowel out of place for the wrong sort of food to get stuck - sine days with an ileostomy everything seems the wrong sort of food!!! It’s weird when it happens because you feel the waves of the intestines trying to push whatever it is past the kink or blockage and it’s painful beyond belief ! At least with a colostomy laxatives can help if it’s more just constipation - I’m sure the antibiotics will have upset your normal patterns - hopefully the kefir helps and do push your stoma tram for support and advice x

[Lily-Anne]

I massage around my stoma it helps with the discomfort you can get. It also depends what you eat. I get cramps sometimes but paracetamol or a hot water bottle helps

I intended to have mine reversed but it’s not possible now which has worked out well in some ways except for the hernia

If you’ve any questions feel free to drop a message

LA xx