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Small bowel obstruction with an ileostomy. How common are they?

Posted by yvetteh @yvetteh, Mar 9 7:59pm

I’m a very new ileostomy patient (2 months) and have done extremely well adjusting and have had no problems at all. I’d actually become quite smug thinking this was easier than I expected. THEN ………bang. Stomach pain for a couple of hours that I didn’t think too much about because it wasn’t that bad and then I noticed I had no output in my bag. Quick call to my wonderful ostomy nurse and right to the ER. CT confirmed a small bowel obstruction and I learned what a NG tube was and hope to never go through that procedure again but thank God it worked after a long night of no sleep and most of the next day when things resolved and I was released after 2.5 days. Here’s my question that no one had a firm answer to at the hospital. Am I now more susceptible to have another obstruction now that I’ve had one? This one was thought to be caused by an adhesion from recent surgery but does every ileostomy patient get them? Are they common? My confidence has really been shaken and I fear a repeat and I’m scared now. Any reassurance for me? Or answers? Thank you.

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csjxvcsjxv | @csjxvcsjxv | Mar 10 7:20am

I had my surgery in 1969 when I was 15. In those 57 years, I have only had one obstruction, which took place during the first year after surgery. The culprit was determined to be eating too much of my Aunt's cooking one holiday which consisted of a lot of animal fat (she baked cakes with lard and the meat she made was very fatty). It was believed that rich food contributed.

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yvetteh | @yvetteh | Mar 10 7:24am
In reply to @csjxvcsjxv "I had my surgery in 1969 when I was 15. In those 57 years, I have..." + (show)
@csjxvcsjxv

I had my surgery in 1969 when I was 15. In those 57 years, I have only had one obstruction, which took place during the first year after surgery. The culprit was determined to be eating too much of my Aunt's cooking one holiday which consisted of a lot of animal fat (she baked cakes with lard and the meat she made was very fatty). It was believed that rich food contributed.

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Your answer has encouraged me greatly!!! Since my surgery was so recent and likely caused by scar tissue from that surgery, I’m praying I am one and done with an obstruction like you were!! Praying for smooth going again. Thank you!!! Yvette

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cjay | @cjay | Mar 10 10:05pm

Hi Yvette, I had a temporary ileostomy in April after a resection, and had it reversed after 6 months. I never had an obstruction. I hope this helps.

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yvetteh | @yvetteh | Mar 11 7:07am
In reply to @cjay "Hi Yvette, I had a temporary ileostomy in April after a resection, and had it reversed..." + (show)
@cjay

Hi Yvette, I had a temporary ileostomy in April after a resection, and had it reversed after 6 months. I never had an obstruction. I hope this helps.

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That does help me. I’m working on getting my confidence back again and hope this was just a one and done!! Thank you!

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kenc | @kenc | Mar 11 11:25am

Had mine for over 10 years. Never game me a blockage problem. However as a result of the complexity of the surgery I have experienced pain in the pelvic floor area for several years now. As far a blockage goes, need to be aware of what you eat, especially if you find it causes blockage and I find drinking plenty of vitamin enriched, low sugar beverages may be the reason why I have never experienced a blockage.

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yvetteh | @yvetteh | Mar 11 11:52am

Thanks for that info but I am uber diligent about my diet probably because I’m SO new at this; 2 months only with my ileostomy and I follow the food guidelines obsessively because I’m so afraid of eating something wrong and having an issue! My blockage was not due to my diet; it was colon surgery related with new scar tissue developing since surgery. Officially an “ileus” is what I had; meaning “no mechanical obstruction”. Good to know that in 10 years you have not had one. Gives me hope that I will not have a repeat🙏 Yvette

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