Stoma obstruction and blockage: You will know if your stoma is blocked as your stoma pouch will be empty when it should be filling up. Or in some cases the output may become watery. Another symptom in addition to your output slowing down is stomach ache/abdominal pain.
There might even be blood and pain. This is due to irritated skin from feces or certain ostomy products like pastes or solvents. To avoid this, make sure to measure your stoma and cut your barrier to the correct size (1/8" bigger than the stoma).
Recap. Call your doctor immediately if the skin surrounding the stoma changes colors, develops sores or chafing, or shows signs of infection (including increasing redness, pain, swelling, heat, and a pus-like discharge).
nausea and/or vomiting. Another symptom in addition to your output slowing down is stomach–ache. You may start to feel waves of cramping and abdominal pain, which may worsen if the symptoms you experience are unresolved.
Most people with stomas may have to go through a stoma infection. However, it is a possibility that anyone with a stoma should know about it. The first sign of a stoma infection may be a pus-like discharge, unusual swelling, increasing redness, or color changes.
Skin irritation
This is the most frequently observed complication with all stoma types [2, 7, 12].
If possible, take a short walk or just walk slowly around your house, as long as it's not too painful. Try several different body positions, such as a knee-chest position, or lie on the side of your stoma with knees bent, as it might help move the blockage forward.
Bowel obstructions usually cause cramping, abdominal pain, vomiting and inability to pass bowel motions (faeces or poo) or gas. A bowel obstruction is an emergency and needs treatment in hospital to prevent serious complications. You may need surgery or another procedure to remove the blockage.
Try lying down and lifting your knees to your chest, rolling gently from side to side. For people with a colostomy, your GP or stoma care nurse may prescribe some laxatives, use these as prescribed and don't forget to drink plenty of water with these as it will help them work better.
Stool irritation, product sensitivity and yeast are certainly the more common reasons for redness around the stoma.
Common complications include poor stoma siting, high output, skin irritation, ischemia, retraction, parastomal hernia (PH), and prolapse. Surgeons should be cognizant of these complications before, during, and after stoma creation, and adequate measures should be taken to avoid them.
Bowel blockage or obstruction
If the poo coming out of your stoma slows down or stops, you may have a bowel blockage. Speak to your stoma nurse if you have cramps, feel nauseous or notice swelling around your stoma. They may recommend avoiding solid foods, massaging your tummy or having a hot bath.
This pain is often due to intercostal nerves caught in scar tissue or even stitched when the surgeon closes the site. This can lead to irritation and inflammation that produces a burning or stabbing sensation in the area of the colostomy site. Most people experience radiating pain from the abdominal wall to the side.
A partial blockage usually displays itself through cramping abdominal pain, watery output with a foul odour, and possible abdominal distension and swelling of the stoma followed by nausea and vomiting.
A healthy stoma is pinkish-red and moist. Your stoma should stick out slightly from your skin. It is normal to see a little mucus. Spots of blood or a small amount of bleeding from your stoma is also normal.
Symptoms. Symptoms of intestinal obstruction are: Severe pain in your belly. Severe cramping sensations in your belly.
Most partial blockages get better on their own. Your doctor may give you a special diet that's easier on your intestines. Enemas of air or fluid can help clear blockages by raising the pressure inside your bowels. A mesh tube called a stent is a safe option for people who are too sick for surgery.
Adhesions are caused by internal scarring. They are bands of fibrous tissue that can form after a surgery, connecting abdominal tissues and/or organs so that they stick together. No matter the cause, stoma blockage can be a medical emergency.
The suggested guidelines are that if your blockage lasts any more than 8 hours with no movement, you should go to the hospital because it might need surgical intervention!
Avoiding high-fiber foods: High-fiber foods can have difficulty passing through the intestine and exiting the stoma. Don't eat raw vegetables, coconut, corn, nuts, dried fruit, popcorn or other foods with lots of fiber.
Air from the stoma causes the bag to expand and detach from the skin (ballooning) Ballooning occurs when air from the stoma inflates the bag and cannot escape through the filter. The resulting air pressure can cause the adhesive to detach from the skin.
Many people enjoy leaving their skin uncovered for 15 to 30 minutes after taking their pouching system off. This is called a skin break. Taking a skin break can help with irritation or keep it from happening. You can decide if you want to take a skin break.
It is normal to feel exhausted in the early weeks and months following surgery. You probably didn't get much sleep in hospital as they are really busy places. You are up at night changing or emptying your ostomy pouch so your sleep has been interrupted.