Ostomy-Medical-Supplies - Bowel Blockage

Colostomy & Ileostomy Blockages

Colostomy & Ileostomy Blockages -Why they Occur - Symptoms - What to Do.

A Blockage occurs when stool or vegetable matter plugs up causes a bowel obstruction, usually near the stoma.

About one in ten patients with Ostomies will develop a bowel blockage at some point. In spite of the extreme

pain and thinking you are going to die these usually go away on their own and rarely.

"This site was build by Ostomates for Ostomates and any information in these pages is not meant to take the place of any medical professional and is shared only from other Ostomates."

Blockages - What to Do

Stop eating solid food, increase clear liquid diet
A heating pad placed on your abdomen might help ease the cramping. A hot bath is often helpful
Stop taking any anti-diarrhea medication
Check the stoma. If it is swelling, remove the pouch and make sure the wafer is large enough so that it doesn’t cut into the bowel. No skin should be showing.
If you don’t see any swelling, try to lie down and relax
Do not hesitate to call your doctor

Blockages - Why they Occur

Not chewing food sufficiently
Eating too much fibrous food in combination with biding food (like peanut butter and celery sticks)
Not drinking enough fluids
Scar tissue in the abdomen causing a “kink” in the bowel

Blockages - Symptoms

Severe Abdominal Pain
Nauseated or have Abdominal Cramp
Decreased stoma output or an increased volume of clear watery stool, or No output at all
Abdominal distention, abdominal pain and vomiting
The stoma may become noticeably swollen
Dry mouth, decrease in urination

If the Ileostomy or Colostomy blockage symptoms persist for more than 8 hours or you start vomiting you need to go to emergency right away. Tell your health care professional what your blockage symptoms are and what remedies you have tried. You may need to be admitted to the hospital for fasting and intravenous fluids for several days before the blockage symptoms go away. Ostomates with blockages may require surgery, but this is very rare.

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