All About Blockages!

[@nancyh3509]

I’ve had 20 years worth of ostomy related stuff including many blockages :from cherries, pickles, watermelon, carrots, etc. Although I was given CT scans to see why I was having so many blockages, it wasn’t until they perforated my bowel ( by accident) that they discovered that my small bowel was full of adhesions. They removed as many as they could but I still have partial blockages frequently. I discovered prune juice works really well!!! And tea! And having a friend that can sympathize when it gets rough.

[@hecy6]

I have had a ileostomy since 2011 with colon cancer. I am happy I found your youtube. I am young as well and you made feel ok. Thank you. I was a martial arts instructor, and a nurse in the army and was very very depressed with my situation. You made it a little better. Thank you.

[@baraltg88]

Laura, it's a privilege to share this world with you. Keep doing what you do!

[@Captainperk]

You are a amazing young woman, I appreciate you! My GF has been opened up twice in the last 8 months (adhesion) and now has a second blockage. I was looking for information on what I can keep around the house that will help keep her flowing when she gets out of the hospital. Grape juice will now be on tap 24/7

[@ostomymartialarts6286]

Thanks Laura for putting your story onto KZbin. You've been quite an inspiration to me!

[@BurtonJohnson]

Hi Laura! I just wanted to say hi! I had emergency surgery for diverticulitis back in September, and felt like I woke up one morning with a colostomy. I was (and still am) scared. I had a nurse to help me with my wound, but I was scared of changing my ostomy by myself. To be honest, I was scared to even look at my stoma. Spell check doesn't even recognize the word, "stoma". I still don't either, officially. I went searching and found your videos, and seeing you just being cheery about the whole thing gave me a lot of hope and confidence. And I got over it, and change it like a pro now and (whoop-dee-dee, lucky for me) I'm having surgery to reverse the ostomy in late March! When I saw you on Tosh.0, I just pointed and sqeeeed! I mad mad love you for putting it out there, and making me less afraid, and having a sense of humor about all this shit! We are the few that (literally) have shit to get off their chests! (Did Tosh actually miss that one? So obvious...) At any rate, I just to say thanks for being rad, and please write back, I have all sorts of strong opinions.

[@lordblazer]

Burton Johnson Hey Burton. I wanted to follow up. how was the reversal? was it worth having a stoma?

[@amandagotcher9273]

Thank you so much for your posting, I had the same exact symptoms that you had but was unsure what was going on. At first I thought I had the flu with the terrible pain in my stomach and throwing-up. After the third day I started feeling better and then noticed my bag started filling up again, what a relief. Thanks again for the information.

[@wingnutwillie]

I'm not a soft drink person but when i notice a slower output and start feeling the blockage twinge I drink a coke, someone told me this once and sometimes it works and sometimes not. I have had 2 resections for blockages, not a lot of fun . On another note, thanks so much for doing the Tosh show, I have it recorded and show all my friends that have questions, just a really great thing!

[@umswagger]

I see a few comments about the horrible NG tubes, so figured I'd share some info. I've been battling / dealing with Crohn's for a while now since I was diagnosed at age 11. I'm now 34, so I've had quite a few experiences. My first bit of advice would be; There can be ways around doing certain horrible things while hospitalized...or better ways to do them. I had a few NG tubes during my younger years, and I despise them. I have recently had a few blockages and a few docs insisted on an NG tube. The abdominal pain from the blockage sucked but it wasn't horrible, and the IV pain meds helped. Anyway, in one instance I refused the NG tube because I was being admitted and was to be scoped the next day. Why get an NG tube to pump stuff out when the GI doc can suck it out while doing your scope? There is no need to deal with an NG tube unless your pain is unbearable. Have the junk sucked out while you're knocked out and getting scoped. The 2nd instance, once again the pain wasn't horrible so I again refused the NG tube. I've been around the block enough times to know that I'll be on a liquid diet for a few days, and I will be in the hospital for more than 3 or 4 days, so I request a PICC line. This way they can give you TPN ('feed you') through the PICC line instead of the crappy NG tube, and they can use your PICC line for all IV meds, procedures, and blood tests...so you don't get poked a ton of times while in the hospital. If you know you're going to be in the hospital for a bit, just opt for a PICC line right off the bat. Save yourself a ton of hassle and from multiple IVs and needle pokes. -OR- If the pain is so severe that you can't wait for the GI scope to suck out the backed up junk, and you must have an NG tube, then tell them that you want numbed up. There is gel and/or spray that can be used to numb up your nostril, the sinus tract, and your throat. It certainly helps! For some reason, most doctors don't tell you about this type of stuff that is available. I suppose it's because they want to hurry and get things done. But you have the right to refuse anything while you're a patient. I don't recommend doing that very much, but I decided to flat out refuse the NG tube despite an ER doctor insisting that I have one. And guess what? Everything worked out great and I didn't have to deal with a cruddy NG experience. ---- I have actually picked up on quite a few things over the years. This is just one example. I have a lot of advice or tips that I could share to make things a little easier, as well as less painful. Don't be afraid to speak up to docs, ask questions, or make requests. Probably most importantly, if you ever aren't comfortable with the diagnosis and/or options given, or something doesn't seem right, don't be afraid to tell a doctor that you'd like a 2nd opinion...or 3rd opinion. This has saved me a few times! I made the mistake of putting doctors up on a pedestal and thinking they were always right, up until I turned 23 years old and learned the hard way that doctors aren't always right, and are probably wrong more than you'd like to think.

[@marlaparslow3316]

umswagger I so agree with everything you said :)

[@marlaparslow3316]

umswagger I so agree with everything you said :)

[@valeciamoore1531]

Thank you so much for doing these videos. It has helped me learn how to move forward in life.

[@mrose84]

Wow! I'm so happy to have found your videos. I had my complete colon removed close to 10 years ago. My first colostomy became schematic, needless to say I had another Surgery and another stoma! SO painful, so painful.. I'm assuming making these videos must be so healing for you! And others who are going through that same thing. Thank you!

[@conniecraddock8481]

I am the caregiver first for my mom now for my husband . All the ostomy videos are so informative. Husband could n’t take not eating his veggies so I cooked the hell out of the crowns of broccoli ( despite my misgivings) he ate them now two days later he’s having stomach issues - had movements all day yesterday but today not! I’m putting heating pad on belly and told him to start rubbing he has the dry heaves so next step is ER if this doesn’t work. Your suggestions/advise is very helpful- I realize your not a Dr. I do appreciate the help ginger tea works on me fairly quickly but he’s not one to change his stubborn ways or try new things but maybe it could help someone else

[@graemebrown2498]

Been there, done that, had the blockage. Thankfully never been to hospital because of it. Now on a pouch, but ate something with mushrooms in it and have spent the last two days feeling in pain! I swear I never learn!

[@carmenpalmour3926]

Grape Juice! Why didn't I think of that? I've had an ostomy for almost 5 years now but just recently started having a problem with blockages. My specialist suggested inserting a finger through my stoma. Though I looked at him like he was mental he assured me this is safe using good judgement. Apparently, it's common for blockages to occur right "behind" the abdominal wall so doing this can allow you to help break up the blockage manually and/or dilate the ostomy so it's easier for output to move through.

[@lesapeters9217]

I wanted to say thank you for all the information that you give on your KZbin videos. I am a person that had to have an ileostomy bag just recently done I'm not that old but I'm also not that young so it's kind of a big thing to deal with learning to deal with what to eat what to wear all the way down to recently as I'm in the hospital as I'm watching your videos over being a blockage which by the way are extremely painful and that can't be described enough no matter who says it how many times it was one of the most painful things ever but I do have a lot of questions on my mind and in my head it but I'm trying to figure out and with that I do you watch a lot of your videos and you are an inspiration and I thank you for it I did have to have the ileostomy bag do too I have Crohn's disease diverticulitis and most of all I I mostly had ulcers colitis which sent me to the hospital for the last several years at least once a month to sometimes every two weeks. I think you for everything that you say and do on the videos but once again like I said nice to see somebody well you are a lot younger than me but going through some of the same things or at least answering the questions that I do have not like I have everybody around me that has a bag but I can ask questions like a what do you wear to the beach or hey how do you cover that up or hey how do you do it in public or how do you deal with it when little kids ask you question so thank you.

[@servantsofthemessiah720]

Thankyou I have had two ng tubes so not fun had to go without food or water two days. You do great job. Of explaining. God made u Beautiful. You should realize He created u in His image. And sent Jesus to die for your Sin. I'm glad He is my Lord He has seen me through eight Surgerys four on my Heart. Four on my intestines. I'm Fifty eight I'm touched in the Head I almost like the challenge and I'm weak. God Bless

[@MrFLu1973]

Just saw you on Tosh .O, you looked beautiful and you have a great personality!!!

[@mRTrAnsAcTiVe]

Laura, ive had ulcerative colitis for about a year and half. ive had up and downs, are downs, are big downs.. i recently found your channel i think it is amazing! someone who understands what it's like. i dont have an ostomy, i would have one but i was lucky that one of the medications worked. the chance is there still for me. hearing about an ostomy for the first time was really scary. im 13, almost 14, and an ostomy would change my life life. sports are everything for me (and school

[@jeriforeman7805]

I figured out very quickly that when I can feel a blockage I lay in bed on my side with a pillow directly under my abdomen to create some pressure and I switch sides. Last time I got my blockage moving!!!!

[@TobiDeLafayette]

saw you on tosh.0.......love your personality and optimism ......its doesn't hurt that you absolutely stunning as well keep making more of your vids :)

[@e.a.torres5390]

Blockages are horrible and so are NG tubes, I've only experienced a partial blockage due to my stoma being too swollen after surgery. Spending two weeks in a hospital after surgery is no fun, and one week was with an NG tube, but it was for the better. All we can do is try to stay positive as much as we can, no matter how bad things can get sometimes. I'm glad you're doing much better, take care, and try to stay happy as much as you can :-)

[@Ostomystory]

Love that attitude! :) You're right.

[@e.a.torres5390]

Ostomystory Thanks for the reply; your videos have helped me so much dealing with my ileostomy, I've been following you on here and on the ostomy awareness facebook page for quite sometime now :-)

[@alexnorton]

I'm really glad to hear that you're out of hospital now :)

[@keetkatt25]

hey laura, i just kinda randomly stumbled across your videos. I was actually reading up on continuing education credits to update my nursing license and looked up stuff on ostomies and strictureplasty just for the heck of it. I just happened to glance at the pic on your video and at first i thought maybe you were just showing a video on how-to and not that you actually had an ostomy or had IBD. wow, thanks for being real and sharing your life experiences with the world.

[@msluvdmb]

Laura! I have been waiting for your segment on Tosh.0 since you announced it a couple of months back. I watched it tonight, and you made me feel so proud as someone with UC and a permanent ostomy! You were so funny and matter-of-fact about your experiences with Trixy, and I think it went a LONG way to help get rid of some of the stigma and ignorance we sometimes face. Can't wait to share around the humor and information :)

[@laytonsri150]

great video with some good info :) I had my worst blockage today, really bad pain and trying very hard not to be sick, but after about 4 cups of hot tea and a bit of massaging, it cleared itself, it was my own fault, yesterday i'd eaten grapes, apples and jacket potato, so everything with tough skins, lol, what a relief when that first gush comes from the stoma, feeling a lot better now though :) keep well :)

[@Cmedrano57211]

Really shouldn't wait, but we are tough. Had the same thing happen about a month and a half ago. Not a pretty thing to go thru lol. But mainly staying hydrated, because in my case not even liquids stayed.

[@illusionistdave1]

How often do you generally have blockages? I had my colostomy a little under 2 years ago and have had two blockages. I absolutely HATE the NG tube!

[@69midnightdream69]

Hi Laura, my name is laura. im 33 and have had "Squeaker" since 99'. i also have a ileostomy but i had a proctectomy "barbie butt". i also just got out of the hospital fom having very severe dehydration and a blockage. i also waited. i waited 5 days your not alone. sometimes using a heating pad on low, you can drink fizzy drinks, very hot showers but not scalding with your bag off, and this isnt suggested but when you feel it try forcning the food through by throwing up.

[@BeautyandtheStoma]

Thank you for sharing! I just had ileostomy surgery 3 weeks ago. Fruit and veggies were my life before surgery lol! Do you have any tips on what fruits and veggies are safe ones for you? I tried a pear and it gave ALOT of output and gas. I'm nervous to try stuff but I need my fruits and veggies! (:

[@Ostomystory]

I do A LOT of smoothies. I put kale or broccoli in them. ALSO juicing is a wonderful way to get veggies! So I didn't have problems with broccoli before, but it's what caused my blockage this time. CHEWING is the most important thing, but I'm going to be sticking to juicing and smoothies for a while. Apple sauce is also a good way to get apples. I do eat apples, but I skin them and chew A LOT. What works for some people doesn't for others. I know an ostomate who eats salad all the time and is fine. It varies person to person!

[@Preciouschildvic]

Thank you for your honesty. I had a blockage once, refused the tube, and they did the " I call it a enema" and it worked. What was painful was the actual stool coming out because it was a huge hard mass. Don't want to go thru that again. What is the best thing that you might know of to prevent?

[@cnevarez0215]

Hey I live in the Chicago area would really love if we could share our stories with having uc and having surgery really hope you see this !

[@mikeboyce21]

Laura you are awesome. .beautiful and confident. Its probably strange for being told you are awesome for something that you didn't intend but hey. Like tosh said most girls won't even admit to pooping at all. You made my day. Hope you get to read this.

[@saltypond]

I usually drink a glass or two of coke as well as a lot of water. Sometimes the extra gas is a bad idea but the caffeine and fizzyness helps to push things through. I also lie on my side & massage my stomach. You just have to keep moving around until you find a spot that helps. I've only been to hospital with a blockage once, when my ostomy was very new and I could feel it pulling back inside me and it was going flush to my skin, I freaked out because I thought it would pop back inside me. Now they tell you that this can't happen, but it can! I've got a loop ileo and have had to have surgery to get it corrected because it nearly fell back in. My stoma got to under 12mm, scary!

[@mdunn9676]

saltypond i

[@superjonathan301]

this video on blockage going in on nov 12 2014 for a clostomy but have had blockages before and one of main things is try to always not just when u have one but drink plenty of water always

[@claudiamarquezterron7741]

Hi, Laura! Hope you better now and...FOREVER!!!! Kisses

[@marlaparslow3316]

I am 9 weeks out from my surgery. I was having horrible stomach pain after eating. I eat slow and chew good . there have been a few times that I could tell that something I ate was trying to block me up. I get throbbing in the area around and above my stoma. I have started to drink ginger tea after meals when my stomach starts to hurt and u put a heating pad on my tummy and it seams to help. I am very careful what I eat and eat very slow so I don't understand why this is happening. I also have a pretty large lump above my stoma. Could this be scar tissue? Thank you for this video. It was very helpful for me. Your a doll :)

[@Heather-os3cq]

Im really scared please help...so i went 2 weeks with out having a bowel movenment. Took a laxitive and now im going on a week and a half again. Im very fusterated. Ive been eating fiber probiotics and nothing. Please help.

[@mikeboyce21]

And yes I subbed and liked just cuz you rock.

[@irisvelasquez5388]

Hi 👋 Laura: After my blockage cleared my stoma looked a little bigger, it will go back to its normal size ?

[@FlipSquad1981]

You're adorable.

[@maryemclea6436]

help many blowouts what to do food drink to avoid

[@ryanstanley5634]

Hey! I have a serious question about your stoma (and stomas in general). Are they tough? I mean if you were maybe hit in the stomach or tackled by someone, would it cause actual damage to your stoma and possibly internal damage of the intestines? Just curious. Thanks!

[@ostomymartialarts6286]

Hi Ryan - not sure if you have the answer to your question (as I realize you did post a month ago!) Stomas are a lot tougher than you think and will survive most knocks and bumps with no problem. I've been seriously elbowed by my kids with no damage before now. However, if you're undertaking a sport where you are likely to get hit hard, then I recommend a stoma guard to make sure you don't cause damage to yourself, get a hernia, or cause a bag explosion. ;-) . When I do Martial Arts, I wear a guard to both protect the stoma itself and to prevent hernias.

[@Paul-xb4uw]

A hot water bottle will work that's what I do sometimes

[@JoshBryan]

Were you sedated for the NG tube placement?

[@Ostomystory]

They generally don't sedate you because you need to swallow to help the NG tube make it down your throat. It is much easier when you swallow it down.

[@JoshBryan]

Appreciate the reply. Hope to avoid that if I can :)

[@michellemoore7757]

Some doc's use them as a matter of routine, some do not. Depends on the doc. I've never had one for any of my surgeries.

[@maryemclea6436]

what if you can' t walk

[@raafmaat]

WOW i loved how cool you were with it all and even let Daniel Tosh touch your butthole... i mean Ostomy-hole! haha it was a great episode and you looked awesome in it!

[@AgentOffice]

You're gorgeous. My gi wants to start azathioprine

[@Sofialc85]

hi laura! pardon my english, is not my first language... Are you ok? its been more than a month since your last post... kisses!

[@sirjim777777]

You are super cute. :-)

[@sabikunnaharjumurglg446]

H