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FOOD BLOCKAGE: What is it and What to do by Frances Kapp,
RNET - Metro Food blockage is a bowel obstruction cause by undigested food. For several reasons this a problem most often experienced by those with ileostomies. (Ed’s Note: but sometimes by Colostomates) While most people with ileostomies never have a food blockage, there are those who have them repeatedly. These blockages occur for several reasons: First, the digestive enzymes found in the stomach and small bowel cannot digest cellulose or certain fibers such as those found in meat. Normally, this undigested food passes into the large bowel or colon and is broken down by bacteria or helps makeup the bulk of normal feces. Since the person with an ileostomy does not have, or is not using his/her colon, this high cellulose and fibrous food will pass through the ileostomy, the same size as it was swallowed. Secondly, there may be a curve or narrowed area in the bowel that traps this undigested food. Prevention of food blockage should be the name of the game and the way to do this is to chew well and choose your food wisely. It is always wise to chew food well, but when you choose to eat high cellulose or fibrous meats, be especially conscientious. Some of the more common high cellulose foods are: popcorn, coconut, celery, hard nuts such as peanuts, corn, shells of peas, mushrooms and Chinese vegetables such as bean sprouts and bamboo shoots. People with repeated obstructions may need to avoid these foods entirely. Most of you will probably just need to use a little care and eat them in small to moderate amounts, chew well and drink as you eat. Ogh-Oh! You didn’t know, or you get careless. You are having abdominal cramps that come and go and your ileostomy is spurting frothy, foul smelling liquid at you. You remember that giant box of popcorn eaten during Crocodile Dundee or those stuffed mushrooms you had on the hot date earlier this P.M. You are partially obstructed (the ileostomy is still working and you are having diarrhea as the bowel tries to force out the blocked food and liquid is coming around the blockage). WHAT TO DO? 1. Continue to drink fluids: A warm drink may be the most relaxing and stimulate peristalsis the best. Do Not Eat solid Foods. 2. Try to relax. You may want to take a hot bath or find the most comfortable position and use a heating pad over your abdomen. 3. The stoma may swell during an obstruction, so make sure your pouch opening is not tight on the stoma. 4. Try the knee-chest position and rock back and forth. After a period of time, which my well be several hours, the partial blockage will be passed and symptoms will go away or the partial obstruction will progress to a total obstruction. Symptoms increase when you become totally obstructed. Cramps become more severe, nausea becomes more severe, vomiting will eventually begin as bowel contents back up, and the ileostomy will stop working. There is a great deal of judgment involved in deciding when to seek medical help and your judgment may become impaired if you become dehydrated. My advice is that as long as you can drink and are not vomiting, you are safe. However, when you become so nauseated that you are not longer able to drink or you are vomiting or pain is excruciating--- SEEK KNOWLEDGEABLE, POFESSIONAL ADVICE FROM YOUR E.T. NURSE OR PHYSICIAN IMMEDIATELY!!! 61 |