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SECRETS OF PREVENTING BLOCKAGES - via Blockages may occur when one is an ostomate. That’s a fact of life. But certain steps can be taken to minimize the risk. Here are some ideas: 1. When eating, always concentrate on chewing the food well. 2. Make sure it is chewed well before swallowing. For instance, if a piece of meat appears too tough and gristly, it might be better to leave it. Don’t take a chance of swallowing it and then having a partial or full blockage. (Ed’s Note: even spitting it into your napkin is better than taking a chance of it making a problem for you... uncouth as it may seem, it can be done ‘gracefully’ with a little practice at home, (no napkin at the table?, use a Kleenex or some such item ). 3. Try new foods in moderation. Do not eat a huge helping of something you have not tried before. This is a good rule to follow whenever you eat anything. As an ostomate it is better to eat small quantities of food, at more times during the day, than to eat one big meal. Always follow this rule for better health. 4. If a particular food has given you problems in the past, try to avoid it until you feel you can do so without a problem. 5. Most of us try very small amounts of problem foods from time to time, and if we chew it well and drink water with it, we are able to tolerate most anything. ----WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT BLOCKAGE--- by Henry C. Finch, M.D. via Los Ostomy News The small and large intestines are as different in functions as are the arm and leg. The primary function of the small intestine is to take nutrition from digested food; the function of the large intestine is to absorb water out of the food residue. Consequently there is a difference in the discharge from ileostomy, colostomy or rectum. From the small intestine (ileum), which function on liquid material and moves its contents forward quickly, the discharge is liquid or soft. In the large intestine (colon), the contents are changed from liquid to solid. The movement is much less rapid, and the discharge is solid or even hard. Movement of the food mass through the small intestine is never more than a few hours. Movement through the large intestine frequently takes from 48 to 72 hours. Thus when anything blocks the forward motion of the stream of the small intestine, an immediate chain of events is set up. There is pain, then gripping and cramping. Later, if there is no forward motion, a backward motion of fluid occurs, involving vomiting. The most frequent cause of the onset of this chain of events is blockage at the ileostomy stoma. Usually this is precipitated by undigested food, a bean, pea, peanut, corn, pulpy type foods or something similar to those. The best way to handle the blockage is not to allow it to arise. This is done by chewing foods well. However, if symptoms of blockage do occur, notify your doctor and follow his advice. As blockages may arise from other causes of undigested food particles, observe these two cautions: -----DO NOT take any kind of laxative without your doctor’s order. Any laxative may cause additional difficulty. -----DO NOT take any medication for pain without your doctors order. It may mask a situation he should know about. (Ed’s Note: If you have taken something earlier, be sure you tell him/her) 62 |