Irrigation Procrastination
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Irrigation Procrastination
Apologies for posting twice -- here and in General Discussion. I want to make sure my gator support group sees this.
All,
I relied SO much on this discussion board before getting a colostomy in 2002. My father and I -- pelvic floor disorder with non-relaxing puberactalis leading to severe constipation and distention. In 2000, I got a MACE but the pelvic floor muscles didn't open enough. I had biofeedback in Chicago and Canada at 2 wonderful clinics and was told it'd help 50%. I've had botox injections and the Interstim temp. implant. Hypnosis, meditation, all kinds of diets, etc. I do irrigate -- no problem. BUT my transit time is fast and within 3 hrs, whatever I consume leads to pressure in my sigmoid. Not pain -- just pressure. I fully believe in the mind/gut connection, and focus/concentration is tough.
In recent years, I developed reflux and my gut in inflamed. I deal with diversion colitis (mucous/blood) and plan on doing the fecal transplantions at home. (See http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2014/ ... experiment -- I hear this really works and one needs to do this only about 2-3x/year to replenish the short-chain fatty acids we miss in our rectum.)
For years, surgeons have told me I opted for the "wrong" ostomy. I know that an ileo means much more output, less control, need for more drinking of liquid, and more care to the skin as mine is sensitive (I use durahesive Convatec wafers).
I debate a more liquid diet -- smoothies with veggies, etc. I had a CT-scan 3 wks ago. Diagnosis? Constipation! (My recent colonoscopy was fine but showed much inflammation and that the contents from my stomach weren't moving out very fast -- hmmm? Years ago, I took Propulsid before it was deemed hazardous to the liver.)
So, I'm now considering an ileostomy. I know some of you wish you had more control and could irrigate. I understand. But the constant intestinal pressure that gets relieved only when I do irrigate is affecting my quality of life so much.
Advice? Pro and con for someone used to a colostomy and irrigation? I may post this again on the gator site. Thank you!
Diane C
MACE 2000 -- pelvic floor disorder resulting in chronic, severe constipation
Colostomy 2002
All,
I relied SO much on this discussion board before getting a colostomy in 2002. My father and I -- pelvic floor disorder with non-relaxing puberactalis leading to severe constipation and distention. In 2000, I got a MACE but the pelvic floor muscles didn't open enough. I had biofeedback in Chicago and Canada at 2 wonderful clinics and was told it'd help 50%. I've had botox injections and the Interstim temp. implant. Hypnosis, meditation, all kinds of diets, etc. I do irrigate -- no problem. BUT my transit time is fast and within 3 hrs, whatever I consume leads to pressure in my sigmoid. Not pain -- just pressure. I fully believe in the mind/gut connection, and focus/concentration is tough.
In recent years, I developed reflux and my gut in inflamed. I deal with diversion colitis (mucous/blood) and plan on doing the fecal transplantions at home. (See http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2014/ ... experiment -- I hear this really works and one needs to do this only about 2-3x/year to replenish the short-chain fatty acids we miss in our rectum.)
For years, surgeons have told me I opted for the "wrong" ostomy. I know that an ileo means much more output, less control, need for more drinking of liquid, and more care to the skin as mine is sensitive (I use durahesive Convatec wafers).
I debate a more liquid diet -- smoothies with veggies, etc. I had a CT-scan 3 wks ago. Diagnosis? Constipation! (My recent colonoscopy was fine but showed much inflammation and that the contents from my stomach weren't moving out very fast -- hmmm? Years ago, I took Propulsid before it was deemed hazardous to the liver.)
So, I'm now considering an ileostomy. I know some of you wish you had more control and could irrigate. I understand. But the constant intestinal pressure that gets relieved only when I do irrigate is affecting my quality of life so much.
Advice? Pro and con for someone used to a colostomy and irrigation? I may post this again on the gator site. Thank you!
Diane C
MACE 2000 -- pelvic floor disorder resulting in chronic, severe constipation
Colostomy 2002
Last edited by Diane C on 2016-04-23 12:27:37, edited 1 time in total.
Re: Once Again, Colostomy Vs Ileostomy
Glad no one spent time on this question! Saw several surgeons and the only one who seemed able/willing to fix my peristomal hernia (which is near my MACE if you know what that is...) indicated she'd never replace a colostomy with an ileostomy for constipation. Interesting as many other surgeons advised this -- BUT were unwilling to work on the hernia. My system is a bit complex due to the MACE.
I spent a week agonizing over whether to go with an ileo and decided not now.
So, I'll be sticking with the colostomy and now just need to encourage myself to irrigate earlier and be happy I can do it. Or switch to evenings -- tho often, I still have to irrigate again in the AM. Don't irrigate the way most of you do but procrastination is an ongoing issue. I must solve this.
Diane C
I spent a week agonizing over whether to go with an ileo and decided not now.
So, I'll be sticking with the colostomy and now just need to encourage myself to irrigate earlier and be happy I can do it. Or switch to evenings -- tho often, I still have to irrigate again in the AM. Don't irrigate the way most of you do but procrastination is an ongoing issue. I must solve this.
Diane C
Re: Once Again, Colostomy Vs Ileostomy
Diane,
You might find it better to irrigate every day. If I don't irrigate every morning, then I don't get consistent success. You should try irrigating at the same time every day for 30 days and see if that helps. "They" say that if you do anything for 30 days, it becomes a habit. Daily irrigation might decrease the constipation from getting so big that it becomes uncomfortable.
Hope you find a solution.
David
You might find it better to irrigate every day. If I don't irrigate every morning, then I don't get consistent success. You should try irrigating at the same time every day for 30 days and see if that helps. "They" say that if you do anything for 30 days, it becomes a habit. Daily irrigation might decrease the constipation from getting so big that it becomes uncomfortable.
Hope you find a solution.
David
stage III rectal CA 12/08 - colostomy 3/09
"Gatoring since 2010"
Psalms 91:2
"Gatoring since 2010"
Psalms 91:2
Re: Once Again, Colostomy Vs Ileostomy
Diane,
You have a medical condition that I am unfamiliar with. Most of us gators are folks that had colorectal cancer. We have normal functioning large intestines post treatment for which irrigation works well. Whether or not it is a solution for you is not clear. What I can say is that as Dave mentioned, daily irrigation is a hedge against constipation. I still do chemo treatments which result in the tendency for me to become constipated. I counter this by being diligent in irrigation every day along with some Miralax until the the risk for constipation dissipates. An ileo is a big step away from a colo so I would be inclined to try very hard to make the colo work.
Mark
You have a medical condition that I am unfamiliar with. Most of us gators are folks that had colorectal cancer. We have normal functioning large intestines post treatment for which irrigation works well. Whether or not it is a solution for you is not clear. What I can say is that as Dave mentioned, daily irrigation is a hedge against constipation. I still do chemo treatments which result in the tendency for me to become constipated. I counter this by being diligent in irrigation every day along with some Miralax until the the risk for constipation dissipates. An ileo is a big step away from a colo so I would be inclined to try very hard to make the colo work.
Mark
Dx 6/10 Rectal CA
Re: Irrigation Procrastination
Hi Mark and David,
Apologize for not getting back sooner! OK -- here goes. Never admitted this up here... I have Adult Onset ADD (it's very real but unwise to use as an excuse! Favorite site is http://totallyadd.com/) and one of the primary symptoms is procrastination. And I can get very addicted to the computer so try not to stay on it too long -- a challenge -- hence my belated reply. You nailed it. Developing a habit. I even have "stickies" up reminding myself -- "What is my pay-off if I postpone taking care of myself now?" I got GOOD news re keeping the colostomy and want to be grateful. Plus, I can use my MACE to irrigate with gravity with a special pump a pal made (I wonder if I'm the only colostomate in the world who irrigates with a MACE which didn't do the trick alone for me (even with botox and biofeedback) -- more info re MACE at Google or Parents' forum) -- so we are talking 45 min tops and it's almost always successful (sometimes excess water hangs in there in my sigmoid and is uncomfy). I want to be more regular about this and do this every AM early! And I'm off to do it now!
STILL waiting for surgeon to read all my reports, have a second appmt, and schedule hernia surgery! Hernia is very small and has a tiny loop -- but bleeds very slightly and can be painful (esp if I do not irrigate!) or I'd not have the surgery. Thanks so much for your support. I'll keep you posted.
Btw, I just decided to change the Subject Header of this thread so it doesn't read "Ileo or Colostomy".
Diane C.
MACE - non-relaxing puberactalis/constipation 2000
Colostomy 2002
Apologize for not getting back sooner! OK -- here goes. Never admitted this up here... I have Adult Onset ADD (it's very real but unwise to use as an excuse! Favorite site is http://totallyadd.com/) and one of the primary symptoms is procrastination. And I can get very addicted to the computer so try not to stay on it too long -- a challenge -- hence my belated reply. You nailed it. Developing a habit. I even have "stickies" up reminding myself -- "What is my pay-off if I postpone taking care of myself now?" I got GOOD news re keeping the colostomy and want to be grateful. Plus, I can use my MACE to irrigate with gravity with a special pump a pal made (I wonder if I'm the only colostomate in the world who irrigates with a MACE which didn't do the trick alone for me (even with botox and biofeedback) -- more info re MACE at Google or Parents' forum) -- so we are talking 45 min tops and it's almost always successful (sometimes excess water hangs in there in my sigmoid and is uncomfy). I want to be more regular about this and do this every AM early! And I'm off to do it now!
STILL waiting for surgeon to read all my reports, have a second appmt, and schedule hernia surgery! Hernia is very small and has a tiny loop -- but bleeds very slightly and can be painful (esp if I do not irrigate!) or I'd not have the surgery. Thanks so much for your support. I'll keep you posted.
Btw, I just decided to change the Subject Header of this thread so it doesn't read "Ileo or Colostomy".
Diane C.
MACE - non-relaxing puberactalis/constipation 2000
Colostomy 2002
Re: Irrigation Procrastination
Update -- I had surgery on June 7. Surgeons used laparoscopy and found an abscess near my sigmoid that had developed at least since last November. It had gotten badly infected 3x during the year requiring the use of antibiotics. They cleaned this out and drained it -- healing nicely. I do think this may have been the result of constipation and not irrigating regularly. So it's really important to establish a routine I stick to daily and rigorously. The surgeons also found that my intestine was kinked below the stoma with some adhesions and revised the intestine and stoma. They inserted a small square porcine mesh as well. Unfortunately, I must now use convex wafers and lost my perfect rosebud stoma but that's life. Since I use the MACE and don't insert a cone into the stoma, I was advised to irrigate right away when discharged from the hospital after 3 days. If I don't -- constipation. I may add Miralax to the solution but somehow MUST realize that irrigating early in the AM -- first thing -- is critical to my health and I'm lucky I CAN irrigate when so many ileostomates wish they could. So be grateful and establish a new routine to make my life easier and better. (This also includes use of short-chain fatty acid enemas a surgeon prescribed at a compounding pharmacy for diversion colitis which has resumed.)
Let's hope I learned a lesson and my health will improve. Definitely must eat more veggies which I avoided because that caused the need to defecate -- and irrigate -- and now I have weight to lose. Thank you all for your support with my rather odd challenges. I truly appreciate your suggestions and help.
Diane C
2000 MACE procedure due to chronic constipation/pelvic floor disorder
2002 Colostomy
2016 Colostomy Revision due to abscess and possible peristomal hernia
Let's hope I learned a lesson and my health will improve. Definitely must eat more veggies which I avoided because that caused the need to defecate -- and irrigate -- and now I have weight to lose. Thank you all for your support with my rather odd challenges. I truly appreciate your suggestions and help.
Diane C
2000 MACE procedure due to chronic constipation/pelvic floor disorder
2002 Colostomy
2016 Colostomy Revision due to abscess and possible peristomal hernia
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- Posts: 2
- Joined: 2016-07-31 00:05:44
Re: Irrigation Procrastination
i have no idea what this irragation is i have had my stoma for less than 3 mos so i am so confused
Re: Irrigation Procrastination
Good Morning Scared.
Let me suggest that you read the first couple of threads on this forum for a basic tutorial on irrigation then ask any questions that you might have.
We will be glad to help.
Let me suggest that you read the first couple of threads on this forum for a basic tutorial on irrigation then ask any questions that you might have.
We will be glad to help.
Re: Irrigation Procrastination
Scared and Confused,
Only those with colostomies can irrigate. If you have an ileostomy, irrigation is not for you and you may not want to pursue the topic. If you are worried, you may want to post your concerns in the General Discussion forum where a host of issues are addressed. You can post about any worries or challenges you're facing.
Good luck! And note that there may be a support group in your area.
2000 MACE procedure due to chronic constipation/pelvic floor disorder
2002 Colostomy
2016 Colostomy Revision due to abscess and possible peristomal hernia
Only those with colostomies can irrigate. If you have an ileostomy, irrigation is not for you and you may not want to pursue the topic. If you are worried, you may want to post your concerns in the General Discussion forum where a host of issues are addressed. You can post about any worries or challenges you're facing.
Good luck! And note that there may be a support group in your area.
2000 MACE procedure due to chronic constipation/pelvic floor disorder
2002 Colostomy
2016 Colostomy Revision due to abscess and possible peristomal hernia
Re: Irrigation Procrastination
Also, see u tube. Look under irrigating a colostomy, there are several examples. Mary
Re: Irrigation Procrastination
Hi all,
Yikes--- talk about procrastination! I'm still working at irrigating daily in the AM. I don't know why I find setting a routine so challenging. More good days than not but I still find plenty else I'd prefer to do. I know it supposedly takes 30 days to establish a habit. For me, it's more like 365. And yes, starting to use Miralax for "consistency" in all ways.
Switching to an ileo is out per 2 surgeons... so onward and upward.
Many thanks.
Diane C
Yikes--- talk about procrastination! I'm still working at irrigating daily in the AM. I don't know why I find setting a routine so challenging. More good days than not but I still find plenty else I'd prefer to do. I know it supposedly takes 30 days to establish a habit. For me, it's more like 365. And yes, starting to use Miralax for "consistency" in all ways.
Switching to an ileo is out per 2 surgeons... so onward and upward.
Many thanks.
Diane C