Colostomy questions

[gommer]

I guess not such an issue if one has a bag, interesting that the SCI people I know who have a colostomy (sigmoid in the main) do not seem to use laxatives much

[pfcs49]

My colostomy works great.
The problem is: ~2 years post surgery, I started having a lot of discharge from the unused "rectal stump" end. I have followed with two gastroenterologists and stuffed a couple thousand dollars worth of off-formulary drugs up my sorry ass with no end in sight. The last ~6 months have been spent diapered by day and on a chux at night with my poor wife doing cleanup in the morning and diaper installation.
The last course called for 30 days of little medical enemas daily; the discharge continues to be brown (blood). I'm told I have colitis which was observed when I got my upper/lower colonoscopy.
This is just one of several medical issues that are driving me crazy.
Signed, Just about used up

This last round of treatment did no good. The GI doc tells me to go to a colo-rectal surgeon and get my lower colon and rectum removed.
The last year has been dominated by this and trying to save my right foot from ulcers. Latest gambit: 2 months of hyperbaric oxygen.
My life has become unmanageable, my body is in a tug of war with my business (www.philscars.com). I will close after 45 years on June 30th. The way forward is uncertain and scary.

[Stormycoon]

No response.

[TheRainman]

This last round of treatment did no good. The GI doc tells me to go to a colo-rectal surgeon and get my lower colon and rectum removed.
The last year has been dominated by this and trying to save my right foot from ulcers. Latest gambit: 2 months of hyperbaric oxygen.
My life has become unmanageable, my body is in a tug of war with my business (www.philscars.com). I will close after 45 years on June 30th. The way forward is uncertain and scary.

I don't know if this can help but. I rarely get discharge. Except when I take any kind of pain medication. Are you on pain medication?

[pfcs49]

I don't know if this can help but. I rarely get discharge. Except when I take any kind of pain medication. Are you on pain medication?

No pain meds. The discharge is ruddy brown=blood
Until this crap started, I had manageable amounts of mucous-like discharge that were occasional and frustrating.
What is coming out now is unmanageable and totally unacceptable!

[Stormycoon]

Nurse please:
read some on various tissue damage i.e. Heart, lung, intestine.. was trying to form conclusion maybe you know.
Closest comparison I can surmise although broadly different tissue, the heart undergone an attack heals through scarring..the intestine suffers inflammation (various disorders) & heals through enzymes. Point being it heals from damage.
Or different. Can intestine (colon) suffer inflammation issues from say blockages & be permanently damaged but be in safe zone per say?
I have No symptoms of major disorders related here, but can feel something awry in descending part, such as twitching & well discomfort??
I go regularly & am all cleared out to rule out any waste matter being there..
Or can prescription drugs do damage here? Long term.
I take baclofen,tramadol,tizanadine,colace, pro-biotics., papaya food enzymes, Enulose..

[SCI-Nurse]

I'm sorry, I don't know what you are asking. If your intestines are "damaged" we would need to know from what cause. Surgical incision? Cancer? infarction? Bacterial infection? Viral infection? Autoimmune disease (such as ulcerative colitis)??? Much of that would determine if the bowel could heal or not.

(KLD)

[Stormycoon]

Best described is never had lasting impression or irritation even from blockages lasting 10 days ER visit. Yet last month or so 2 times exactly randimly out of timing of routine, stool dropped sat in descending colon where I could feel it inflamed burning for couple days & needed help getting it out, typically I purge normally. Now it seems there's a lasting impression of discomfort or damage right in that area.

[Stormycoon]

Try to re-address this.. I read as much needed to conclude something, but absolutely no symtoms pertaining to any conditions is happening. I also had blood work done upon recent doc visit & o.k. there.. all I can say is there's a definite continuing perturbed area from what I can feel right in the descending sigmoid area.
I know the only best thing to do is be seen, but I just don't want to go through the 24 hour drink clean out phase..plus it's dangerous if I don't eat that long I get super light headed & pass out..

If i do bring it to attention are these options a request i can make or is it a docs choice:::seeing as wouldn't need complete colonoscopy but sigmoidoscopy??:::

"A less invasive way to look for intestinal problems is an X-ray after the patient has consumed liquid barium to coat the digestive tract lining. CAT scans and capsule endoscopies also provide insight into any damage that might be occurring to the digestive tract..?

[SCI-Nurse]

I would not be the one to ask on this issue. You need to discuss this with your physician and get his/her input. The prep today is much easier than in the past and there may be some ways to assist you in the issues that you have, such as admitting you for observation.
I do understand the issues you are concerned about, but if you are going to have a procedure, get the correct one done. Don't be your own physician - you certainy should have input, but that is what you pay them for.
ckf