Pain

• By JRo12
• Reply 3448751
• October 10, 2012 at 11:01 pm
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Hi Chantal,

I had my Illeostomy on June 19 so just about as long as you and I am still having pain expecially in the abdomen belly area. If you seen my posts before you will know that I was going thru pain, notably mostly in the morning. It was hard to stand up straight, blow my nose or cough. Nothing was showing up on the tests or just by looking at it, so the Doctor thought it was just in my head and that I was healing still. He said that it would take up to a year to feel back to normal, what ever that is right. Well finally it broke and we found that an abscss up thru the incisin he thought had healed did not at all, just closed up at the opening. So it may be that you are still healing it does take time or there might be something else. Make sure your relaying all of this to your Doctor and if you feel something is just not right don't ignore it because you just never know.

How is it hurting? Is it more promenent when you try to do something or eat something or at a certain time of day?

One other thing is that it didn't take much to pull muscles around the stoma. I could just reach for a book or turn a certain position at night and end up pulling the muscle just a bit. Could that be it?

Keep us updated and I hope this helped somewhat.

• By HappyS (Inactive)
• Reply 3449089
• October 11, 2012 at 4:35 am
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You have had the most major abdominal surgery known. Apart from the external scar there is internal healing going on. I was told not to pick up anything heavier than a paper bag for 6 weeks. Everyone heals at a different rate but your story sounds a bit long to be still having intense pain so I'd get it checked out - never feel embarrassed about asking - none of us have spare insides to take chances on! By the way, I've had two ileostomies and one reversal which is what I'm basing my comments on.

• By Mare5785
• Reply 3449101
• October 11, 2012 at 4:49 am
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Good Morning...
It's been so long.. 26 years.. since my surgery... and I can't remember back that far concerning the pain around the stoma or for how long it lasted... I do agree with HappyS.. major..major.. major surgery, which does take a while to heal, especially internally. Do you see your surgeon again soon, for another follow up? If not.. you might check in with them.. or see your WOCN to have them take a look at it.

Mainly just wanted to offer my prayers and hopes that soon, you will be feeling much better and that your ostomy will be taking up less and less of your thoughts.. Life WILL get better!!

prayers,
Mare

• By alan41241
• Reply 3449266
• October 11, 2012 at 7:56 am
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Hello, Chantal!
Are you on any pain medication? And if not, why not? You shouldn't have to put up with a lot of pain. Two months out from surgery isn't all that long. Still, the pain should be far less now than it was in the beginning. Call your doctor/surgeon for an appointment and explain the pain. Have him/her write a prescription for the pain.
I hope this all gets better soon.
Blessings,
Alan

• By Idahoeagle
• Reply 3449568
• October 11, 2012 at 9:43 am
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I can remember back when my surgery was done and I was in a lot of pain just as you are describing, but I also had to deal with the after effects of the chemo. My body was still ridding itself from the toxic buildup of the chemo drugs and healing from the second and third degree burns from leftover radiation. My groin area was totally fried, But we had to use creams and silvadine ointment on me to keep giong the last days of my radiation treatments. I went through hell with my radiation treatments.
It took me over a year to heal from all that and my stoma would not accept an appliance for any longer than a two days. I used the Hollister irrigation bag and the belt to catch my output for a while so as to let my skin heal and rid itself from the toxicity.
The pain around the stoma stayed with me for about six months but it kept subsiding as the weeks went on.
I'm a year and half or maybe a little more, and I still have some pain every once in a while around my stoma. I think stool gets caught in a fold in the intestine, just inside the back of the stoma. I prolapse every once in a while from that fold. My own conclusion.
But I kept complaining about all the pain I was feeling. So my advice would be to complain away. It's better to catch things in the beginning than to wait for more problems. I still complain about a lot of things. Pain and discomfort that I feel, is very real to me.
If I'm a pain in the A%&, then so be it..
If you experience pain and discomfort. it's best to find out all you can about what it can mean. It's your pain and your body.
Hope this helps.
Here's to a speedy recovery.
Michael

• By ChantalRb
• Reply 3451057
• October 11, 2012 at 6:32 pm
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Thanks for all your responses. Today was actually a bit better. I did take some mild pain killers. I was trying to stay away from them because a friend of mine thought that if I numbed the pain with pills I might do a bit too much and then be more dangerous to have a hernia. But then I thought: forget this! Let's numb the pain!!

I had 2 questions : JRo12 when y ou say you pulled muscles does that mean you have a hernia or does the pain from that goes away? happyS you mentioned that you had 2 ileostomy, why does that happen? What goes wrong that someone needs to have the same surgery repeatedly? Sorry, I'm new at this and really want to understand how it all works!

• By JRo12
• Reply 3451231
• October 11, 2012 at 7:49 pm
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Oh gosh Chantal you silly goose. Do not ever be sorry for asking questions, ever. If I see that again I will hunt you down and kick your behind. Don't doubt that.

I guess what I mean is not a hernia, but it is like pulling any muscle. I hope I can explain it, but maybe torking it would be a better term. Just turning or reaching the wrong way and it pulls the muscles around there. When it happens if I turn or bend it is a feeling of a sharp pain practically right under the stoma. Dr. says it is normal and very easy right now because we are less active. Does that make more sense? It does go away usually feels better the next day and it hasn't happened for a little while now, knock on wood. Now that I think about it, I don't think it has happened since a couple weeks after I started back to work.

It seems we all get better one way or another from what I have seen on this site. Look at Mare she can barely even remember the surgery, if it wasn't for that cute pesky stoma she wouldn't even known she had surgery, huh ; - ) Keep asking questions, always feel ok with concern and keep us updated.

Have a great night everyone!

JRo

• By ChantalRb
• Reply 3451449 · In reply to 3451231 by JRo12
• October 11, 2012 at 9:21 pm
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Thanks for that explanation. Every time I would have pain when moving or lifting something I would worry about getting a hernia!! I can relax a bit!! I did order a belt for support because I do have to do some lifting at work. Hopefully it will Do the trick! Have a good night!

• By S-Mile
• Reply 3451740
• October 11, 2012 at 11:43 pm
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Hi Chantal, Please be careful about lifting. I have read material on the internet that tells that hernias most often happen 6-8 weeks post-op. Other reports say up to two years. Maybe you could ask others to help lift things for a while and not take any chances. Reading about others who have them is pretty scary. Look at some pictures in google and that will jog your memory every time you think about picking up something heavy. I'm glad you ordered a belt already..good thinking! Ostomates will always be susceptible because of the stoma opening. Abdominal forces working tangentially on the circumference of the stomal opening causes it to enlarge as well as weak stomach muscles. Hold your hand over your stoma to give support every time you feel a sneeze or cough coming on as well. Like they say, 'an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure'! I hope you'll be feeling better soon and I agree, any pain that makes you take extra notice is worth checking into.
God Bless,
Donna

• By Mare5785
• Reply 3452428
• October 12, 2012 at 9:50 am
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Chantal... Glad you took some pain meds... They are really our friend in the beginning... Struggling through the pain and not getting the rest we need to heal.. could slow you down some. You just need to be vigilant when you do take the meds and not become SuperWoman.... as you tend to think you might!! lol..

Agree with Donna... cover your stoma a bit when exerting pressure.. The best advice my ex sister-in-law ever gave me was to throw a pillow between my knees while I laid in the ICU hospital bed and another pillow under my arm, over my incision/stoma for when I coughed, sneezed or laughed hard.. What a difference it made!! To this day.. I still use the pillow between my legs.. which is the King size.. so I can also have my arm over it.. Helps to not roll over onto the ostomy bag... and wake to a full blow out!!

I used to also carry a folded up cotton blanket.. It worked great as a compress when I needed to sneeze or cough.
Glad you have a belt to use.... Even with that.... Ask for help... Don't be stoic or foolish... It only takes once.. Especially within the first 6 monts/year. Better to be safe than sorry.

Remember.. Our stomach muscles are very weak after abdominal surgery... not even considering the stoma.. We need to be careful..

Janet.. too funny... Yes... 26 years later.. I do remember it.. but the quality of life is sooo much better.. it's not worth dwelling on!! lol
It has given me many..many years and great memories that otherwise I would have never experienced!!!! Thank you God!!

• By Jonsey
• Reply 3455060 · In reply to 3449101 by Mare5785
• October 13, 2012 at 11:19 am
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Mare, Thanks so much for your kind words. I know this will all get better in time. It is just so hard not to think of what is going on. This open sore on my stomach is so big, and hurts a lot. I do have pain pills I can take, but I hate to get started on something like that. At least this morning when i chnaged my bag and wafer, I could handle the pain. Last time I changed it, I cried because it hurt so much. So, I think the steroids that they gave me, must really be helping. I will be so happy when this heals, and I can get back to a some what normal way of life. This is such a change having this operation and now the other problems. Thank you again for your kindness. I thank God every day that I found all of you wonderful people.

Love and Hugs, Marilyn