What Are the Symptoms of a Blocked Stoma?

After an ileostomy, a partially or completely blocked stoma can occur when eating a fiber-rich diet or failing to chew food completely. In other cases, scar tissue or bowel adhesions may block the passage of waste. Adhesions are caused by internal scarring. They are bands of fibrous tissue that can form after a surgery, connecting abdominal tissues and/or organs so that they stick together. No matter the cause, stoma blockage can be a medical emergency. Here’s how to recognize the problem and get proper care. 

Symptoms of Bowel Obstruction

These are signs of stoma or bowel blockage, in approximate order of seriousness:

• Continual spurts of very watery stool
• Stool may have a strong odor
• The swollen skin around the stoma 
• Sudden abdominal pain
• Bloated, swollen abdomen
• The abdominal area feels hard to the touch
• Stool output stops
• Nausea or vomiting

Stoma Blockage Self Care

If you think you may have a blocked stoma, and symptoms are NOT severe, you can try these tips to clear the blockage in your small intestine:

• Discontinue eating solid foods to avoid making the issue worse.
• Drink more fluids to replace lost fluid in the watery stool or help move a blockage.
• Switch your pouch to one with a larger opening.
• Try warm drinks to stimulate the bowel movement.
• Take a warm bath to relax muscles and ease stomach pain.
• Massage the area around your stoma and abdomen.
• Lie down on your back and bring knees up to your chest. Then, rock from side to side to help move a bowel blockage along the intestinal tract.

When Stoma Blockage is an Emergency

Skip self-care and call 911 or go the emergency room immediately if: pain is severe, you’re vomiting, stool flow has stopped and/or your have felt poorly for more than 2 hours. This is urgent, to prevent serious dehydration (which occurs extremely quickly) and/or possible bowel rupture. 

Prevention: How to Avoid Stoma Blockage

Tips to help prevent a blocked stoma:

• Follow your doctor’s specific instructions about your diet, which may include the following.
• Drink at least 2 quarts (a half gallon or more) of fluids daily.
• Chew food slowly and completely.
• Limit high fiber foods. Eat only small amounts per day of granola or bran, corn, fruit with peelings, raw vegetables, popcorn, nuts, and seeds.
• Avoid meats in a casing, like a sausage or hot dogs.
• Take care with raw or cooked: celery, cabbage, coconut, mushrooms, and bamboo shoots.

Your Expert Ileostomy Surgeon in Los Angeles

Dr. Don Schiller offers personalized care with the most advanced surgical options, designed to fit your specific needs. Contact us at 323-472-9931 today.