As most of you are aware, I had a colostomy, (not colonoscopy, LOL), as part of an emergency operation, almost a year ago. And, I still haven't had it reversed. (Gotta take care of that one of these days, when I have more time). Yep, I'm a world-class procrastinator, a fact of which most of you are also well aware.
Anyway, to get around to the point of this post, I thought I would share some more of the interesting, (though disgusting), observations connected with my disconnected colon. LOL. This morning, for example, I had barely started work, doing a few preliminary chores, when Amos started nagging me, claimding that "we" had some urgent business to attend to. I tried to ignore him, since I'm well aware that he sometimes tries to pull that old trick on me, as a carryover from the BS days, (Before Surgery), but it soon became obvious that he meant business, so I grabbed a roll of TP from my truck, and headed out behind the barn.
Sure enough, I barely made it in time, and passed, (sprayed), a fair amount of cream-colored liquid fecal matter. While I was puzzling over how Amos could have diarrhea, when he isn't even connected to my gut, I noticed, (by the almost-immediate insult on my olfactory senses), that it was some of the foulest-smelling stuff I've been associated with in quite a while. I say a fair amount, because, while I didn't have any way to conveniently measure the volume, it appeared to be something on the order of maybe one and a half to two shot glasses full, which I would think is a fair amount, considering the circumstances.
What's really interesting, is that the rest of my colon has been leaning toward constipation for the past few days, and is apparently continuing that trend today, also. Is that perplexing, or what? . . . . constipation, and what appears to be osmotic diarrhea, at the same time, in segregated sections of the colon.
The question is, "am I having an official reaction to something"? Yesterday I was a bit bloated, but nothing serious, and I felt pretty decent, otherwise. I videoed a wedding on Saturday afternoon, and at the reception, snacked on a few things that I thought were safe; namely, shrimp, (with nothing on them), grapes, and what I thought was a rather neat item consisting of a small chunk of chicken breast meat and a jalepeno, both wrapped in bacon and cooked as a unit. Those suckers were good, and I ate at least several of them.
It could possibly be due to the grapes, since citric acid used to give me a fit, (back when I was reacting regularly). The likely suspect is the milk I had with some cereal for breakfast on Saturday, (GF rice flakes with milk), and some ice cream, after Sunday's noon meal. (I keep experimenting with dairy products about once or twice a week, but the jury is still out, because sometimes I seem to have minor symptoms, and at other times I don't notice anything significant. Maybe it was a combination of all or several of these things.
I do recall a similar D incident a little over a month ago, when Amos did pretty much the same thing, (though the rest of my colon was not experiencing C at the same time). I think that at the time, I was probably ingesting a fair amount of dairy products, since my thinking at the time was that they don't bother me any more. Now, I'm not so sure.
Whatever the case, I still think it's inappropriate for Amos the orphan anus to be doing things like that. It makes me a little apprehensive about reconnecting the sucker. You know? LOL.
Love,
Tex
Another Episode In The Saga Of Amos The Orphan Anus
Moderators: Rosie, Jean, CAMary, moremuscle, JFR, Dee, xet, Peggy, Matthew, Gabes-Apg, grannyh, Gloria, Mars, starfire, Polly, Joefnh
Another Episode In The Saga Of Amos The Orphan Anus
It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
Wayne, you have such a way with words. You crack me up.It does seem that Amos is being a bit dramatic "considering the circumstances" - as you put it. Maybe he is just so used to being the central focus of your life that it's hard for him being semi-ignored this past year.
Actaully, I can't imagine the cause of it all. I just enjoyed the story. Perhaps Polly can shed some insight. Glad you had TP with you!!!
Love, Shirley
When the eagles are silent, the parrots begin to jabber"
-- Winston Churchill
-- Winston Churchill
Hi Polly,
I really don't know how much is attached. It couldn't be a heck of a lot, though, since the surgeon removed 18 cm, (about 7 inches), of my sigmoid colon. I don't know the normal length of the sigmoid colon, but I would suspect that's probably the lion's share of it. Isn't it?
As the surgeon mentioned, in later discussions, it's normal to occasionally pass small amounts of mucus after a colostomy, and I'te done that a few times. Yesterday, though, that wasn't mucus.
Love,
Tex
I really don't know how much is attached. It couldn't be a heck of a lot, though, since the surgeon removed 18 cm, (about 7 inches), of my sigmoid colon. I don't know the normal length of the sigmoid colon, but I would suspect that's probably the lion's share of it. Isn't it?
As the surgeon mentioned, in later discussions, it's normal to occasionally pass small amounts of mucus after a colostomy, and I'te done that a few times. Yesterday, though, that wasn't mucus.
Love,
Tex
It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
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artteacher
- Rockhopper Penguin
- Posts: 731
- Joined: Wed Aug 24, 2005 11:13 pm
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Dear Wayne,
Shrimp and grapes are very high in sulfites. Frozen shrimp is, anyway. Grapes are dusted with it in the field, and have naturally occuring sulfites as well. If they weren't rinsed well before being set out for the guests, that would make it even worse. Sulfites do that to me. Well, they do it to "Amy" I guess.
Did you have a stuffy or runny nose after eating the grapes? Did you get a headache as long as 8 hours later? If so, that would be typical for sulfite sensitivity.
Laughing not really at you, but in your general direction,
Marsha
Shrimp and grapes are very high in sulfites. Frozen shrimp is, anyway. Grapes are dusted with it in the field, and have naturally occuring sulfites as well. If they weren't rinsed well before being set out for the guests, that would make it even worse. Sulfites do that to me. Well, they do it to "Amy" I guess.
Did you have a stuffy or runny nose after eating the grapes? Did you get a headache as long as 8 hours later? If so, that would be typical for sulfite sensitivity.
Laughing not really at you, but in your general direction,
Marsha
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harvest_table
- Rockhopper Penguin
- Posts: 1509
- Joined: Wed May 25, 2005 6:29 pm
- Location: Fergus Falls, Minnesota
Marsha,
You're right about the shrimp and grapes. I didn't even think about the sulphite risk, and I haven't eaten either one in several years, prior to Saturday. I have a very light touch of hay fever symptoms some days, this time of the year, but it's very minor, and I didn't notice any increase in "stuffiness". I also don't recall a headache, so if I had one, it would have had to have been pretty light, or I would have remebered it. I guess I need to do some test trials, one of these days.
Amy? Hahahahahaha.
Joanna,
As a group, we do tend to have some weird experiences at times, don't we. LOL.
Love,
Tex
You're right about the shrimp and grapes. I didn't even think about the sulphite risk, and I haven't eaten either one in several years, prior to Saturday. I have a very light touch of hay fever symptoms some days, this time of the year, but it's very minor, and I didn't notice any increase in "stuffiness". I also don't recall a headache, so if I had one, it would have had to have been pretty light, or I would have remebered it. I guess I need to do some test trials, one of these days.
Amy? Hahahahahaha.
Joanna,
As a group, we do tend to have some weird experiences at times, don't we. LOL.
Love,
Tex
It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
Wayne
Interesting!
It would appear that the unused part of your intestine that has been given some time off because of the colostomy is still trying to do its work. I guess it makes sense that even though their is no through put the unused section of bowel would still contain all kinds of bacteria and secretions that would have to be eliminated some way. In other words just because it is unhooked it is not like unplugging the refrigerator.
Was wondering if you have looked into the optimal time before reversal. Just seems to me that waiting to long might result in so much atrophy that any further recovery might be extended.
Just thinking out loud.
Matthew
Interesting!
It would appear that the unused part of your intestine that has been given some time off because of the colostomy is still trying to do its work. I guess it makes sense that even though their is no through put the unused section of bowel would still contain all kinds of bacteria and secretions that would have to be eliminated some way. In other words just because it is unhooked it is not like unplugging the refrigerator.
Was wondering if you have looked into the optimal time before reversal. Just seems to me that waiting to long might result in so much atrophy that any further recovery might be extended.
Just thinking out loud.
Matthew
Matthew,
Theoretically, there shouldn't be any nutrient supply available in that section, that would allow conventional gut flora and fauna to flourish, (other than the standard mucous secretions). Obviously, though, there must be some types there.
According to the surgeon who did the work, it doesn't really matter when a reversal is done, (all things being equal). But, of course, in the long run, age could be a factor in the risk and recovery times, if I wait too long.
The interesting thing is, the more I become accustomed to this arrangement, the better I like it. Looking forward to the BM problems that old age typically brings, a colostomy may offer previouisly unrecognized advantages over the standard plumbing arrangement. It takes roughly two minutes to change out a pouch, and it can be done anywhere there is some degree of privacy, (bathroom facilities are not necessary - one just "unsnaps" the pouch, and "snaps" on a new one). No cleanup is necessary for a pouch change. A wafer, (the body seal), change, takes significantly longer, of course, and does require some cleanup work to the site, in order to insure a good seal, but this only has to be done once every 5 or 6 days.
Call me lazy, but consider that, (other than freak situations such as I described in my original post), I never have to run to the bathroom - in fact, I wouldn't have to go there at all, as far as BMs are concerned. If old age should bring incontinence - hey, no sweat. This is the ultimate "diaper". LOL. And, no one can tell I'm wearing it, if I don't bring it to their attention, (unless, of course, they see me in my birthday suit).
My work usually slows down during the spring, so if I'm going to do it, that would allow me the most recovery time. I'll give the situation some serious study then, and make a decision.
Tex
Theoretically, there shouldn't be any nutrient supply available in that section, that would allow conventional gut flora and fauna to flourish, (other than the standard mucous secretions). Obviously, though, there must be some types there.
According to the surgeon who did the work, it doesn't really matter when a reversal is done, (all things being equal). But, of course, in the long run, age could be a factor in the risk and recovery times, if I wait too long.
The interesting thing is, the more I become accustomed to this arrangement, the better I like it. Looking forward to the BM problems that old age typically brings, a colostomy may offer previouisly unrecognized advantages over the standard plumbing arrangement. It takes roughly two minutes to change out a pouch, and it can be done anywhere there is some degree of privacy, (bathroom facilities are not necessary - one just "unsnaps" the pouch, and "snaps" on a new one). No cleanup is necessary for a pouch change. A wafer, (the body seal), change, takes significantly longer, of course, and does require some cleanup work to the site, in order to insure a good seal, but this only has to be done once every 5 or 6 days.
Call me lazy, but consider that, (other than freak situations such as I described in my original post), I never have to run to the bathroom - in fact, I wouldn't have to go there at all, as far as BMs are concerned. If old age should bring incontinence - hey, no sweat. This is the ultimate "diaper". LOL. And, no one can tell I'm wearing it, if I don't bring it to their attention, (unless, of course, they see me in my birthday suit).
My work usually slows down during the spring, so if I'm going to do it, that would allow me the most recovery time. I'll give the situation some serious study then, and make a decision.
Tex
It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
Hey Tex!
What would you propose as the mechanism by which Amos might be reacting to dairy? There is obviously no direct contact between Amos and the gut contents. Are you thinking that maybe there is a bloodborn mechanism? That dairy antibodies are somehow being "remotely" stimulated to form in Amos? Interesting....
Are you better now? Hope it was a one-time thing.
Love,
Polly
What would you propose as the mechanism by which Amos might be reacting to dairy? There is obviously no direct contact between Amos and the gut contents. Are you thinking that maybe there is a bloodborn mechanism? That dairy antibodies are somehow being "remotely" stimulated to form in Amos? Interesting....
Are you better now? Hope it was a one-time thing.
Love,
Polly
Blessed are they who can laugh at themselves, for they shall never cease to be amused.
Hi Polly,
Good question - I'm not sure what I'm proposing. We're all aware that it has been demonstrated that total surgical bypass of the colon by the fecal stream, (by means of an ileostomy), will put an end to inflammatory responses in the colon, caused by food intolerances. What we don't know, is what happens to the detached segment, when most of the colon is still intact, as mine is.
Obviously, there's no reason why the remaining contiguous part of my colon cannot generate antibodies to a food trigger. If I understand the mechanism correctly, the control of the opening and closing of the tight junctions in the epithelium of the colon is carried out on a local basis - i. e., chemical signals at each junction, on either side of the junction, (IOW, either in the lumen, or in the bloodstream), can trigger the operation of the "valve", and either open or close it. Since the lumen of the detached segment of my colon is totally devoid of any nutrients, (other than what the bloodstream makes available), I would assume that those tight junctions might be open a high percentage of the time, (IOW, leaky gut in reverse, due to the imbalance of chemical triggers, across the junctions), thus allowing the bloodstream to "dump" who-knows-what into the lumen of that segment.
This scenario is way out in left field, but I wonder if it might be possible that the bloodstream is picking up antibodies, toxins, whatever, from a minor reaction in the intact part of my colon, (a classic leaky gut response), and secreting some/most of it in the orphaned segment, where Amos has to contend with it. That would be one way to explain a C response in the intact section, while Amos experienced osmotic D. Or, maybe I'm all wet. LOL.
Love,
Tex
P S I'm feeling fine. I never did actually feel "poorly", I was just slightly off normal, so to speak.
Good question - I'm not sure what I'm proposing. We're all aware that it has been demonstrated that total surgical bypass of the colon by the fecal stream, (by means of an ileostomy), will put an end to inflammatory responses in the colon, caused by food intolerances. What we don't know, is what happens to the detached segment, when most of the colon is still intact, as mine is.
Obviously, there's no reason why the remaining contiguous part of my colon cannot generate antibodies to a food trigger. If I understand the mechanism correctly, the control of the opening and closing of the tight junctions in the epithelium of the colon is carried out on a local basis - i. e., chemical signals at each junction, on either side of the junction, (IOW, either in the lumen, or in the bloodstream), can trigger the operation of the "valve", and either open or close it. Since the lumen of the detached segment of my colon is totally devoid of any nutrients, (other than what the bloodstream makes available), I would assume that those tight junctions might be open a high percentage of the time, (IOW, leaky gut in reverse, due to the imbalance of chemical triggers, across the junctions), thus allowing the bloodstream to "dump" who-knows-what into the lumen of that segment.
This scenario is way out in left field, but I wonder if it might be possible that the bloodstream is picking up antibodies, toxins, whatever, from a minor reaction in the intact part of my colon, (a classic leaky gut response), and secreting some/most of it in the orphaned segment, where Amos has to contend with it. That would be one way to explain a C response in the intact section, while Amos experienced osmotic D. Or, maybe I'm all wet. LOL.
Love,
Tex
P S I'm feeling fine. I never did actually feel "poorly", I was just slightly off normal, so to speak.
It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
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annie oakley
- King Penguin
- Posts: 3859
- Joined: Fri May 13, 2011 5:56 pm
That wasn't even the end of it. A few days later, I had another BM, only that time it wasn't diarrhea. Weird! LOL.
Love,
Tex
Love,
Tex
It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.