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Hi guys, been a while since here last. I still have a "temp" illiostomy.

All has been steady for some time. I'm an avid cyclist and thin build. 128.lbs 5'10" No reserves like most folks. Last Sunday I did a 42 mile ride. A bit longer then my 30 mile rides but felt good so we kept riding. I got back to my shop cooked and hungry. So a ate a granola bar of sorts and drank some. I drink and eat while riding as well. I drive home, wash and cook a nice dinner. All normal stuff.
Got into bed around 12am. I woke up maybe around 2am? to a ready to pop pouch so full. So empty that. Now it starts, it seemed like every time I was just getting to sleep it was full again. this went on all night and all morning.

Now this happened once before and it put me in the hospital, so I knew to really get fluid back in me best I could. However Monday was not good. Not only was fluid pouring out of me, now I was sick to my stomach and feverish anytime I'd try to sit up and move. So Monday unless I was in the bathroom I was in bed not moving. I had a banana and threw that up within an hour.
I was getting severe leg cramps in both legs. Felt like someone ringing my muscles out. My sister popped over to make me some soup and check on me.
I should have made the call Monday morning but I did not. (bad move)
I suffered all Monday, all Monday night in pain. By Tuesday morning I was shot. My heart racing, cramps, could hardly get in and out of bathroom.

I had my roommate call for the ambulance. They came and took me to the ER.
I knew once I got an IV I'd be better but....they kept me because my kidney numbers were off. Wanted to make sure that once hydrated the numbers normalized and they did. They checked me for flu and c-dif. All negative.
Belly x-rays to rule out blockages.

So even though I felt better no real answers. They just said you probably caught a 24 bug or something.

My question is this, has anyone here have crazy output like that seemingly out of no where? How the hell does your body dump so much in such a short amount of time? It's like no matter what I did I think I would have needed the hospital to correct that. I just waited a day too long to go.
Thoughts??

Thanks
Alan

 

 

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No I don't think it was from food. But I know many people around me had been sick or knew some one sick. I'm exposed to lots of people and tools. I think I probably did catch a bug. But either way, I guess having fluids flying out of you is the equivalent of some one else having diarrhea?
Never really thought of it that way.

I had the norovirus once--it hit like fast like a train and did all the things you mention. Awful stuff. Also ended up in hospital for fluids. "Normal" people probably manage these viruses at home--we probably just get hit harder with our already limited ability to balance electrolytes. Hope you are feeling better. 

I know one thing. When I get diarrhea (and I know when I do). It doesn't hurt like it used to. It was so painful the regular way. (butt burn) 

I'm definitely not making light of your situation. Temp ileos are notorious for being a pain in the ass to deal with. I've had one. Permanent now. 

Having diarrhea with a stoma is of course something we have to monitor closely as it will dehydrate us quicker than a normal colon person. But even being normal we got dehydration from diarrhea. 

But being what we have it can knock us down quicker.  And put us in the hospital pretty quick as you found out. 

Ugh. I hated the temp. I like my permanent.  (it's just where I ended up and it's not so bad.) 

Be careful. 

R. 

Alan, Glad you got in when you did even if possibly a day late and hope you’ve gotten better by now. I get a similar isue about once a year it seems — I’ve deduced it’s probably a virus as for me it’s a much more severe reaction than with foods.

 I’ve been chastised in the ER for going in too soon and other times too late — most people with a colon, even med professionals, just can’t understand what we’re dealing with. Drinking more fluids, while helpful, can only do so much in a body with no colon. In an intact digestive system, a major function of the large intestines is to remove the fluid from our effluence — essentially recycling and rehydrating the body, even without any additional intake. That’s why we can’t go as long as colon’d people without fluids and why we get “upside down” so quickly. (“Upside down” is my term for when I find myself chasing dehydration to no avail.) Add to that we can’t know our salt and mineral balances at any given moment further aggravating the situation. The body’s “dump” reaction — a normal, healthy reaction to get rid of an offending substance — then backfires on us and we go from bad to really bad really quick. 

So yes, no matter what others say, you do absolutely need an IV once you recognize those “upside down” symptoms. Especially in your situation where you’re participating in long distance cycling as this is a hydration challenge even in a normal system. I commend the docs/nurses you saw for keeping you long enough to make sure they ran the bug tests and get your bloodwork normalized. WIthout doing so you could have been sent home too soon and just gotten sicker again once off the intravenous hydration.

Blessings and best wishes, Jennifer

 

I can't remember how they tested for norovirus--i think maybe they knew from the symptoms and that there was an outbreak of it going on. Either way, the IV and some hospital rest worked wonders. Jenjen I love your wording of "upside down"!  So many doctors seem to treat us the same as people with colons "just drink more water" and its so true how fast you can feel crappy from electrolyte imbalances. 

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