Removal or disconnection of the colon immediately causes an initial problem because of the removal of the ileo-cecal valve. This valve is between the ileum or small intestine and the colon where the appendix is attached. Its purpose is to dispense the contents of the ileum into the colon with a measured response to maximize food absorption.
When we lose this valve, food and water pass through our digestive system without a regulator, for a short time anyway. The body does adjust quite well to our new plumbing, and soon our transit rate slows to a third or a quarter of that of people with normal colons to help make up for this loss. The ileum begins to absorb more water to compensate for the loss of the colon but still absorbs much less than a normal colon usually would.
Effluent from the ileum normally has about 30% of the original water taken into the body remaining, while normal stool from a colon has about 10% remaining ... quite a difference. In addition, we lose ten times as much sodium and potassium as someone with a colon. Because of all this, anything that upsets this balance in our bodies has a faster and more dramatic effect.
A typical example is gastroenteritis. A normal person with this infection may be sick and have diarhhea for a couple of days, whereas we could end up in the hospital with exactly the same symptoms as these because of the loss of fluids and electrolytes. This may apply to other problems that upset the digestive system's balance. When these occur, a normal person may experience nausea, vomiting, fever, abdominal cramps, bloating, bloody diarhhea and signs of dehydration - ncluding the veins on the back of the hands and elsewhere becoming invisible.
People with an ileostomy may experience these signs differently. When I had flu, my ileostomy produced enough output to fill my pouch in just a short time. I felt nauseous and developed abdominal discomfort. I rapidly began to experience the symptoms of dehydration, which include a dry mouth, decreased or virtually non-existent urine output, heart irregularities and dry skin.
In my case, I could see my urine output had ceased as I have a urostomy as well. This is a medical emergency! In less than a 15-minute trip to the hospital by ambulance, the driver remarked that I had visibly deteriorated during the trip, even with a saline IV being administered. If hospitalized for dehydration, you may expect IV solutions to be given. The fluid given will be saline, potassium, or potassium and glucose to replace those essential electrolytes lost through diarhhea. Expect an EKG to check for heart problems, bloods to be taken, and stool and urine samples, to check for infection, and chest and abdominal X-rays.
Dehydration is a serious medical emergency that can lead to shock, unconsciousness and death if not treated soon enough. Delaying treatment can also lead to kidney damage, which may be permanent, requiring life long dialysis or a transplant. If you become ill with diarhhea, have vomiting and fever that persist, find yourself with a pouch continuously filling with fluid, and have little or no urine output, seek emergency treatment immediately.
Normal people may sneer that we're making a lot of fuss for a simple "ummy bug" - we're not! It is much more serious for us than for people with a normal colon.
