At the end of November 2019, I was operated on for a bowel obstruction at the hospital in Yverdon-les-Bains, Switzerland by Dr. A. Paroz, a specialist in abdominal surgery. During this operation, the surgeon removed 50 cm of intestine and installed a two-port ileostomy. I went home after 6 weeks in hospital.
For the first two months after my return, I received 1,000 ml of NaCl/24 hours to compensate for the fluid loss through the pouch. Then, as I had lost 12kg and was unable to regain weight, I was prescribed 1,000ml of parenteral nutrition per 24 hours. This meant that I was tied to my food bag from 6pm until 8am the next morning, which deprived me of any social activity. In addition, I had very little appetite and no energy.
I was hospitalised again at the beginning of July 2020 because of dehydration due to the very high flow rate of the bag (3 litres and more / 24 hours). It was at this point that Aude-Aline Gallandat, a stomatologist nurse who had been following me since my operation, suggested the chyme re-instillation system in which she was interested. Doctor Paroz, also interested in the improvements that this new system promised, having given his agreement, I immediately accepted. I was aware that, if everything worked as described, my quality of life would be greatly improved.
The system was set up in mid-August. It took a few days for everything to work properly as no one knew about the new system. I had to learn how to reinstill correctly myself, which was completely new to me. I was able to go home after 7 weeks in hospital, 12 days after the system was put in place.
The return home went well. Aude-Aline Gallandat trained about ten nurses in ostomy care and the reinstillation system. Since then, I have received basic stoma care every morning. The catheter is changed once a month by the stoma therapist.
Personally, it took me about two weeks to gain confidence and become fully familiar with the new system, but I managed to do it and I take care of everything myself during the day and night, apart from a few rare accidents. This requires availability, attention and a certain dexterity. I now know how to monitor the quality of the chyme:it is important to liquefy a thick chyme a little so that it passes easily through the pump. And if the chyme contains lumps, I evacuate them so that they don’t block the pump. I reinstill 6 to 8 times during the day and 3 to 4 times during the night for a total reinstilled of about 2 1/2 litres per 24 hours.
My quality of life since I started using the chyme reinstillation system has improved significantly. I am no longer at risk of dehydration, my blood values, checked twice a month, are good, I have regained 7 of the 12 kilos I had lost. No liver or kidney complications have arisen. As I don’t smoke, no problem on that side either! I have regained my energy and my appetite. I am enjoying my daily walks again, which help to keep me fit. I have been vaccinated and I am enjoying having my children and grandchildren at home again - in small groups - and cooking a good meal for them.
I am extremely grateful to have been put on this system which has enabled me to return to a life close to normal. A warm THANK YOU and congratulations to the brilliant inventors.
Individual results may vary. Testimonials do not claim to represent typical results. All testimonials are received from real patients via text, in person, or through video submission, and may not reflect the typical patient experience. Testimonials are not intended to represent or guarantee that anyone will achieve the same or similar clinical results. Each patient’s condition is unique to their physiology and health status. Thus, the testimonials shared by The Insides Company may not reflect the typical patient experience.
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