Concerns About My Stoma Retracting After Shopping

i have had my colostomy for aprox 3 weeks all has been going well , 2 days ago i went out for a few hours to the shops , now my stoma seems to have retracted into my tummy . i have tried to contact my stoma nurse but she hasnt been available , im resting now and hopeing to hear from her soon . do you have any advise for me .

If its worrying you JoJo then head to emergency. I,m heading there my self cos of my pain issues and now a weeping sinus has just opened up in a new spot. So get in there and get it checked,, it's better to wait for a bit and be told theres nothing wrong than to fins out somethng is wrong too late.

Hi Jojoslife!  I'm not on here much these days but check in from time to time to see how everyone is doing....nice to meet you
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   ...hey,  has it retracted into your tummy all the way or just a little??  Gus is right to go to the emergency if you are worried, for sure, ...do you have bleeding or pain??  I understand your worry dear but it will be ok ...but do have it looked at
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   Also note that our stomas can often change shape and size, sometimes retracting a bit, other times sticking out a bit farther....mine does that a lot in fact
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and I have had an ileostomy for 34 years...it still likes to move 'n groove just like the rest of me lol....it will be ok sweetie try not to worry.....but get it looked at and let us know how you're doing, ok?
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~Doe

thanks Gus nurse said bowels move in and out and shes not worried ,its still working .  i,m going to see her on thursday .  so alls good
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thanks Doe im feeling alot better and i really apreciate your help

How to Stay Hydrated with an Ostomy with Collin | Hollister

Your welcome JoJo,,

Hey Jojo.

The small bit of advice I have here is if your stoma rectracts on occasion,  and it will depending how hard its working to keep the food moving to expel it,  I would make sure I use a convex skin wafer...............It will keep the stoma protruding nicely so that you wont get leakages , which often happen when stomas want to hide by going into ones belly.LOL.

You still sound so good and positive for a newbie....LOL..
Stay well  .......................Your american freind  Michael

As you can well see we are a tight group on here and have great support as evidenced by Gus,  Hey gus,  and wounded doe,  Hi Laura..............Till next post.....Michael

JoJo, I did a lot of research on Convetec and man, I hope I spelled that right; I am not looking at my papers. They do have a device that you can wear for 8 hours a day and you won't need a bag during that time. That is why I was so glad you were having a colostomy because I know you also like to dress up. If anything fails in my surgery, then I am going to start using them myself and I can't let this whip my rear. Thanks for the email and I promise I will call when I am feeling better. You should get that package today from me. It must take a long time to get anything to your country. Also, I weighed myself a little bit ago and am losing today; I guess sometimes it just doesn't want to come off too fast. I see my surgeon in about six weeks and he is going to give me my date and I will also call and let you know when I get my reversal. My son is flying home from DC to be here for my surgery and my friends will be with me, and my other son and husband, and you are right, I will be OK. I just hate hearing all these stories where things go wrong. Every test I took came back awesome so I shouldn't have one problem for the rest of my life. Plus, my husband knows never to sign another paper for me for anything. I have a really good lawyer and also my husband would never do this to me again. It would take a heck of a lot to kick me in the grave as I have always been able to beat all odds and until my youngest is raised, I am not changing my mental state. He starts school in a few days and now time seems to be passing and I am glad. I will probably have to order Christmas like last year but I don't mind. My youngest doesn't care and his favorite part is mom ordering a cake for Jesus that says Happy Birthday and he takes it to school with presents for the children that aren't going to get any. I am glad I did one thing right in my life; I raised my children the best way I could without knowing what I was doing. Really, thanks for the email, I needed that encouragement. I put you on my phone a while back and it was no problem, I just have to start fighting for more strength. I will get there Jo and I do love you all, Jenny

Hi jojo, I suffered from cronic diverticulitis and had to have colostomy surgery on March 03. I like Gus, I would get yourself to the ER an have them look at your stoma. Good luck jojo.

Marines1967

Hi Jojo, I just talked to stoma nurse she called me about my pouchs. I asked her about your retacting stoma she said that it is normal. Could be do to loss of weight plus the stoma is always changing. She asked if it was still functioning as it is suppose to.

Marines1967

G'day Michael Whats new mate

hey, gennyg.
Coming to atlanta soon, about the 23rd. maybe we can meet up?
Faith

Hey Faith, That sounds cool, I am not that far from the Atlanta airport, it would just need to be a time after my son is out of school.  We might be able to make it by 4:00 as I hate the traffic in this city so my husband does his best to time it.  My son starts school on the 9th this month.  I havent drove anywhere alone since this surgery so my husband does the driving or my son  depending on who is busy.  Plus depending if my son is home from DC that weekend.  Let me know what time you will be here and maybe we can get a drink or something.  I think it would be really cool to see you, I already feel like I know you anyway.  Plus we have a awesome airport in Atlanta, it is like big but you probably been in it.  Faith just write when you know what time you will be in Atanta, Jenny
PS If it dont work out this trip it will another one, I am having my surgery as soon as my Doctor will do it, he dont think I will have much down time.  Faith I will email you my home phone number and cell, but I am at home more than out while waiting on surgery.  If it cost you to call me, leave a number and I will call you back.

Hi JoJo - glad you got your issue resolved.  I noticed my stoma retracted a bit long after surgery (it's been 18 months now).  I didn't need full on convexity - I just slip an Eakins seal under my wafer and it gives me the extra I need and no leakage.

You have a lovely family, a CUTE little doggy, and who rides the Fatty?     Pinky  
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dear Pinky
              thank you for your kind coments, i sure do have great family and the cutest little dog ever
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. my hubby rides the fatty and we both love it . i just had my surgery 3 weeks ago. alls going really well . i was concerned when my stoma changed but every body was so helpfull on this site . so thanks to all .

Jo, I found a new snake venom that is going to replace botox, I have never had botox yet as my plastic surgeon said not yet.  But you can buy this new venom in a cream and instead of it working like Cobroxin for pain it fills in wrinkles, so dont worry about growing old so fast.  The good Lord had to know he made a generation of women who are so vein.  Anyway I hope you got my email as I found some cool info for you, plus thanks for the chat mate, learned alot, talk soon, Love Jenny

Doe, I was impressed to see you have lived with your stoma for 34 years...gives me encouragement.  Just wish I didn't have so much leakage, as it worries me to go out in public.  Would hate to have it happen when I'm out and about!

Hi Michael!
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....yes, we can definitely be a good support to each other....and after living the first 33 years of ostomy life 'alone' without contact with other ostomates, I can agree whole-heartedly on how important ostomate support is......
Take care everyone!

~Your Doe

I have probs with leakage every once in-awhile as well though thankfully not often, also depends on what I'm eating sometimes lol ...forinstance I'm a "kraut-head" lmao and we all know what sauerkraut can do  hehee ...I eat lots of things I shouldn't but ah well...but I have never let that ostomy or any worry of leakage stop me from doing things...keeping in mind I've had to deal with it since I was ten so I learned to do all the things everyone else was doing at an early age, not really thinking about some of the concerns we have as adults....sort of 'grew into' my ostomy in some ways....I have had a very active life and still do .....  
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  hugs to you!   Try not to let it stop YOU from doing what you want to do, it will all be fine
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  ...and keep checking in with this site because there are SO many good tips from other ostomates on here that I have found helpful as well....I have learned some very valuable things / tips ...and cannot put into words how grateful I am!
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~Love from your Doe

Grammy, I know Springfield, Illinois, and I know if you are a Protestant, you probably had surgery at Memorial Hospital. But they also have good nurses, and should you call and ask for step-by-step instructions, they should help. Grammy, I learned one thing about not getting a leak: if my husband isn't here, and since yours is now in Heaven with Our Lord, then you are on your own. Lying down to put your wafer, stoma powder, and paste is a good idea. First, I shower without any wafer and use Dial soap to clean my skin. I wash my hair first, not to get a drop of conditioner near that site. I then wash my stoma and have been doing so for a year, around the skin, and I love the feeling of being clean. I have not had leaks. If I am home alone, I lay down on a towel and have my wafer cut just enough to show skin, ensuring that I get the wafer on without it being too large. I pour stoma powder over my stoma; I do this once and then pat with a barrier wipe. I do it again, and the same thing—a barrier wipe. On the third time I use stoma powder, I open up a new barrier. I pat it well. I then use enough stoma paste to circle my wafer and look down at it to make sure it is centered. Take a mirror to the bed if you need to, making sure your wafer is on as perfectly as you can get it, and never worry about when you attach the bag with stoma paste if you are going to fill in the hole with the paste because you are. Also, make sure you use your finger to circle the stoma paste on the part where the paste needs to hold. I wait 30 minutes before I even bend; I do not need a crack or leak in my wafer. My hands are like glue when I finish, and I just clean them well with soap and a washcloth. I do use the stoma powder and paste and two barrier wipes, as you always have to make sure you blot with that barrier to not see any powder before you attach the wafer. Believe me, it works so well for me that I don't need anything to take off the bag in the shower and put it in its little garbage bag. Grammy, you can also do this, and if it doesn't work for you, as I do not know what you are using, make a Stoma Nurse hear you out or go to a meeting in Illinois and learn from other people who have stomas. Don't stop living life after all you have overcome, and gosh, enjoy the casinos—not my thing, but they have awesome food. I do like the horse track and my beer and peanuts, but no gambling in GA. So, I have learned to give up the horses for a state I truly love. I still miss my Trifectas but do make a trip to Illinois once a year. God bless you, Grammy, and I am so sorry about your husband, but if I can make a wafer not leak, then anyone can. I just practiced until I got it right, as I am not one to give up, and believe me, I came close. God be with you and enjoy your life while you have it. Love, Jenny

hi jojo'slife As i am in melbourne so i use coloplast sesura 15537 ileostomy my leakages where due to having a few reversals and the site was to damaged to make another stoma so they sited it on the left side of my belly its coloplast SHALLOW convex been no leakage at all if you are a member in melbourne give us a call COLOSTOMY ASSOCIATION VICTORIA if i am volunteering in the office that day ask for mare. Also if you get the ostomy magazine i recommend it call the company's to give you samles of their pouches try shallow convex you wont be sorry hope all goes well oh the stoma settles about 3 months so it gets smaller and that will be your size mine is 25ml down from 40ml .cheers mare (mooza ) lol x
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