Stoma Discomfort

I hope I can explain this correctly...my stoma looks good and healthy when it's all washed and clean, however, I have some discomfort...it almost feels like a cut would feel. I can't see anything wrong, however, it does bleed once in awhile. Does anyone else have discomfort around their stoma. It feels like it's more in the inside, right edge of the opening, where I can't see it. I hope I'm making myself clear...it's a little hard to explain. It's not so painful I can't stand it, more an annoying feeling. It's been a little over 5 months since I had my surgery, and I don't know how long it's suppose to take to completely heal. Any thoughts? Thanks......

hi
i had my operation about 2 months ago and i sometimes have pain. like you nothing too bad. since it isn't severe or contanst i haven't been worried about it.
marjorie

Thanks Marjorie....I see a surgeon the end of the month and hopefully I will get some answers. I had emergency surgery, while out of town, so I don't have a local specialist, but am going to meet with one soon, so I have someone to contact, besides my GP, if needed down the road.

Hi Grammy - I've had my colostomy for 18 months and I still feel discomfort at times in the area where the stitches are (were?) And yes, it sometimes bleeds a bit. I think the collar edge of the flange/wafer can rub against the stitch area (which does have nerve endings, unlike the stoma).

You will know when bleeding is a problem. You will have a whole toilet bowl full of blood, and it will be maroon or at least darker than fresh blood. I had that in May and by the time I took it seriously enough to get myself to the ER I had to have 4 units of blood replaced

Pam

I have had my colostomy for a little over 3 years now. early on I got some very painful jabs like a wasp sting or something and then it would taper off to just an anoying pain. It was driving me nuts so I went to see my doctor and he said it could be scar tissue and he might have to re do my stoma or reposition it and remove some scar tissue. I wasn't convinced so I got on line and looked and looked and finally got ahold of a wound nurse and explained it to her. She said it was most likely a nerve ending or two right where the stoma was stiched to the skin ... and that stoma pastes,wipes, tissue, flanges and even stool ... could agravate the nerves easly. She said if that is what it was it should lessen over time. If not the nerves may have to be deadened. Well, as time passed it got less painful and less often and is now alot more tolerable.
I still bleed occasionally after 3 years ... right around the edge where the stitching was done and its usually from washing or wiping over the stoma with a tissue. The blood in the intestin it what pulls the nutrients out of what you eat and distributes them around the body so there is alot of blood there and as long as it isn't bleeding like a bad cut and not stoppable, it should be fine.
Hope this helped.