My stoma hurts!
Output is good, no screaming runs, skin around the stoma looks good, got prescribed a steroid cream. Had a colostomy. Dr. wants me to put the steroid cream on the stoma
2 x a day. I use a 1-piece pouch. What in the round world could be making it hurt? Walking my 60 lb puppy? He does pull. This started last week.
Haven't eaten any spicy food. I don't drink the tap water here, but I have been using the tap water to rinse the bag. Dr. didn't know either. Why is my stoma hurting???
That is a bit of a head-scratcher. The stoma itself doesn't have any nerve endings, so the pain is coming from somewhere else. Is it possible you are cutting your wafer too small and 'strangling' your stoma? Does your stoma look healthy? I'm not sure that putting steroid cream directly on a stoma is a good idea, and I'd think about getting a second opinion. Do you have an ostomy nurse? They are very often more experienced than the doctors.
Terry
MeetAnOstoMate is a remarkable community of 41,452 members.
“I mostly read and still feel like I belong.”
“Doctors took notes; they want others to find this website.”
“From midnight blowouts to big wins, there’s always a hand to hold.”
About seven years ago, just about every aspect of my life was ostomy related. From the moment I was told an ostomy might be needed until some months down the road I existed as a person afflicted with a colostomy. I feared someone other than my immediate family might find out I had a bag. Ugh! What could be worse? Suppose it filled real fast when I was out with no place to hide and take care of myself. God forbid should it leak in church! Suppose I roll over on it in bed. I was a lesser creature, destined to a life of emotional anguish and physical routines different from most of the rest of the world. I felt like a freak. Then I found folks like you guys here, read your stuff, really “listened” to what you had to say and I began looking at things differently. We know perception is everything and I began to understand how good things were relative to what they could’ve been. So many folks had it so much worse than I did. That didn’t make my discomfort go away but it exposed how fortunate I was to be dealing with my stuff and not their’s. I felt a little guilt, maybe selfishness but quickly forgave myself by understanding I just wasn’t smart enough to fix my feelings. Then, I wonder what smarts have to do with feelings. My perception was warped so my perspective toward my existence was warped.
I learned over the last few years with the help of lots of folks right here at MAO that I could be better at living just by accepting some facts. It is what it is and so what? It’s not the worst thing to happen to a person.
I think everything is, in some way, related to everything else. I just put the ostomy thing in the back seat and drive forward.
Respectfully,
Mike
I haven't a clue. Contact your stoma nurse. Is the doctor that said to put steroid cream your surgeon? I wouldn't put it on your stoma. Get another opinion.
You are a stoma angel!!!
I went to my stash, got out a bag with no convex to it and a huge hole. No pain. Ta da!
Back to happy happy!!!
Thank you! 😀
FYI, no stoma nurses out here, the surgeon who did the surgery just left the hospital where my surgery was done.
When I tried a convex wafer/bag, I literally had a bruise around my stoma and it would get really sore. Went back to a flat wafer/bag, never an issue since.
The convex ring did that to me. Scared me to death. I wonder why the rep I spoke with didn't know to tell me to change to a flat one?
99.9% of most reps, doctors, and nurses that deal with anything ostomy do not actually have one. So little tips, tricks, and info like that don't even cross their mind. I've learned a lot more about stomas from YouTube videos from people that have them and on here than from any medical professional. Sure, I learned the basics from them, but all the little stuff that makes having one easier came from nobody that is in the ostomy business.
Oh, I am so glad this worked out for you! Yes, convex flanges aren't for everyone.
Terry
I had troubles when I used to cut the wafer hole close to stoma size. Stinging, irritated peristomal skin, and just plain uncomfortable.
Then I discovered... moldable barrier rings. Now I cut a large hole in the wafer. Then mold a ring around my stoma. Easy peasy.
No more stinging or irritation. And no leaks.
I prefer Coloplast Brava rings. They stretch without tearing.
Yes, you can use the barrier rings with any kind of flange. It allows you to cut the hole bigger without risking skin irritation from your output to your peristomal skin. The barrier creates a seal around the base of your stoma. I use the Salts brand and they are my favorite, thinner than most others. It creates such a good seal that it gives me extra days between changes.
Terry
I have times that my stoma hurts! I am still a newbie, only 3 months in, so not sure I have a suggestion, just that I can relate! Changed the bag today and she was looking really red and inflamed!
I had to switch from convex to a flat bag. No more pain, and my stoma looks good. Leaks though, lol, always something going on.