Hi, I have an ileo and a large peristomal hernia. I have been having issues lately with my peristomal hernia getting very large. I'm dealing with the surgeon and can't see the ostomy nurse until next Friday. Right now my stoma is fully protruded all of the time and bothering me. This week I've noticed bleeding and ulcers on the stoma itself. Anyone else have ulcers on your actual stoma? They look just like canker sores you get in your mouth but on the stoma itself, not the skin around it.
Hi WJ, I've had those occasionally on my stoma over the years and they don't seem to be a problem, but I keep an eye on them.
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Hi Mike and all. I am not sure how panoramic my perspective really is as my peripheral vision shrinks with each passing year. I can tell you that when I came to this website six years ago I was truly ;impressed by the positive attitudes of so many members, especially the younger folks who refused to let their ostomies define who they were or what they would become. I also came to appreciate that having an ostomy is not the same thing as having a disease. Pardon ;my pun now, but ostomies and cancer don't belong in the same bag. One is a solution, the other is a problem. Celebrating National Ostomy Day ;is also well outside my comfort zone. That's like celebrating National Wheel Chair Day. Come on!
I think there is a ;need for improved ;public awareness of ostomies, but I am not sure how that's best done. There ;remains ;some social stigma attached to our situation, and it's acutely felt among our young. We need to get out of the dark ages on this issue, but not by going 'in your face' to everyone else. I think Bill and NDY are 'spot-on' when it comes to telegraphing the right message to friends and family. People will know how to react when they ;see ;how we accept the cards we were dealt. I also appreciate the contribution some people here are making to this effort through their publications.
On a personal note, my son has been suffering from ulcerative colitis for years just like I did. I am very concerned because people with UC are at a higher risk for colon cancer. Years ago my GI told me to get annual colonoscopies to be on the safe side. I am glad I did because he eventually found pre-cancerous cells which led to several surgeries and my becoming an ostomate. Since then I have always ;conveyed a positive attitude to ;my son about wearing a bag because it has kept me alive to enjoy many more years with my loved ones. I think he got the message. We both go to the same gastroenterologist in NYC and get scoped on the same day. Father and Son moments!
Someone once wrote that our children are the letters we write to the future.
PB
I had a sore that was bleeding on my stoma, and it turned into a prolapsed growth. It wasn't there the morning of my surgery, but it was when I was released. My surgeon cut it out in the doctor's office, sent it to biopsy, and found out it was cancer. Cancer caused all my issues. I hope that's not the case for you. Just make sure you get any growths removed and biopsied.
This is actually what I came here for today.
I had revision surgery on 2/07, and I've noticed blood seeping from the actual stoma every time I change the bag. The stoma before revision was retracted, so I can't say if it bled like that or not. But it's a constant bleed, not a large amount.
When I googled, it mentioned varices (sp) as a possible cause. I have a follow-up with the surgeon on Monday.
I also noticed yesterday that the stoma has a gap all the way around, like a moat. And I don't know if there is supposed to be a gap or not.
