Stoma Retraction Issues and Skin Breakdown Concerns

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martha
Mar 11, 2009 2:17 pm

I am having a problem with my stoma retracting all the time. This causes more frequent breakdowns in the skin around the stoma. Does anyone else have this problem?

mooza
Mar 12, 2009 12:12 am

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Do you use a convexity pouch? I use Coloplast shallow convex, which pushes the stoma out, or try a deep convex pouch. Good luck, mooza
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Posted by: iMacG5

Hi Crossley. Ya know, I think it’s all about feelings. I don’t mean the pain feelings which could control everything. I mean the feelings inside our heads, our hearts and even our souls. I mean the feelings of who we are now compared to who we were; how we accept our situation or maybe we don’t. My wife asked how I felt and I said, “like crap”. She asked what hurt and I answered, “Nothing hurts, well, everything hurts, I don’t know, It all sucks.” That was a long time ago. You question if your feelings are normal. How normal is it to relocate your butt hole to your belly where it’s usually in the way of your belt and, you know. But that’s where we are and for lots of us we are so much better off than we were before, physically. Emotionally, psychologically, well, that might be a different story. I believe talk therapy is wonderful if we could find a real empathic or sympathetic listener. So guess what! I found MAO and began “talking” with a keyboard with some of the wisest, kindest most sympathetic and compassionate folks on the planet. Regardless of where we’ve been, lots of folks here have been there and worse places and found their way back healthier and happier. We really do help each other.
Keep “talking”,
Mike

TexasGirl
Mar 16, 2009 6:46 am
Hi Martha.  I had my colostomy done in May 2007.  I have a retracted stoma and yes it can cause leakage problems.  I have tried a number of pouches, etc. and have found that I need convexity.  I use a convex barrier ring by Hollister.  It seals to my pouch.  I also put an ample amount of stomahesive paste around the ring to help with the seal and to fill in some around the stoma.  I have used an eakin cohesive seal along with the barrier ring too.  I know your frustration but I hope soon you will be able to find the products that work for you.  My next step is to try irrigating.  
The best to you, Debi
softncuddly
Mar 16, 2009 10:07 am

Texasgirl has a great answer; the only thing I could add to that is you might want to try the ostomy belt along with all of her great ideas. I too have a pretty flush stoma, and the only thing that works for me is the combination of the convex flanges, the Eakin seals, and the belt. The belt has been a lifesaver for me as I was changing a couple of times a day, and my skin was extremely irritated. The belt just pulls the flange in that much closer to the skin and pops the stoma out a little bit more to ensure the output goes to the pouch instead of underneath the flange. Good luck!