Tightness Around Ostomy Appliance When Standing Up

It’s been 8 weeks now since I had my ileostomy.  Still feeling uncomfortable/painful  tightness around my ostomy appliance when  I stand-up from sitting or lying position.  It’s not skin irritation since I don’t see signs of that when I change my appliance. The only time I find relief is when I take off the old appliance during a change, or take ibuprofen in between changes.  Anyone else experienced this?

Yup. Your stoma expands and contracts. You notice that? You could be strangling it with a too-tight base plate or wafer. Have you read about that here from members?

I agree with Warrior. It sounds like the hole in your wafer appliance may be too small for your stoma. Try cutting a larger hole and using a barrier ring. I hope that helps!

Also, to add I was told that it can take 3+ months for the abdominal muscles to heal and recover after surgery. It could be recovering muscles.

A parastomal hernia can sometimes feel like a pulling sensation around the stoma. Be careful with lifting things and maybe try an ostomy hernia belt.

Good advice from everyone.  I started out cutting the wafer hole to fit my little beast perfectly.  I didn't realize how much a stoma can change shape and rub against the wafer hole.  It was uncomfortable all the time.  

Then I discovered the magic of moldable barrier rings.  I now cut a large wafer hole.  Leaving plenty of clearance for my shape shifting beast.  I put a barrier ring on around my stoma.  Then slap on the wafer. 

It's comfortable.  Even when wearing a hernia support belt all day.  I wear some type of belt all the time.  The barrier ring helps prevent pressure damage to my peristomal skin.

You can also put the ring on the wafer, then install wafer on your body.

I use 2 inch diameter Coloplast Brava rings.  They stretch pretty good without tearing 

Words of Encouragement from Ostomy Advocates I Hollister

Probably too tight around your stoma. 

G-Day EA54, I had tightness after my ileostomy and it turned out the surgeon had stitched me a little too tight. After time and doing slow stretches, it all came good. If it lasts too long, go get it checked out. Regards, IGGIE

Thank you all for your helpful comments and suggestions.  I do make sure that the hole in the wafer is not too small, but not too wide either for the output to contaminate and irritate the peri-stomal skin.  As rebrur2 mentioned in her comment, I’m beginning to think that it’s abdominal muscles still recovering.  I hope it’s not parastomal hernia, but I’ll check with my surgeon.  Anyway, I think I’ll try taking a muscle relaxant (methocarbimol) to see if that helps.

Thank you all again!

Hi Beachboy. How much bigger do you cut your wafer than your stoma? I have an ileostomy and am feeling the same sensations, but when I apply the barrier ring, it always turtlenecks up my stoma and feels tight. I just switched from the 4mm Hollister moldable and am trying the Coloplast 2.3mm Brava barrier. Hollister was 4mm thick.

Hello, I have a colostomy with firm texture output.  It doesn't irritate my skin. 

I cut the wafer hole to have .200  thousandths clearance all around my stoma.  .200 is a slightly less than 1/4 of an inch.  My moldable ring "turtlenecks," but I don't feel anything.  I wear a hernia support belt all the time.  My paristomal skin looks good at wafer change time.  And I don't suffer any hernia support belt pressure damage.  

Some ileostomy folks use a moldable barrier ring under the wafer, and one on top of the wafer.  A double seal.