Part of Stoma Turning Black and Found a Stitch?

Today I cleaned my stoma (loop ileostomy), and it was a bit bigger. I assume it's some blockage since I have been introducing some fiber back. No big deal, I thought, just drink plenty of water and dial down some of the fiber.

But then I see some part of the stoma is black and hard. I don't know if that's normal or if I should consult a surgeon. Then I found a string on the underside, which I gently tugged on, and I think it's surgical thread, which I'm confused about because I know they didn't use dissolving threads since they cut the thread at the hospital, and I'm already on week 9; wouldn't they dissolve already?

Hi,

Contact your doctor immediately. What you're talking about is called necrosis. It occurs when the blood supply to the stoma is somehow restricted, and the result is that it turns color from dark red to purple to black. It'll also feel cold and hard because basically it's dead or very near dead. Once dead, it's not coming back, and if it continues to other parts of your stoma or the whole thing, you're in some seriously deep trouble, no pun intended. Not trying to frighten you, but call your doctor now.

;O)

Hey, yes, as Bob said, contact immediately! Tell your surgeon exactly what's going on so you can get in right away; you don't want to wait at all. Your stoma is dying. I had this happen to one of my stomas, except my whole stoma turned black at once, and I had pus coming out of my stoma and had pus coming out of the base. Not trying to scare you, but it is something to be taken seriously.

Thank you, I am going to the surgeon today.

This is the next day. Let us know how you are doing. Glad you went to Dr.

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Yeah, going to the doctor was a good idea. What did the doctor say?

Hello there! I went to a different surgeon than my usual because I can't get him without insurance and bureaucracy and yada yada. The surgeon said it looks like I just put my bag too tight and to loosen it and observe it; other than that, he didn't really do anything.

Hey there, I highly suggest going to the ER then. If the doctor you saw isn't going to take it seriously the way he should, a stoma that is turning black means it's necrotic and is dying. It's not something to be taken lightly or waited on. It's very serious.

The ER here sadly doesn't know anything about ostomies. I have gone to them for a different issue once, and they were confused and just said to book an appointment with a surgeon. Stoma care is just not a known thing in Indonesia.

I am going to take his advice for now and monitor it for a few days. The surgeon says it's a bit greyish, not black, and was too light a color for it to be necrosis. If it does spread, I will immediately seek help, but for now, I can't afford another visit.

They don't know much about ostomies here either; sounds like they might know a bit more than there. But gray isn't a good color either, or really pale pink, dark maroon, or black. Really pale also means there's not enough blood supply. I have been on that end of the spectrum as well. The color it should be is like the color of the inside of your mouth.

Got it, I will keep an eye!

For now, it has turned from gray to dark red, so I am willing to say it's doing better. My whole stoma is swollen, and I'm taking a break from fiber. I'll troubleshoot it when it's back to normal size.

Hi! I'm glad it's getting better! About the stitch you found, what did the doctor say about that? I too have a black stitch on the underside of my stoma. I asked my doctor about it, and he said it should dissolve, but it's not dissolving. I'm at 7 1/2 weeks post-surgery. They also told me to have my husband get some tweezers and pull it out, but that scared the crap out of me. That's why I wonder what they told you.

They seriously told you that? I wouldn't touch or pull out any stitches.

I don't think pulling the thread is a good idea; it will probably bleed.

The surgeon told me not to do anything as it will dissolve too. I read that it could take up to 10 weeks, so honestly, I would just keep an eye on it.

Update on my stoma!

It's all one color now and doesn't seem to have any other complications. I am glad it didn't spread. Thank you all for the concerns.