Seeking Advice for Stoma Issues and Skin Irritation

Hi, I had an emergency ileostomy last October after being admitted in September with a bug. Due to getting 6 more bugs, a blood clot, and sepsis, I was in the hospital for nearly 5 months. I didn't eat and lost 4 stone, ending up on a feeding tube. I may have to have it redone; I'm waiting to see the surgeon on Thursday. The sides of my skin dip in, which is causing leaks and soreness. I have to use so many seals to keep my bag on safe and also have a bump that keeps appearing by the side of my stoma. Anyone got any ideas? Please 💕

Do you have an ostomy nurse to help with advice?

I agree with the idea of talking to a stoma nurse.

In case that isn't possible or it just doesn't help, I would try paste to even out the surface and fill the dips. I'd still plan to use a barrier ring with your appliance. Select a wafer that isn't too rigid. I use Coloplast SenSura Mio, which seems very flexible to me.

But long term, they may need to move your stoma to a better location. That is not as big a surgery as the one that created your ileostomy.

It may be a granuloma that you are describing. I have had quite a few granulomas, and if this is what the lump is, you can have silver nitrate applied. Please speak to your stoma care nurse, who can do the application as an outpatient.

Hope this helps.

Panda85

Have you tried Marathon?

How to Adjust to Life with an Ostomy with Bruce | Hollister

I had a dip on one side from a previous surgery. I found Varimate Wedges really helpful. I dry my skin with a hairdryer (fold a couple of squares of loo paper into a lengthways strip to wrap around the stoma so you can then blow dry the 'crease.' Then add the wedge before any ring and wafer. They come in two sizes, and you can request samples from the link. I found the 'large' better for me.

https://peakmedical.co.uk/shop/varimate-wedges/

Not easy to get hold of Marathon in the UK, but I've just bought a similar product on Amazon and tried it yesterday for the first time!