I'm a newbie and wondered about bleeding stomas. Mine has been cauterized several times but always has some blood, sometimes to the point that it trickles down my side while changing the bag. It bleeds around it, which worsens when it leaks, which is normal. I do try to soften the edges of the hole I cut in my bag, but the top of the stoma itself also bleeds. Is this just another part of the journey? Does it take time to go away as it heals? Thanks much!
Heidi B.
Sep 27, 2025 10:26 am
AO166
Sep 27, 2025 11:34 am
Mine do that from time to time. It was more in the beginning. I also noticed that can happen if the base gets corroded around the stoma, exposing the skin. I thought it was normal; though, I just wait for it to stop on its own.
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IGGIE
Sep 27, 2025 11:59 am
G-Day Heidi,
Welcome aboard.
It can bleed easily if you're too rough with it. When wiping around the stoma, try not to touch it directly. I use a seal that is a snug fit but have the hole in the bag a little bigger so it doesn't rub up against the stoma.
I hope this helps.
Regards, IGGIE
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SusanT
Sep 27, 2025 12:41 pm
I agree with IGGIE. My stomas bleed whenever they are touched, so I avoid touching them as much as possible.
The bleeding was worse when I was new, though.
w30bob
Sep 27, 2025 2:15 pm
Hi Heidi,
My stoma bleeds when it sees me grabbing my electric razor! What I do is I cut paper towels into thin strips......like 1" x 3" or so, and as soon as I remove my barrier and clean around my stoma, I wrap the paper towel around my stoma. This absorbs the moisture it makes as well as any blood if I nicked it, and I change this paper towel as needed a few times until I have my skin prepped and my new barrier ready to be applied. Then I put one last paper towel around it as I'm drying the area with my hair dryer and heating up the barrier..........remove it and apply the new barrier. Sounds harder and longer than it is......just takes a few seconds to cut the paper towel and is easy and quick to apply around your stoma. This way everything is nice and dry when you apply your new barrier, all bleeding should have stopped, and if you do touch your stoma when shaving, it doesn't go nuts and bleed like a stuck pig.
;O)
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