Warm Stoma Sensation - Is This Normal?

Well, it's really just warm to the touch. I asked my ostomy nurse about it, and she said she had never heard of that before. My stoma is perfectly fine and healthy looking. It does its job, although it is still a pain to deal with, as I am still very new to all of this only being 8 weeks in, and I've gone through the ringer with an infected incision that required a wound vac! Boy! That was terrible! Leaks everyday and very unhappy skin! I'm happy that is being resolved, but the warm soma is just weird. I thought it was just some poop that made it feel that way, but I don't think it is. Anyone else have that? Mine is a loop ileostomy that is temporary. The surgery was for diverticulitis.

Hello chamberlina. A warm stoma is nothing to worry about. There are lots of blood vessels supplying continuous warmth from inside the body, so compared with the surrounding outside tissue/skin it will feel comparatively warm. Mine always feels warm but then I have exceptionally cold hands which exaggerates the temperature difference. If everthing else is working, then I wouldn't worry about it too much.

Best wishes

Bill 

Chamberlina,

Your stoma is living tissue. It has been externalized, it has to be warm due in large part to the extensive vascularization it has (as Bill mentions). If it were cold, then you would have to be concerned.

Xerxes