Ostomy Topics

We've learned all we can about irrigation, and Hubz is scheduled for training on Tuesday.
Besides time and schedule, are there any cons to irrigation?
So far, we've read only positives for those that are able to irrigate.
So are there any cons? Hubz has a loop colostomy and is in chemotherapy treatment for colorectal cancer. The oncologist, surgeon, and ostomy nurse all say they have no concer ...

I had proctocolectomy surgery, removing my large bowel completely. Since then, I've been noticing more hair shedding than I ever have. It's possible that it is just genetics, being a 39-year-old male, but I don't know. I read the large bowel's job is to absorb water and nutrients, keeping the body hydrated.
Maybe my scalp is dry because it's not getting hydrated anymore?
Any thoughts?

I was reading a past post about magnesium. My husband took it after his stroke to help with leg cramps. He stopped it after that calmed down and hadn't had any issues for years. He's 3 years post-ileostomy and has started complaining of night leg cramps, and yesterday he had a pretty bad charley horse. My question is, how does the magnesium affect your output?

Hello,
My loop colostomy is 8 months old. Generally, it is working well. At the 3 o'clock portion of my stoma, there has been a purple discoloration. Sometimes it looks better, but now it is looking a little worse. It blanches and is painful to touch, but it doesn't otherwise bother me. It just seems to be getting a bit worse now, and I wonder if anyone here knows what it is and how it can be ...

Well, I had nausea and had a vomiting episode, and it came back up. I ended up with nausea, so far so good. I did get blocked for a few days, but I got unblocked and have been fine. Not much pain on this feed, but lots of wind, and I had a leak this morning. Not bloody had one of them for ages. Hopefully, I will find out my future plan on Monday. Thanks to everyone.

I am in a bit of a conundrum, and I signed up on this site to come ask this question, wondering if maybe all of you on the site could have a suggestion.
I have a friend who has an ostomy and bag. I visit her often, as I am really only one of the friends she has. She got an infection from a bug bite and ended up losing a large part of her intestines as a result, and of course was given the osto ...

My grandpa has had a colostomy bag for years now, and I recently moved into his house to help him with upkeep, but to also keep an eye on him as well (he's very independent and he likes to assert his independence, also very hard-headed). He recently came to accept the fact that he is type II diabetic and has been for quite some time, many years. He was in denial up to this point and refused to ...

I've tried a number of odor eliminator products that just don't work, as well as some of the suggestions offered here. What I now use is an enzyme odor digester spray that I have used for years around the house to destroy pretty much any odor that exists. It works on pet odors and refreshes couches and carpets. I purchase it at a local Soap Exchange store, but I just found a product at Home De ...

Hi,
I've been using this site for a while now and have had a temporary stoma since June. I have a few questions, please, that I've been dying to ask someone, and now is the right time. I've been finding it hard to cope at times.
1. I use a Cera ring with a drainable convex wafer (Hollister) as I was getting really bad leaks constantly. This was about two and a half months ago; all has been goo ...

There are so many questions about ostomies.
And what we must wear “belly side.”
They are protrusions, but they're not illusions
that some hate and some wear with pride.
We turn to this site to help with our plight,
in search of the remedies
in a place with no enemies.
Some gain peace of mind, and many may find
some products that work; some make us shirk,
and some miss their old behind…..jb

I first started on here in October talking about my stoma being moved from the right to the left and having numerous leaks and bag changes. I've said it was so short (almost flat) I couldn't see where to place the bag. Well, the last three bag changes went without a change for 7 days! Back to my old schedule when it was on the right side. It did come up ever so slightly, so I just practiced fo ...

Hi everyone!
I have a hate/hate relationship with my stoma named Dammit (born 3/2017). I have a urostomy, and every few years I would have to change products… until this past summer. All I did was leak. In fact, there was a point when I had to change five times in one day. I spoke with one of the WOST nurses, and he was able to get me on a Hollister system… but that still hasn't stopped le ...

Hi! I just had my ileostomy changed to a colostomy and still have a urostomy. This will be my new life.
Any suggestions or thoughts would be greatly appreciated.
I notice a lot of people wear their bags vertically, which sounds okay for emptying. How does that work for covering up? Does anyone use liners in their colostomy? Peace.

Hubz had a regular checkup with the oncologist on Friday (his numbers are improving), and as they were asking how he's feeling since surgery, they became curious about how he's doing so well with his ostomy, both physically and mentally. He credited doing research online, trying different things, and especially the support from this group. They were asking because they see so many patients str ...

So I have pretty good green pus coming out around my 11-day-old ileostomy. I went to primary care, and she said there is some sort of abscess or pus pocket that has formed. I may need readmission and a CT scan; I'm waiting to hear back from the surgeon! I feel like I tried to do everything right, and everything is going wrong. Did anyone else deal with infection around the stoma post-surgery, ...