Ostomy-related Complications

I had eliostomy in November 2011. So far, I experienced discharge from my anus about 5 times. Why? One time, it was real stool. other times, watery things. Sometimes, just gas. Did anyone experienced the same things? I do not understand. My anus is not connected to anything. Any thoughts will be appreciated.

Hi I'm a newby so forgive my lack of knowledge but wondered after reading the boards if anyone after having a stoma reversed could offer any help on recovery time. My husband had a reversal of his Ileostomy 20th July 2010. In Jan 2010 he woke up with stoma bag after a 10hr emergency surgery to save his life after a Pancreas Transplant went wrong. Currently he is in a lot of pain, abdomen very swollen, bloated feeling all the time, severe nausea & has gained 11lb yet hasnt eaten. He was thinking he would be back at work within two...

  I think this is the question I have   After changing my pouch and several days later   my skin next to my stoma and around and under  the barrier starts to itch and becomes irritated,  some one mentioned   that they used calamine lotion and then stoma powder  Has anyone else used this and would it cause the pouch to not stick, "

I have been seeing a lot of comments these days about living in the moment and I think that I finally get it! There have been times when I am in pain. But, OH how great I feel when the pain is gone and I realize that I am not in pain anymore. It's easy to know when I am in pain or discomfort from my ostomy. But when the pain and discomfort is gone, I don't always notice that. So, I have started to ask myself how I feel on a regular basis and when I realize that I feel free of pain, I am so happy and treasure that mome...

I am 72 yrs, have my ostomy since aug. 2012, things had been fine uptil now.  I am having issue with some blockage,need some advice or pointers.  thank you joe

I am a neebie and was wondering if anyone has a colostomy due to a rectovaginal fistula. I have had the colostomy since June 2007 and have tried on 4 different attempts to have the fistula corrected. In January I am due to have another repair attempt using the gracilas muscle from my leg, then after recovery and if it holds, have the colostomy reversal along with a hernia repair. I am very apprehensive about this attempt to repair and really wonder should I go through with it or just keep the colostomy and just repair the hernia. Any sugge...

Having lots of rectal mucus  discharge 4 months after ileostomy. Just started! 

The area around my stoma is one huge mess and has been for months. I am now living with pee pads (dog training pads), baby diapers, and paper towels to hold in the poop because my stoma area will not hold a bag for any longer than an hour. This situation has been going on since late June 2019, and I am at my wit's end. I had an ileostomy last October 2018 due to rectal cancer (stage 1) surgery and had few problems with ostomy bags (Coloplast) until I started developing a hernia directly underneath the stoma area. This is where and when t...

Hi, this is my first time here, thank you all for sharing, this forum has been a partner since i got my surgery. This is my story:  10 weeks ago I had a hemicolectomy after an intestinal invagination and a tumor removed, in total they removed about 20 cm, the surgery went well but after a few days the suture failed and they had to operate again, putting me an ileostomy to take care of the healing intestine. A week later there was another infection that was treated with antibiotics. Beyond small pains, after that everything was going ...

My rectum scar tissue has started to itch and feel strange recently, though there are no outward signs of any infection, it all looks as usual. It first started about 4 weeks ago, justy before I had a groin hernia op, and I was wearing a support belt. My GP put it down to the belt pushing the hernia back in, and a piece of gut pushing down onto the scar tissue. So I had thehernia op, all went well, started walking a bit more to recvover, after spening some time sitting around and resting, then went on a 3 mile walk. The day after, my rec...

I have had my ileostomy for 4 months. I have always been a big salad lover, but keep being told lettuce,tomatoes& cucumber can cause blockages. Is this true? If not what's the best form of lettuce?

hi guys, excuse the small letters in this post but i am dealing with a blockage and have my left hand applying even pressure on my wafer so it doesnt pop off. i cannot for the life of me know what i did wong tonight at dinner to cause this episode? i had some italian bread, cheese, pasta, and apple juice. could the apple juice do this? i prbably havent drank apple juice in years. thoughts?

Has anyone out there who has a permanent ileostomy and you get so much pressure and a pain shooting up your rectum while just standing there where it literally makes you drop and brings tears to your eyes?? I have been getting these shooting pains one once a week  or once every two weeks     It puts me in a sweat and it only lasts from a moment to maybe three, but there is such pressure where I feel that something needs to evacuate, and sometimes some feces do come out! The family doctor doesn't know what to...

Hello everyone...  I'm a newbie ostomate with some awkward questions about food and the aftermath.  I'm a Crohn's patient of 20+ years who finally had my first surgery the end of September leaving me with a "temporary ileostomy."  I've appreciated reading the forums as it let  me know I'm not alone... and you've given me some great lines for when people ask where I've been! Anyway, the question...  I know that we have to be careful of food, and chew, chew, chew...  And...

Hi everyone! So I've been going along since my ileo in Dec 09. Not feeling the best (as good as I was hoping for) but doing ok. I didn't have a Barbie Butt done ... so I have about 6" of rectal stump left. Has been a problem to some degree ever since the op. Still getting minor UC flares there and using Cortifoam and Salofalk enemas. Usually, pressure, mucus, some blood -- enough discharge to wear a pad. So last night I feel pressure while sitting on the couch and then a release. Quite alot of fresh blood, with little 'pieces'...

Hi everyone, not a very pleasant subject I'm afraid, but I have just come back out of hospital with no answers.  I have a colostomy and while I am used to having a small rectal discharge which is just mucus, I suddenly had a very bad one (equivalent to passing a large stool) which was bright green.  I told you it wasn't pleasant !!!  This then coincided with me getting a very bad back ache.  I went to GP but as I was in so much pain from my back and the discharge appeared to have stopped I asked her ...

Hi all, About 8 months ago, I (ilostomy '09, proctectomy '11) started hgaving some intermittent, occasional pain to the right of my ostomy (about 1 to 1.5 inches from the stoma). Saw GP who seemed to ask the right questions and said it was probably muscle related (ostomy working fine). I had had a particularly active few months ... so with my poor abdominal strength/muscles, his diagnosis seemed to fit. Slowly got worse. Pain is worse (knife like) and now hurts with any movement. Sitting or laying down ... no pain. When I press on th...

Hi everybody, I hope you are keeping warm, safe and well. We have a situation here, and I may need some help in a hurry, please. Let me give you some background. Last week my brother's partner was taken into hospital for urgent surgery. She was weak already: the operation took six hours and she needed 16 units of blood after a near-fatal hemorrhage. She had a hysterectomy as expected: they found a large tumour, the cancer had spread to the intestine, so she had (we guess) a Hartmann's procedure, leaving her with a stoma. The tide of the ...

Hi my friends! Unfortunately for ten days my ileostomy clogged again. The first two days I had very bad pain.  It's been ten days and I'm still not well. I get a syrup called DUFALACK  which helps to move the bowel. It is the third time in thirteen years that I am with an ileostomy who suffer surgical block and for the same reason that consumption of nuts. All of these days I'm in pain and fear, I want to be well again. And because I know that in your own countries, especially in England and America there is more knowl...

Hi AllSome of you might be knowing that I am a colorectal cancer survivor and I am almost 7 years past my treatment. For the last 4 weeks, I have been having this pain in my butt. I consulted my doctors and they gave me antibiotics and penicillin shots. However, there is no discharge, swelling or foul smell from the back. The pain is mostly felt when I sit and my job is such that I have to sit almost all throughout the day. At times I have this urge to strain. Almost feels like something is clogged up back there...lol I would appreciate i...

I'm almost 4 weeks post colectomy and am doing really well with the glaring exception of itching.  I itch almost everywhere (trunk is most itchy) and at most times of the day - though evenings are worst.  I've got an end ileostomy and am wondering if anybody else has experienced this and might have a remedy.  I am not on any new medications and am hydrating adequately (or so I think).  Benadryl helps a bit but I have to take 75-100 which knocks me out for hours.  Any help appreciated.

I have a recto-vaginal fistula due to childbirth. I have had 2 failed surgeries so far, which has made my fecal incontinence even worse. I am planning to have a third surgery this summer. This will include a temporary colostomy or ileostomy for a minimum of three months. I am looking for women who have had these similar factors and that can inform me in what I need to know and understand before going through the third attempt? I am obviously hoping for the best and I need positive encouragement. I am scared and I need help... Thanks

As most know I had my colon and rectm removed and an Ileostomy formed. Well totally seperate from that I had a myocardial profusion scan that showed I had 3 blocked arteries in my heart. Bummer yeh I know. Anyway Yesterday I had pain in my right leg like varicous vein pain,, and my right nut was killin me. Then a huge sinus erupted under my bag on my belly and is still oozing puss and blood. Right now here the other thing. I am getting some real urgent urges to have a crap. but I cant pee too good. Seems my pee hole doesnt want to run but ...

Its my 3rd week after my Ileostomy and I'm experiencing stabbing pain around my stoma and I'm currently experiencing my third blockage. For my ileostomy they took out my entire colon, which gave the small intestine room to move around and get itself knotted while doing so. Is there anyone who can help give advice or provide answers to how i can prevent this from happening?

I am new to OstoMate and just a bit shy about asking questions. But from what I have read, I know I shouldn't be concerned about asking any question, so here it is: Soon after my ileostomy surgery in 2013, I was informed that about every six months a discharge of "mucus" would occur. This happened.  About a year later this discharge became more  frequent, where I experienced the discharge once per month. Then the discharge happened once per week until it began happening almost every day. Frequently there is blood in the discharg...

Today I took my first shower since my surgery. I’ve been a little scared to take one because I not only have the stoma to worry about but I also have a catheter and my stitches are still in place. I made up my mind that I was going to do it, removed my pouch and stopped up my cath. I took the world ‘s fastest, lukewarm shower. Please tell me if it’s safe to use hot water to shower with? I am afraid of burning my stoma without knowing it. Also, is it safe for substances like shampoo and conditioner to get on it when I r...

  Hi everyone,  How many of us have or still have pain and or cramps after surgery? It's been over a year since my colorectal surgery. The lower portion across my lower stomach and on the outer side around my stoma (not next to it) I have intermittent pains or cramps. I was wondering is this normal? Do any of you experience anything like that, and does it go away? Usually it happens when lifting or bending.  This is the way we learn talking with people that understand and who've been through it.  And again thanks ev...

Hey everyone I was just wondering if anyone else out there ended up with fistula's post op. I ended up with one almost right after surgery in hospital... and now I have 3.. it will be 2 years in april since what i call a botched surgery... i have spent weeks and weeks in the hospital I'm in canada and trying to find a second opinion is next to imposible... I do have an apt. on Thurs with the surgen I last saw... so my question is ... Has anyones fistula went away on it's own?? ( I don't belive it will after having this one almost 2 years...

My skin is raw around stoma due to many breakages. I got new wafers which work great but can't clear up my skin. Any suggestions?

 I woke up this morning with Pain on the right side of my ostomy  ( left sided Ostomy ) with some swelling, low output , very little and in a streem looking stool  could I be constipated or  maybe something else going on  I have never had this problem before.  I did have quit a bit of Pasta salad yesterday  could this cause the problem.  .  

I suffer from frequent bouts of diarrhoea. Does anyone know of some special diet that can help? Thanks

I have had my ileostomy since the end of last year and started back to work in february on modified duties. My employer is going against what the doctor has recommended and is trying to get me to lift 25kg, I tried some stuff thursday and friday of last week and this whole weekend I have been having pain around the stoma as well as some throbbing pain on the stoma (feels like it anyway). Could this be the start of a hernia? I have been taking percocet for the pain. My employer is not accomodating me at all and have refused to send me to...

So I am 2.5 weeks out from my last surgery to fix partial blockage due to adhesions at the resection site. I had major diarrhea for 4 days and am now constipated for 2 days. Doc said I would be all over the place and this is normal. I am still scared, though. I dont want to go back to hospital. I haven't had at fevers or vomiting or nausea.  My pain is minimal and mostly at the incision. I am still taking Vicodin a few times day. Iam eating small meals and have gas. Not a lot of cramps. Anyone else experience these back & f...

I am still suffering with terrible stoma issues, and the ET nurses kept changing products but that doesn't seem to be the problem  I need something that will heal and protect me.  I use no paste just the stomahesive powder but nothing clears it  My stoma is way to low so as I walk it rubs and none of my doctors want to look at this mess.  I will be seeing a new gastroenterologist week and hope he will look and see what he thinks before I go for the colonoscopy  I would appreciate anyone who...

I am 1 year post-op after my ileostomy surgery I had performed at the Mayo Clinic. I still have daily pain from the hernia involved - most days are manageable but some days are very painful. After my surgery, the Mayo Clinic told me I cannot take Vicodin for pain management because it will cause a blockage. I had a particularly painful weekend so I saw my local GP doctor this week and brought up this issue. He sees no reason I cannot take Vicodin - the only side effect might be a "slowing down" of the stool (which wouldn't be a bad thing )...

Hi All, i have an ileostomy and for a week now I’ve been having pain in my abdomen mostly on the right side. The pain is now travelling about and the area around and behind my stoma is swollen.  I’m very aware after I’ve eaten of the food moving through my intestines which I’ve never felt before and I’m feeling a lot of pressure as if my insides are about to burst!  I’ve had two blockages so know what that feels like, this is different!  Anybody experienced this! Ta!

Help I eat a good diet well balanced diet fruit and vegetables, chicken ,fish. All foods which are healthy. I also drink lots of water and decaffinated Tea. But still I suffer from constipation. I have been taking 2 MOVICOL a day for about year. It does not work. Can people tell me what works for them ?? Preferably a food suppliment or herbal. Someone mentioned unprocessed wheat bran but I cannot find it in the shops. The constipation can cause me excruciating pain like my bowel has twisted. I think the food just gets backed up and it is s...

Hi, I don't think I have been so active on the Forum scene, but do read a lot of your posts, many of which by the way have me in stitches! I have had an ileostomy since 2004, and only have one in order in theory to enable the repair of a recto-vaginal fistula. Does anyone else out there have the same condition - would love to know, as I am feeling a bit of a rarity!

Had my colostomy done 3 weeks ago and still recovering.  Been having very bad, acute pain episodes, generally after eating something but not always.  Pain can go on for 4 to 8 hours and sleep, if I can manage it, is the best cure.  I've been attributing these to gas which gets trapped.  Is this what you call blockage?  I've tried all sorts of precautions and remedies. Tried Gas-Ex, heating pad, chamomile tea, walking and even my heavy duty pain killer but nothing helps.  On the pr...

Greetings all During my time with U.C I tried the Specific Carbohydrate Diet (SCD). For those unfamiliar with it, it is basically a high protein no sugar diet. It worked for some time but as I'm here you can guess it didn't in the long run and I ended up with an ileostomy, but that's another story. One of the main parts of this diet was nuts specifically almonds. Now I know that consumption on nuts is strictly verboten but what about almond flour? I used to cook these very tasty pancakes from it and also cookies as well. One of the great ...

I would like to hear from anyone that has a retracted stoma (an innie). Actually mine is below the skin level, my surgery was 4 weeks ago, & I have leaked everyday. I Need advice, anyone have or had this issue?

Okay my peeps, the doctors can’t figure this out so I’m asking the experts.  I got my permanent colostomy on August 22, 2018. At first it seemed to work fine. I don’t eat much so when my out put developed a pattern of no output for a couple of days followed by regular output for a couple of days with what felt like pretty significant gas pains in between I didn’t think much of it.  In January I was hospitalized for my first true blockage and I’ve been fighting them ever since. I’m on a comple...

hi ya all well ive had my (eric) stoma had a full one with a stump left if you get what i mean since feb last year its been a real tough year and this year ive had 2 blockages in less then 2 months i mean i eat all the right stuff and drink plenty i had real bad pain the othe day for 24 hours i was sick and the pain got real great i went to the hospital to be told by the xray dept dcs that no blockage was seen on xray and so got discharged the next day after being in for a day they said to me blockages and pain is what i need to get used ...

HI ThERE I JUST HAD AN END ILEOSTOMY DONE ON 7TH SEPT 2010 HAD EVERYTHING TAKEN AWAY PLEASE CAN SOMEONE HELP ME MY BAG KEEPS LEAKING AND WHEN STOMA MOVES I GET PAIN BEHIND IT THAMKS ANY HELP WOULD BE APPRECIATED

I find that when I have a glass of wine, or too much vinegar (e.g. in salad dressing) or sauerkraut - anything acidic, really, that the skin around my stoma gets really, really itchy! So, I scratch and rub, but of course, can't get at the itchy bit because it's under the face plate, but often scratch & rub enough to tear the paper of the face plate, and have marks on my left front pocket area from all the rubbing - similar to when someone always puts their wallet in their back pocket.     Has anyone else found this ...

I had my operation just before Xmas 2011, and I will be talking to my surgeon in a few days about the possibility of a reversal. Are there any complications getting things to work again. What about leaks? I have heard that reversal surgery is quite common.....That makes me wonder why they don't do it that way to start with?

Hi does anyone of you guys get cramps in the back of legs any suggestion greatly helped as keeping me up at night

I posted before about an ulcer on the skin/stoma scar but that ulcer is now a fistula.  I saw my surgeon today about it and he was focused on a small red dot about 1 1/2 inches from the fistula toward my belly button.  He used a very thin instrument with rounded ends to poke at it and popped it open and found it tracked back to the first fistula.  I now have 2 fistulas.  And the 2nd one is sore and irritated and I have no idea how to take care of it. I can fit the barrier to accommodate the fistula...

It has been 2 1/2 years since my first surgery and 1 1/2 years since my permanent ileoscomy. The problem I'm having is the constant feeling that I have to crap.. I had this feeling initially but it passed in about 6 months. Now it's back and I get no relief no matter what I do. I've tried ice, heat, and (a little kinky) used a massager.   Don't get me wrong the massager has four little feet and I would use it to hit four sides around my stoma when I would have burning and itch issues. Worked great for that!! This ass issue is dr...

I have never suffered from back pain until now.  I am now 4 weeks post op and find the littlest amount of walking and/or standing causes me terrible back pain. Even when I'm sitting down I must prop pillows behind my back to avoid the pain and discomfort. I'm wondering if anyone else had this problem post-op.  I'm hoping this is maybe because I had a large incision cut down my belly.  Any input is appreciated.  I

Hi there,  the last few days I have had this horrible feeling the way that I felt pre surgery when I had constipation. I have been taking tramadol due to abdominal pain and Im wondering if this could have caused constipation. Is it possible to have constipation with an ileostomy?   Thanks, Hannah

 Hi there ....I haven't been in touch for quite a while but unfortunately I have an issue .I'm going to have surgery next week February 11 Complication due to radiation. My vaginal wall has closed together from scar tissue growing together, and all but one tiny hole where urine can still flow through . I have not been able to have intercourse obviously..... But I also continuously get UTI infections. So I have to have the vaginal wall separated and will have a catheter and vaginal dialator in 24/7 for first week then still have to wea...

Hi, just a quickie, I have a small prolapse caused by a coughing fit.. I heard that putting sugar, caster sugar on ostomy whilst lying down shrinks it enough to gently push it back ? Has anyone heard of this or tried it ? Thanks

Hi Osto-friends..I have had permanent Ileostomy for 20 years with a couple of trips to the hospital since then....this past mid December I had a partial blockage which sent me to hospital by ambulance ...they were able to get things moving after about 6 hours on IV drip plus meds..I was able to go home and of course told to drink lots of fluid.. it was a horrible week after with emptying bag after bag of water for three days plus being so weak..by the end of the week I was able to eat soft puddings and eggs. Last week I made a Tuna sa...

I had my Colostomy in 2007 and it herniated so I had to have a repair done for a Paristoma Hernia along with a Ventral Hernia, Is it normal for my stoma to still hurt? and have a rash around it all the time?

last few days ive had to change the dressing on fistula, driving me nutS!  have ileostomy on right side this on left...   usually have no problems w fistula..the odd shower/changing and little to worry about, but came across daily oozing..didnt change diet!  it just stinks!  thank god no one is around and not able to work...home fr hosp last aug. no real problems eat as usual chew thoroughly, like takes me 4x longer than most to eat a meal, other than that just snack healthy!  Any output! -

Yesterday afternoon, shortly after lunch, I was surprised by a sudden blockage. I was so busy that I didn't even realize that I had no output ALL day. It was 3:00 pm. Cramping, nausea, pain, and belly distension had me paralyzed in pain. This was my first obstruction that was not post operative adhesion related so I was shocked but not scared. I massaged the area. Drank hot tea. Prayed. Cried. Moaned. Then crawled to the phone, went to the pantry, grabbed a big syringe that is really used for cake decorating, a plastic cup, and crawled...

Has anyone developed pain in their joints since having their ostomy,s.I have very bad shoulder pain,as has a friend of mine.But only since our sergery.

just back out from hospital I was rushed in after the swelling i had noticed in my tummy burst and 2 pints of infected fluid poured out. the doctor had said he was not keen on using the mesh for the hernia repair and said it would be a high possibility of infection, well he was right. I was 2 days on the ward having IV antibiotics and having it drained. i now need to wait to see if the antibiotics work. he has said he will not give me another course of tablets as I will build up resistance and if the fluid does not stop I will be taken ba...

Here's my question does any one have the first two condition's and do they use Metamucil?  I was just wondering if I should start using the Metamucil again, would it help with the diarrhea and or what other benefits that I might get from using it. Thanks a bunch Terr

I don't exactly know how to approach this problem so I'm asking for advice. Just had a rectal removal and suffering pain whether I sit or lay down. My surgeon gave me vicodin which really doesn't help that much. This is a weird drug cause if I take it I cant sleep and to be honest just doesn't help at all. Is there anything I can do to get a different type of med and what did you do to control pain. One oncologist actually told me to burn candles and listen to soft music, I mean wtf. I know in 4-6 weeks things should get better but in the ...

So, I posted once before about the constant back pain I now have since surgery. Well, at my second follow-up I brought it up to my doctor who "assured" me that he's never heard of such a thing.  Am I just crazy or aren't there plenty of you out there who now suffer with back pain.  I should mention I have an ileostomy.  Needless to say, Christmas shopping has been just about impossible because of the back pain.

Me again!   i was just wondering what kind of pain is normal after 7 weeks from surgery?   My scar is still very itchy to start with. I get sharp pains at times in my sides, abdomen and chest, especially when I am trying to get to sleep. I get pain in my back too. Nothing unbearable, just uncomfortable most of the time. I also get burning pains in my abdomen too. I only take paracetamol, I was on tramadol after op, but came off it after about 4 weeks (which wasn't a pleasant experience so do not want to go back on that! Lol) ...

I have a question concerning phantom pains/sensations. I am about to undergo the 2nd part of my surgery where they'll be removing my rectum, anal canal & basically sowing my butthole 😨 anyway, has anyone on here experienced this kind of surgery? Any phantom pains/sensation? If so how is it? Is it enough to mess with you psychologically? I'm the kind of person that has a hard time dealing with those kinds of things. My epidural, when having my son for example, like to drove me crazy! Lol

Been lurking for a month and want to give Kudos to all for sharing their knowledge and experience. Back in the first week of May I had bleeding diverticulosis and after the first surgery there was a leak that caused (for the life of me I can't think of the word) an infection which required a second operation to drain the area that resulted in the Ileostomy. So last week I met with the surgeon that will be performing the reversal and I'll be meeting with him the beginning of September to schedule the procedure. But after reading all the ...

🙏I seem to be bloated for some reason, gas pain and I. Take mutants, Gas x and I was wondering if anyone took lactaid pills? I’m Thinking about trying them so I can eat yogurt maybe without pain!?? I seem to have pain and bloating or it’s going �'� 😐 sorry.Have some questions for you all and I hope some one will read it that knows exactly what I need.....to do...Why I have had no matter, don’t eat, or banana seems alittle different in belly this is and has been a lot, don’t you feel the same?I feel like I hav...

For the last couple of days I have had a brown discharge from my rectum. It feels like I need to have a normal bowel movement and it hurts a little. Is this normal has anyone else had this problem?

hi everone can anyone give some real advise about scar tissue pain??? I have had 8 abdominal surgery's the last being 2008 i have got unbearable abdominal pain i have been on high pain reief but have had enough i am going to pain management they are going to try muscle stimulation with electrodes i have no feeling on my scars the first few layers skin .I have been told i have refered pain as i thought it was back pain but thats what ive been told it sounds like that is the problem i know more surgery would be np good or thats what i know ...

Hi to all, this is my first post, so please excuse me if the topic has been covered before. I've had a 'temporary" ileostomy for 3 years now. When my surgery was performed, because my bowel had stopped functioning after 12 years of bowel infections (clostridium difficile) with constant diahrea, the Doc made a mistake and twisted the bowel. I had major problems with the ileosotmy that did not function correctly! Nothing came out of the stoma and everthing seeped from the skin level surrounding the stoma, burning the skin. I was given n...

Hello everyone!! Even though my pain I am about to speak of doesn't stem from my ostomy or Crohn's I feel I must share with you how I have finally found relief. I have suffered from lower back and neck pain from a car accident in 2003  since it happened. Living with the pain from Crohn's and this pain has not been fun at all. There are days I really wish someone would just kill me. I have been on Percocet for the past 7 years in order to try to relieve the pain form all my ailments but have lately been taking up to 8 a day and...

ive had an ileostomy for 18 years. ive had some discharge from the rectal stump but now its red blood.     i have crohns. does anyone have experience with this? i hate going to the dr.  ugh.

Hi all, I had a blockage two days ago and went to the ER. They gave me an IV and the blockage began to clear up. After 24hrs the docs sent me home. I woke up the following morning with some abdominal pain and cramping. For those who experienced a blockage, is it normal to have some pain after your blockage cleared up? Thanks

can anyone tell me the symptoms of a blockage i have been taking imodium 2 a day and was up all nite high temperature my body jerking teeth chattering and vomiting and still nausius thank you

So for the past 5 days now I've had really really watery output and seem to be emptying a lot. Everything I eat just runs straight out the other end, can't seen to get anything to stay for longer than a few hours. As you can imagine I'm now getting really tired and a bit dehydrated despite keeping up fluids. I've tried all the tricks in the food book to get things slowed down, from applesauce to toast and the 'white foods diet' but nothing seems to be helping. I'm wary of medications but I figure it's time to go to the doctor and get t...

I noticed today that the stoma surface was weeping blood. Not on the peristomal skin but the stoma itself, quite bloody really. I did not think that I touched it or anything. I have read that bleeding is normal but I figured that was regarding the skin around the stoma and not the stoma itself... any thoughts?

have any of you had bleeding from the stoma?    

Hi, all... another question from a newbie. I am having quite a bit of pain from the raw, red area around my stoma. It is about an inch wide and an inch and a half long around the edge of my stoma. I am sure I know what it is from but not what to do about it. It is getting to the point that it even hurts to move around. Does anyone know if there is some medication to use to heal it up and/or something to put on the area to protect it from coming into contact with body fluids? It seems like there should be but I don't know how to find it. I ...

i am waiting for a date to have my rectum removed after lots of surgery that started with the old piles that didnt go to plan.had to have a colostomy now having chronic peri-rectal pain so no other answer for it.not looking forward to it as this will be my ninth visit to theater in 18months.any one else had this problem

hey you guys i have hd the right hand side of ileostomy 8 weeks things seem to be going alright but i am waking 4 times a night to empty bag anyone have this trouble

Hi all, as you can see from my profile im new to all of this, since my surgery 8 weeks ago everything has just got better ever day up until two days ago, ive started to get a pain around my stoma, it feels like its coming from inside it,maybe a patch of around 2 inchs, (like something is twisted) . Its not blocked and the stoma itself seems fine, really hurts when i stand up Anybody have any idea what it may be Thanks Austen

Hi, This is a little embarrassing, but lately I have been notice discharge from my "fake" butt. I have an ileostomy and my surgeon closed up my butt (for lack of better words). Mostly I am noticing it from my lady parts. It seems to have increased lately. Is this normal? Does anyone have this as well? Know what it is? I have had a cold and thought these could be related any info would help. Thanks! Alexis permanent ileostomy 4/26/11

I'm scared to really ask this question, but do most of you ileostomies get blockage on a regular basis.  After I had my colon, rectum and anus removed I thought i would not have these severe blockages.  My diet is very strict and can't any fruit, vegetables, or any high fiber.  When I do have blockage, I'm in bed for days and use all the usual tips, bath, heating pad, hot tea and still suffer so much. Please enlighten me. Debra

Has anyone suffered with this.I have been working on the garden for the last few day,s.I have been doing a bit of heavy lifting.For the last three evening,s,i have had quite a bit of blood in my pouch.Three evening,s ago there was quite a lot of blood.It seems to be coming not from the bowel,but from the area around the Stoma.

after having my iliostomy since 2006 I am experiencing my first blockage.   Any suggestions on how to stop hurting and help it pass?  Joanna

Looking to find a  great surgeon to fix a prolapse. Very, very uncomfortable. Had surgery in August and already re-prolapsed. Ostomy site is weak- large opening, herniated. Reversal is not an otion. Hoping to get a new site. suggestions appreciated. 

i recently began having severe itching & rash underneath my Ostomy bag.  It occurs only at the outer edges where the bag adheres to the skin - not the center portion where I use the paste.  I thought I had developed an allergy to the glue used in the adhesive.  When I would remove the bag it would have a very red circular rash at the border of the bag. i showed my Dr. a photo & he immediately said it was a YEAST INFECTION.  I always clean the area thoroughly when I change the bags so I don't understand why this...

It has been almost a year after my second surgery and I have started to pass odd mucas material through my anus.  This is like thick putty, slightly pinkish.  It makes me feel like I need to move my bowels but my large intestine was removed because it died in less than 24 hours.  I have never had this before.  It has a very bad odor but it is not hard material, rather more soft. Since this started yesterday, I have felt somewhat odd.  I have had some nausea, felt weak and this material irritates the area around my ...

My work week started out with a random stomach area discomfort that started like a hunger pain x10 and moved to inflamming my sore back and gave me sore joints and my water  intake went from 1-2 water bottles  a night to 5 a  night. It took 3 days because I got use to working with pain as a normal part of my job but on the 3rd day I know something was wrong, went to the hospital and after a CT scan the doctor came into the room and was surprised to tell me I had a bad blood clot in two areas which was in the vein coming from...

I am just wondering what people do now a days for pain management??? I was on pain management for many years.....weaned myself off because felt I didn't need it every day. Now I have a partial bowel obstruction and am told to go home and take Tylenol????? Really??? If Tylenol was working for me I wouldn't come to the ER!!!!!! I am a 16 year survivor of stage 3 colon cancer and have been on and off opiates for that many years. I move to a new town and am told to take Tylenol  OMG! I am so glad that when I was diagnosed in 2003 doctors ...

  As you can see i was very sore there but i dont get that anymore.  Now its just around my stoma cause one side is retracted right back level to the stomach.  Wafers dont seem to help anymore.  Anyideas TIA

I have Crohn's for 43 years (Oh boy I am getting old!!) Bowel resection in my late teens, illeostomy for last 23 years. About 2 years ago I blew a pupil and had left sided weakness. At the time was diagnosed with myasthenia. Since this fall (maybe even earlier) I have been experiencing extreme fatigue and increasing left sided weakness, double vision, difficulty swallowing , choking on fluids with difficulty speaking at times as well a many other odd and inconsistent symptoms. I am having a hard time getting answers about what is going on....

Help! I've had an loop ileostomy for 4 months (colostomy for 10 months prior to this). I still have a small amount of faecal matter passing through my large bowel and due to the Imodium to slow my bowels done, I am now really constipated. I've tried Fleet Enemas, Microlax, Fleet Mineral Oil, Cooking Oil and water but nothing is shifting it and I'm in a lot of pain. Does anyone have any suggestions?

(Ileo Dec 09 with no hernia to this point) Was out in the garden today doing some stuff ... this evening I have a pain very close to my stoma. It's not constant, but when it comes it's a fairly sharp pain -- is this a hernia pain Sigh - You want to the know what makes me want to put my head through a wall ... I just got a hernia support belt. While I was in the yard, it was in it's box on the coffeetable ... idiot . I don't see an obvious hernia protrusion ... so maybe it's giving me a warning Do most hernias come with pain Maybe I j...

can anyone help with clearing blockages i have been awake most of the night trying to clear mine with so much pain  

Does anyone have suggestions I could request from my doctor to control intestinal pain? seems everything that passes my lips causes pain, even water. I have taken my percocets but even they are not working, they seem to be more of a muscle, joint pain reliever.

I had posted earlier about muscus coming from the rectum. I was reading some older post about it and saw some people use Suppositories and Enemas. If you do that and and you insert the suppositories to far in and use to much of the enemas wouldn't that cause problems? Since the end of the stump is open wouldn't that push stuff further in instead of out?

Looks like I have one post-takedown. I'm told it's repairable surgically (don't know if natural closure is an option - waiting for my surgeon to check). Looking for hints on the post-op experience of fistula closure - bowel rest & for how long? low residue diet & for how long? discomfort & for how long? healing therapies suggested e.g. ice?? Never gave birth so I wonder if this is my chance to know how it feels to have an episiotomy...??

I woke this morning to find my bag had burst and quite a bit of blood was on me and the bed.All blood,nothing else.I have had my bag for two years and this is the second time its happened.The last time.the doctor said it was like a nose bleed,and would happen now and then.I had the camera in there  at Christmas and all was clear.Anyone else had this problem.

I believe I had a blockage in my intestines; every bone/muscles in my stomach and back hurt!   I threw up. Thinking maybe it was a flu.  This has been two days ago, but my stomach still aches.   What do you think?  Thanks

Just wondering if anyone has problems with itching?  I use the coloplast two piece system, It seems to itch mostly under the mesh adhesive part.

I've presented this subject before and I'm currently doing a bit better with blockage, but I still find myself in bed for days with blockage; at least 2x a month.  I have a permanent ileostomy and had complete removal of large intestine, rectum and anus.  My low residue diet is limited because I can't have any fruit, veggies, or anything with skin because of the constant blockage issue.  Please shed some new light on this subject for me. I do all the super green products, like chlorella, and probiotics, enzyme...

I had a temp ileo in 2011 for 11mons due to a Carcinoid tumor in my rectum. I had a Lower Anterior Resection with Meso Excision (lymph nodes removed). I have been reconnected for 5 mons and overall things are doing well. I would like to hear from others who have had this type of surgery and still have your rectum and colon. I have pain sometimes and pressure like the feeling of something down there. I understand that it has to restretch as my rectum is shorter now. It comes and goes and definitely getting better but would love to hear sim...

Hiya I had a emergancy colectomy last year due to UC, I decided to go for a jpouch and had my rectum removed & jpouch formed 3 weeks ago (ill have take down surgery in afew months) I'm recovering very well no problems at all apart from really awful pain in my bladder when I go to the toilet. I've been on anti biotics incase I had a water infection from the catheter but still no better! Did anyone else experience anything like this? I'm scared something may have been damaged in surgery :-/

So, I foolishly wrote that once I started taking stool softeners the rectal pain and pressure had subsided.  Well the honeymoon is over.  I had relief for a total of 2 days and WHAM it has hit me again with a vengeance.  I'm miserable.  I literally had to spend the entire afternoon in bed the other day so I could lie on the heating pad against my rear.  Does anyone have a recommendation?  Should I give in and call my surgeon??  I really kept hoping this would pass but it...

So here's what happened...   I had my rectum removed two weeks ago (my fourth surgery). They warned me about complications and sexual dysfunction just like all the other surgeries, but I think this time something actually happened.   I masturbated today for the first time since surgery. I did not get a full (or even partial) erection, but I was using a special lubricant which helped me eventually orgasm. HOWEVER, when I finally did, I felt a painful sensation in my bladder which I'm assuming is what the doctors are referring ...

Hi There! First of all, thank you for taking your time out and reading my post. I had an emergency operation of tuberculer intestinal obstruction and 3 feet of my small intestine was resected and ileostomy was created. One night I felt something weird (like a shock) near my stoma something like my intestine is pulling inside and whenever this happens gas came out, discussed with many doctors all respond as normal and I was convinced as my intestine was stiched in my abdomen so when my intestine moves I felt in my abdomen.  But after h...

I have a serious pressure sore right next to my stoma. I have been trying for the past few weeks to get it to clear up, but it has gotten worse. Usually I put stoma powder and cake it over the wound area, and if it is bad like this one I also put a bandage on top of that and put my wafer over it. This one has gone beyond that and I have had to cut the wafer away from the area and leave it open and exposed, which means I'm house bound as I can't go anywhere with this open area. My question is what can you do with seriously bad, stubborn wou...

Hi there my fellow Baggers and Merry Christmas to all.        I was diagnosed with UC many years ago and have experienced only those symptoms related to UC, until recently.          My current problem lies in the Sternum . I have looked up the anatomy of the area and the problem area seems to be called " The Manubrium". This is where the first two ribs begin in the chest / Sternum. I have a noticably raised lump in the middle of the Sternum which has been causing a lot of chest pain and upper ...

Hi,  I wondered if anyone has experienced mucus from the back passage after a colostomy?  This is happening every two weeks and as I have no control over my bowel muscles I am not able to hold it in till I get to the loo.  It is making me miserable and not wanting to go out unless I can be sure to be near a loo.  I have to carry a change of clothing as well as my stoma bags.  I have been advised to use an enema once a week but this is the reason I had the colostomy in the first place.  I have used enemas for 3...

I had a total proctolectomy less than a month ago so my body is indeed still healing.   However, every night when I lay down, I get stabbing pains in my gut. The pains move and hours later I wake with either a bag full of gas or liquid output. The pains are no fun. If I massage my belly, gas is let out into my bag. Therefore I am quite sure they're gas pains...But why? And why did I never have pains like this before I lost my colon? Also does anyone else have this feeling in their rectum like there is a fart stuck there? Is that pha...

Photo attached. Since last night I've had liquid output. I can hear gurgling. No pain, no fever. I changed my bag because it leaked from the diarrhea and my stoma has a little purple around the middle of the column part. Is that normal? It also seems that the skin on my belly around it is a little raised, but in not sure if it has always been slightly raised and I never noticed. As my stoma is 2.5 months old so I'm still new to all this. 

Hi you all,  I 'am having a problem with itching under my pouch.  I use a one piece Hollister,  I like the way it fits, and haven't had any leaks for over 2 months,  But sometimes after I change  it   within a day or  two  I am itching.  I tried using a smaller  pouch  and I itch  around the barrier. I have also some little  blister like irritations  I have used  several things to try and stop this or heal the irritation,  Any ideas.  

Hello everyone! So I currently have an ileostomy. I had the surgery on 11/29/18, prior to that I had a colostomy for 5 months. I had my rectum removed and a foot of my colon removed and given the ileostomy while everything heals (they connected the remainder of my colon down to my anus). I've had normal mucus secretions from my anus but this time it was really pink and I also wiped and saw their was a stich. As anyone else experiences this as well or something to he concerned about?

Hello everyone, first post here...I've had a permanent ileostomy for 6 years as a result of beating colon cancer..Now I know that mucous and discharge are common from my rectum but the the last few weeks I've been noticing a significant amount of blood, I am extremely active and feel good but this blood issue has me worried, any thoughts on this?   Thank you everyone for being here and as soon as I settle down I will give a proper introduction to you all, I'm just extremely unsettled right now..

Please help me-is their anyway to release a blockage besides massage? thank you for any help 🙏🏼🙏🏼

hi has anyone got crohns disease i suffer painful joints in my feet and lower back 18 years living with crohn's but i have had different x-rays and nothing shows up    can whoa give me any clues or is it i'm getting older 41years old anyone info would be appreciative thanx mooza         

Hi there, I have had an ileostomy for almost a year now and this website is soo helpful!! I always had discharge from my rectum, at least once a day, but lately its been very painful and bloody. I have tried using some supositories from the past but I haven't seen much of a result. Any suggestions?? Thanks!

Tramidol is somthing i am allergic too, like Morphone and that Phamily and is dangrerous.  Take Lorace or Other Pain Pills Not related to what I am Allergeic too.  I have Major surger in OCT. I will have the surgery as a Cathoic and making out a living willl.   Go by what you can live with Love JG or Jenny

Crohn's Disease w/ ileostomy, 48 yo woman. Having constant upper back/abdominal pain, which used to happen only with a blockage, but now occurs every time I eat. Have had small gut dilated twice in last three months, but no relief. Doctors want to do surgery and cut out 10 cm below my 'willy' (stoma), then start remicade or humira. Don't want to do either. Anybody out there with similar experience or have you tried the drugs I mentioned? Also, any natural remedies would be great to know about. Have done pretty well for the past 17 years si...

has anyone had an blockage which cripples them i have and wander what there remedies are

Hi everyone, I am looking to see if anyone out there has had numerous surgeries due to continuous infections. I have been off work now for 3 years battling this issue. I have had surgeries after surgery and always  told this will be the last. I now have 2 pockets of infection; 1 in my rectum and 1 tucked up behind my uterus that is the size of a soft ball. Does anyone else get these issues (and if so) what have you done to fix the issue? Any thoughts will be greatly appreciated.

Just wondering if anyone suffers with excessive mucus from rectum, I've had my colostomy for 3 years and just yesterday I had really bad pain in rectum, I passed loads of mucus but still had pain like a hot poker up my bottom, I then passed a really hard solid lump of grey mucus, is this normal , what do I do , uncomforatable when standing, can't see stoma nurse til Monday, any tips?

At age 37, Linda Brashier battled Stage 4 cervical cancer, undergoing grueling rounds of chemo and radiation. Slowly, she beat back the cancer and recovered, but realized she would probably never have sexual intercourse again. The scar tissue inside her vagina (caused by radiation), made intercourse too painful and made it impossible for her to have intercourse without pain. Doctors prescribed a "dilator" (a phallic type device), but it burned and stung to use it. Now age 50, she started a dating site (www.2date4love.com) for pe...

I've been having bleeding on my stoma that causes a lot of pain and discomfort.  Also having a hard time with bowel regulation as it can go from very hard feces to feces like water in the matter of a day.  So I'm not sure if the bleeding is caused from the stoma trying to force the hard feces out or from the other which could be irritating in a different way.  Sheesh, I hate things like this. Has anyone out there had anything like this and if so, did you find a way to regulate it or find something to put righ...

Hi I have two post illeostomy op fistula I am very interested in contacting anyone else with the same problem I am struggling to cope with and would love some advice and perhaps to swap some tips in how to manage them Thanks

I saw my surgeon on Tuesday of this week.  He stated that my CAT scan showed some inflammation around the stoma area and there is no stones in my Gaul bladder.  He stated that what I may be feeling is the inflammation or trapped gas.  He said there is not much he can do for the pain.  He doesn't want to go back in as it is too soon. He said that there is a possibility that later on I can be reconnected.  I told him that I was under the impression that he had taken everything but he stated that he had left quite a b...

I have been an ostomate since 1971-age 21 with Crohns being the cause. As with many ostomate said, I have had several resections, 2 hernia repairs, revisions...you name it, I've been thru a lot! I am presently experiencing sharp pains right above my ileostomy stoma...in the area that would be 1:00 if you were looking at a clock. I had surgery in July 2014 for hernia repair and a revision of ostomy from left side to right side. The pain began in Dec. 2014. The GI Drs. said it was from a severed nerve and it would subside in time. Well here ...

Hello everyone past couple of days 3-4 days to be exact started having bad itching and soreness around my stomach. Found out I have a fungal infection . They said by me being so anemic this can happen . They have me doing a crusted technique. But the itching omg is horrible . Any added suggestions would be GREATLY APPRECIATED .    Denise

I have a loop ileostomy and had the surgery due to dymotility of the gut and pseudo obstruction( no longer had any peristaltic wave to move things along ) this happened after two lots of major surgery on my spine done through my abdomen. I had the surgery done one year ago this month. The problem I now have is that I have a buildup of mucus in my back passage fairly high up and can't get it out,when I lay down I can feel it and feels like in need a BM and is quite uncomfortable, But when i sit on the lavatory the feeling completely goes an...

hi, I’m a colostomy newbie had the loop operation at the end of September due to a tumour in my rectum. I’m getting stressed an upset with the pressure and urgency to go that’s I Still feel in my bowels. It’s constant and seems worse when my stoma is active? I’m terrified to let go incase of any damage inside it may cause me so I’m trying to hold it in. Can anyone else relate to this? I see lots of posts re mucus but everyone seems to take it in their stride maybe I’m just being a baby? It’s ...

hello, I was wondering if anyone else has experienced the discomfort I have had ever since my colostomy following the discovery of rectum cancer 12 weeks ago,   I am unable to get comfortable sat upright as it feels everything is all being squashed inside. I sometimes also get a tugging feeling at the bottom of my stoma,   Above my stoma is swollen and it feels like I have to hold myself as i get up to support it, I’m sure I’ve a hernia but I’m getting no support from the surgeon or hospital.  I cant see...

hi. Does anyone in here have any issues re blockages caused by eating cornflakes with milk or am i just being paranoid. ? cheers vb

I have had an ostomy for almost two years now.  For about the last three months I am having more than usuall mucus dischage does anyone else have this problem.  Thanks so much Cindy

Hi all, I am hoping someone has experienced what I am going through and can give me some advice. I have had my colostomy since 2009, I had an awful lot of problems with infections and hernias. After 11 operations in 5 years I was beginning to get used to everything. About 2 years ago I started to get an awful lot of mucus build up in my rectum that solidifies and feels like I am sitting on a cricket ball. I have had several sygmoidoscopies but my surgeon is reluctant to remove the rectum because of my infection and hernia history. I ha...

Hi all On september 27th i got my permanent ileostomy due to crohns. They removed my colon but left my rectum. So obviously i still have some mucus coming out once every 10 days or so. With my temporary ileostomy is was white/yellowish with blood but sometimes it was clear. Now it has a brown shade, like it is mixed with old  blood. Is this normal? And how long does it take to go away? I do have on occasion a stabbing pain near my left hip. Nothing to bad but a bit annoying, could this be related in any way?

I'm a new ileostomate, not a new ostomate (had a colostomy since Oct 2008). I just had my surgery Feb 4th, things are going mostly ok. I hear the word blockage thrown around often enough and would like to know the symptoms. Last night I had some abdominal pressure and growliness with very little to no output. I took my temp last night because I couldn't stop shivering and it was 100.8F. I took some tylenol and went to bed. My fever broke before morning, but also came back when the tylenol wore off and that time it was 102.2F. I've never ha...

hello im not new with this ive had mine for 20 years my problems is blockage ive been trying to lose weight ever since i had to take prednison i need to lose a lot of weight it seems all the good healthy foods block me . i cant eat a lot of veggies which i like even fruits bother me a handful of peanuts will send me to a hospital .and by the way ive never met a stoma nurse let alone get any kind of help with any of my problems  and now im diagnose with fibromylysia please help me

hi guys,  first i must say i love this site!! and the way you help each other!! its great! ive had my stoma since jan, due to cancer, my bottom is still leaking due to the radiation i had before the op,  and my stoma seems to prolapse a lot!! which is annoying at times, sticks out a good inch or more, my stoma nurse tells me a lot of people get this, as i dont know anyone with one, i wondering if any of you have this trouble!!???

I'm newbie ilio 7 weeks ago rectum removed sutures were removed  no drainage but still experiencing sharp pain having problem sitting or lying down.  Is this normal and will go away or will I have to sleep in recliner the rest of my life.  Also stoma which I lovingly refer as Ripley[Alien] has developed an additional discharge opening at skin level. stoma is no longer nice oval but oval with large wart on bottom. Reminds me of large island of Oahu. Having hell of a time getting wafer to seal to skin so irregul...

Hi all think i might have a partly blockage as every time i have something to eat i get these bad cramping before the waste  comes out it feels weird taking busapan for it

Okay, so I am a newbie who is still trying to figure out what is normal.  I figure my stoma is on the larger end of things anyway as it loks longer than any pictures I have seen anywhere... after surgery it was 1-1.5 inches long at rest, and when it decided to work, would stretch to nearly 3 inches in length.  Kinda cute since it has a nice hook to it... like I'm trying to poop around corners. Anyway, stoma has been feeling kinda sore and achy last few days.  When I changed my bag and plate this morning, the...

i am leaking faeces/mucus from bottom and have peri/anus wound and am already sore from wound healing very very slowly but now have nappy resh which is causing the wound to start break down as it is faeceal matter coming out dr given me cream but i am constantly having to wash and cant go out due to the amount leaking as its liquidy i am so sore anyone got any suggestions

I don't know if anyone else has had this problem but... after trying beta blockers and calcium blockers which just made my slow heartrate slower, the cardiologist advised me to take a potassium pill every day and I have been for more than a year now.  Sometimes I just get tired of taking pills, mainly vitamins, so about a month ago I started slacking off and the last couple of weeks my feet have felt like solid bricks of pain.  Could barely walk a lot of the time and was awake half the night from throbbing pain. &n...

Since my surgery for an ileo in mid march I have had 2 blockages..The first on was 2wks after the surgery but it was only partial..cleared itself out after I drank the ct scan prep..I was sent home..May 20th was the killer..Full fledged blockage..never felt it coming on at all..Had nothing to do with anything I ate..I was loaded with adhesions..was gutted like a fish from top to bottom..They were wraped around my intestines from my stomach to my stoma..was in surgery many hours and 12 days in the hospital..The first few weeks I was in pain...

OSTOMATES FOOD REFERENCE CHART For individuals who have had ostomy surgery, it is important to know the effects of various foods on ileal output. Stoma Obstructive Apple peels Cabbage, raw Celery Chinese vegetables Corn, whole kernel Coconuts Dried fruit Mushrooms Oranges Nuts Pineapple Popcorn See ds Beans Stalks, pips, and skins of fruits and vegetables Whole grain cereals Commercially prepared foods with high fiber ingredients Remember:  For a healthy person a high fiber intake is good for keeping bowels healthy.  H...

I have a round sore above my stoma and near the edge of my wafer. I have tried the powder, antibiotic with bandaid and paste, all sorts of diaper rash stuff, calmaseptine,etc.  any suggestions.  It begins to secrete a couple of days after changing.  Also looks like it has gotten to second layer of skin   Any help would be appreciated

Does anyone have bleeding at times around the stoma?  Whenever I change my ilieostomey to take a shower, I notice blood around the stoma. Ive had this since surgery. At times when I have removed the seal, it has been ok, but more so than usual... Its not alot of blood but when I dab it with a soft cloth it stings some. wondering if its from the fluid that causes this cheryle

Hi fellow ostomites , I have had 2 surgeries in the last 2 years. The first for removal of colon and the second part for proctectomy (removal of rectal stump). I had no problems with my ileostomy stump for a year but when I had my second surgery it was found I had 2 hernias, my small bowel had adhesions and still some ulcers on it and a small portion was resected. When I woke from surgery I found that my ileostomy stump had retracted inside and now I find it difficult stopping the pancaking under the bag and also my skin around the area i...

Hello, hoping can get some info from others who have had iliostomy reversals, feeling quite anxious...... Just had my reversal last week and out of hospital yesterday.  I had some issues with severe gas and vomiting so was on liquid diet for most of my time in there.  I finally passed some gas and very loose stool and they let me go yesterday after only having one very small regular meal there.  I started to eat small amounts of food/meals yesterday.  I went from watery urgency movements yesterday t...

I have been having fairly constant semi-sharp pain below my stoma for a few weeks. I am not sure what's causing it but I'm not obstructed. I think it might be gas pain but why does it feel stuck in that area and never leaving?

Greetings all! I used to have a rather active account on this website but over the years I stopped coming as often because my real life got rather  busy. In any event it's awesome to be back and I look forward to reconnecting with some old and hopefully new friends here as well! To make a long story short, my beautiful and very much loved husband, Tyler, has had his ileostomy since he was about 25 years old. He is now nearly 31 and is still doing great all things considered.  However - just recently he started having ...

Hi all It's been 3 weeks tomorrow since my operation for an ileostomy. I woke up this morning panicking that I couldn't see my stoma. I rang the stoma nurse and she said it has retracted and this is normal! Has anyone else's done this and have you had any problems with bags etc?

  when they do a urostomy and leave the bladder behind my query is does the bladder produce a blood statined discharge post op does the bladder also disgharge post op it long term do i have use any form of pads ect thanks in advance

I am having ileostomy revision surgery in a couple of weeks for a prolapse. I have had it for quite some time, but never caused any problems. I could go for 7 days before changing the appliance, and then looked like I could have gone longer. In the past 6 months, after 2 days it has become very itchy and leaking between the ring and my skin. Sometime, especially at night the stoma will go below the barrier, which is how the program starts, then starts to leak. After I eat, the stoma feels like it is trying to pop the barrier off, and the ...

Hi Friends :) I have a concern and a worry that brings on this question! I had emergency surgery 5 years ago and thats how I ended up with a colostomy. This past june I had another emergency surgery due to a blockage caused by my small intesting slipping into a muscle and some hernia repairs. So now I have mesh in alot of my stomach. I healed up very well but then I had an soroma (pocket of fluid) between the mesh and my skin. So I had a drain in for over a month. They took the tube out a week and a half ago and said it would take my body...

Mmkay, I am bleeding a lot from my left over rectum I have an iliostomy. I'm in pain but I hate to go to the ER because they treat me like a crackhead. I can't stand up straight because it hurts. Does anyone else have this problem?

It's been five weeks since my UC got the better of me and I had to have a permanent ileostomy.  Really been doing well but three days ago I started having stabbing, burning pain at the stoma site. Doctor today tells me it  could (probably is) nerve related.  Means it too is likely PERMANENT?? OMG.  What now?  This pain is significant and comes with no warning.  I'm not sure I can handle it?  Does anyone know what, if anything, can be done? The doctor didn't seem to know? Said I might have to seek the help...

What does an Ileostomy blockage feel like?  I am experiencing really painful cramping on my upper right side of my stomach, across from my stoma.  The area around the stoma is very tender and sore but not like a skin rash sore. It is more deep inside.  Thinking it was a blockage,  I switched to liquids for a day but the stoma is putting out material into the bag.  When it empties, it is really crampy though.  I have been extra careful with my food, chewing well and not eating things that I thought would cause ...

It has been 5 months since my ileostomy and I am now having abdominal pain just above my belly button.  It really hurts when I cough.  I first thought maybe a pulled muscle but now the pain is getting worse without coughing.  Has anyone had this problem?

I am pretty sure there are many of you who have had problems with gas (or wind, as my Europeian friends call it).  I am having a horrible time with this and need suggestions.  Gasex and peppermint tea are not helping and my normal medication regime that I have set up for this is also not working.  I know that I am not blocked as my stoma is releasing fluid but it seems like the horrible gas that rolls around from one side to the other is not escaping.  I am, at times, literally bent over in severe pain. I ended up havin...

Hi all, This is my first post & its a sensitive subject so hope it goes well!! Have had my Colostomy due to Crohn's since 2016 & due to having to have 31 rectal ops it was finally taken out mid 2017 & yes the ostomy is now permanent. Overall it has been trouble free but over the past month or so I have noticed that I have pressure in the rectal area almost constantly & have this overwhelming feeling & need to push as if I was to open my bowels on the toilet...which of cause I can't do. I feel I should talk to my surgeo...

hi would anybody ever come across a pain in rectum simlar to pile type pain? have had colostomy for 5years with this unexplained pain for 18mths any ideas would help

I think i have a blockage because my stomach hurts around my stoma inside,My stoma is swelled up like i have never seen it before!!! I only pass black water and not thick bowel..How do i get rid of the blockage?? Buy a rubber baster and do an enema on my stoma?? what do i use??Soapy water or what?? Please help!!

Hi all.  Hope you  in the midwest made it ok thru the big freeze.  Now I have a question,   2years for my Colostomy,  and I use Hollister  one piece and don't have a problem with any leaks  but the itching is driving me crazy.   it is around the stoma and on the outside of my pouch.  I have tried  some things,  I only clean with water,  and make sure my skin is dry before applying the  new pouch,  but  I am still itching myself .   Any ideas what...

Hello everyone. Ive had an ileostomy for 6 weeks now. The first two stoma bags kept leaking and burning my skin. The lovely stoma nurses sorted me out with another type of bag which is called Novalife 1 Open Soft Easiview Maxi, if that makes sense. It comes with a belt that attaches to the bag. It seems to stop the leaking but by the end of the day my skin around the stoma becomes very sore. Im not sure if this eases in time or im just very sensitive to the flange around the bag. Doe's anyone else have this type of issue? 

Is it normal for your abdomen to cramp and swell, after having no stoma output for over 24 hours?

They tell me keeping healthy people in the hospital is insurance fraud :) OK, some practical advice for reversal candidates that I have learned through this ordeal: The most important thing you can do during your time with the bag is pelvic floor exercises. That will really help afterward in that you will have kept your anal sphincter muscles in shape and will not be in a position to have an accidenent if you are more than say a few steps from the bathroom. I saw yesterday that while it was frequent, it was never an emergency, more like ...

I have a colostomy, I don't know if that makes a difference in the color of you stool.  But usually the senna I take makes mine bright yellow.  For 3 wks. now I have stomach pain and dark green stool, haven't changed diet or drank anything with dye.  Any suggestions, pain feels like burning ulcer?

hey this is new felt i was leaking sure enough when i went to change it it kept coming out theres a split across the middle and its leaking blood like i cut it im going to keep an eye on it  cannot aford tomiss work big grand opening tomorrow i have to show up or ill be fired what should i do and why the hell is this happening

About a week ago I sneezed and felt like I pulled something on my left side next to Sophie(stoma), the next day I could not walk unless I held Sophie in my hands and luckily I had the weekend to recuperate.  But on and off since then I get some bad pain/cramps I don't know what to call it but it hurts and sends chills all thru my body and I get very nauseated and try to throw up.  I tried eating a soft diet for a couple of days and it seemed to get a little better however I have noticed that my output is not the same (...

Hi, I am about 3 weeks out from my surgery. I initially went in to get a hernia repaired but two days after that surgery, I developed very high fever and swelling - peritonititis which required the pouch. I just changed my bag and must have wiped the stoma too hard because it is bleeding quite a bit... Is this something I should worry about? It seems it would open me up for perotonitis - or infection at the very least. Has this happened to any of yaw'll? I am using damp paper towels to clean up between bags. Feedback appreciated. &nbs

Wondering if anybody can help me here? I have a loop colostomy right now, and in the near future am hoping to have it changed to an end one at the sigmoid with a Hartmann's pouch. Now I am a bit worried, and even though I do have an appointment with a surgeon to discuss the issues of concern, I've found in the past that doctors don't always tell you everything and what's more don't seem to know it half the time. So, I'm wondering if anybody knows if this is correct- according to several pubmed and Elsevier articles, the mortality rate for ...

I need some advice about my stoma. The stoma is bleeding from the end and where it comes out of my body. I am on coumadin. It is bleeding pretty bad and don't know how to stop up or help it heal. Has anyone ever used vaseline gauze on it and know if that helps or does anyone know how to stop it?

I have had a complete colostomy completed in April of 2010.  Since than I have been taking dilodid to help aleviate the pain that I feel in my abdomin.  My gastro says it is because of the Cohrones and when it acts up, it decreases the size of my small intestine to pass anything.  I know that dilodid doesn't hurt any organs, but it is a pain in the ass to take it all the time.  Does anyone have any suggestions on what to do to help aleviate abdomin pain from Cohrones without the use of narcotics?

Hi, This is my first post and hoping that someone might be able to help. I have had an ileostomy for 42 yrs (was 10 weeks old when I had my surgery due to UC) Had my rectum and anus removed at age 7. Thankfully I have been relatively problem free, through the years, but recently I have been experiencing pain around the left side of my stoma, it's a rather sharp pain that feels tender to the touch, and hurts when I am eliminating from my Stoma. It feels like I've pulled something inside.  This has never happened before. I ...

Has anyone ever had to have a port put in to their arm to get iv's regularly because of dehydration problems that happen over and over again?  I have had my ostomy since 3/15/12 and been hospitalized 4 times since the surgery for dehydration.  Doctors say my body has not adjusted to the ostomy.  I have no colon so I have absolutely no options.  My J Pouch failed after 15 years so no options.  My attorney said she knew someone who had this problem and went to the hospital frequently for iv's...

I have a colostomy and have had terrible phantom toilet pains . but never had any mucus down at all . Now i have had some radio therapy on my pelvis area and this seems to have made me lose quite a lot of muck from my  rectul stump . Very odd question but is  anyone able to tell me what sort of colour this mucus is ! very worried !!

On the 1st of march I had to have a permanent colostomy with and APR due to rectum cancer. Since then I have had so much pain in my anus/tailbone area. I can only seem to stand and sit for about 20 min at a time before I have to lay down because of the pain. The other thing is I also seem to have pain in my man jewels...sorry for that but I need the help. Is this normal and when should I be getting past this pain. Everything else seem to be healing up well it's just that ole butt that hurts... When I can I'm able to look back there it does...

I have a neuromuscular disorder that causes me to go the bathroom 15-25 times/day. The sacral nerves in my rectum don't stimulate the muslces to hold back waste properly, so I actually have the rare problem that I really need to go 100% of the time. I have this constant horrible pressure and even though I'm very clean/fit, I always smell bad. In a month I'm getting a sigmoid colostomy which will leave the rectum/sphincter intact. So I will still need to pass mucus. Since I don't hold back waste normally, I'm extremely worried that I will s...

I'm getting really bad itching after I shave near stoma any ideas what to use and bag sticking after.

Hi can anyone help me .i had anterior resection of rectum last march ......I'm in so much pain I can't sit on my bum ....I'm bleeding and pass loads of mucus .

Have just reached 85, and had urostomy for 3 years.  After the first year I concluded that mucus was the source of most of my problems.  Whereas the bag adhesives are all impervious to urine mucus just goes straight through, and even parted the bag from the base plate on a couple of occasions.  I now use a two piece bag, and can therefor easily unclip the bag and wipe off mucus morning and night and sometimes more often.  The result is a vast improvement in the skin close up to the stoma.  ...

Hi all   i have recently had a loop ileostomy, and now 5 weeks since my op. But I'm getting discharge from my bum, it's not mucus it looks like the same stuff that's in my bag. It's not loads but now getting the sensation to go the toilet. Is this normal?

About once a week when I change the bag, blood will start to spurt out. I took paper towel and applied with pressure to the stoma. This happened several months ago so I went to the emergency room and was told I could have ruptured a capalary while applying the bag. But this time I could not stop it for about an hour and I was livid not to go back to the hospital, has anyone had this problem?

Hello   I had the Ileostomy operation 3 weeks ago and have had my waste diverted to my small intestine via stomac bag which will be reversed in a few months time. I keep on feeling to go to the toilet and passed some fluid a few times but nothing major. I keep on having sharp pains at the rectum especailly when i sit for long periods. Rectum feels dry and tight. Is this normal and has anyone experienced something similar - if so is there anything I can do to alleviate the pain.   Thank you for any feedback. cheers

Hi all...I have a 3 month old colostomy....while I was showering I noticed that my stoma looked "puffy" .... and then a pretty much empty pouch.  Not wanting this to get to the point of a blockage, for the first time in my life I did the prune juice fix and it worked....very very very very very very, did I mention very?, well.  I mixed one half a cup of prune juice with one half cup of warm water.  Things started to errr....."relax" by  late in the day and then today....it worked and worked and worked and worked.  ...

I like to read the comments and questions. It helps to not feel alone and know that I can be comfortable asking awkward questions. So here goes another awkward question. I struggle to keep the out put from my colostomy soft. I take stool softener and fiber, that definately helps. However, now and then the stool hardens, which is normal for me. Then when it passes it is too large and hard and stretches the skin around the stoma and causes pain and bleeding. Does this happen to you?  What can I do? Does this opening need to be larger? I...

Have ileostomy. Still have colon. Sometimes still have small rectal discharge (poop), usually very liquid type. Surgeon said its normal due to colon still producing mucus and poop. You would think the medical field would make you aware of things like this. But they don't. Just about all ileostomy people have a discharge if they still have colon. Hope this helps someone.

I had the last bit of my bowel removed 3 weeks ago and have been closed up and healing well. Today I have a really nasty pain where the wound is on my bottom, it is gradually getting worse and even hurts to walk, I don't understand how or why this has come on so suddenly, I'm worried something has gone wrong 🙁 If anyone has had this procedure and has any answers or advice I would really appreciate it. 

Have end ileostomy with 5" prolapsed stoma. Color is fine. Surgeon wants to redo it even though it's working fine. My question is, how long has someone gone with prolapsed stoma. Tired of surgery!

Does anyone have problems with passing mucous plugs?     This is a new problem with me and don't know what to do.

Hello first time here, I have had the ostomy bag for 1 and half months now, and it seems that late at night is when I start having problems with the blockage. My question is I'm getting big pieces of debris that look like thin plastic and/or paper. Maybe inch long, and it will stretch is this normal? The past couple of days getting very little feces to come out and swelling up, can anyone tell me the best way to clear my blockage?   Your First Time Rookie    

Has anyone ever heard of a link between IBD and blood disorders? Specifically polycythemia (thickening of the blood). My doctor has noticed this increasing over my last few checkups, and I'd just like to know if it could be a common thing with IBD patients, or if it's just a one off thing.

I am just curious if any of you have heard of Hyperbaric treatment for healing areas around the stoma that won't heal up??  My stoma doctor is thinking of using this on my open sore area.

I have permanent colostomy for 3 years.........does anyone have bms often during certain days?    Lately I have bright red spotting around and in stoma.  I stop it with cold compress and it is gone within a few minutes. often it comes after and not in.....a bowel movement....often on days of frequent movements.  What causes this as I know stoma can be irritated as solid stool passes.   also have lots of small movements through day like 3 hours.

Hello! I had my iliostomy since may 2018. Developed parastomal hernia in July and seems to get larger and larger throughout the day.  I have terrible back pain pretty much constant when I'm on my feet too long. Does anyone else have this problem and if so, what do you do for relief? Thanks! 

Does anyone have problems with bloating with gas pain post- op colostomy. It’s been 1 days after surgery. Need suggestions so I’ feel better during recuperation 

Please, I need advice. How to apply makeup without looking like a Renaissance painting? I use sunscreen everyday but i do not usually put on makeup. As I am going to become a public figure I need to get ready for public events. I have tried a lot of products but it seems my skin is too dry. I would appreciate any beauty tips. Thanks in advance.

I just returned from the hospital where I was treated for a nasty infection around the stoma amongst other medical issues.  Some areas around the ostomy were so broken down that tried and true remedies (nystatin, skin barrier wipes, etc) were not working and I could not get a bag to stick.  The pain was so unbearable I was treated with morphine and hydrocodone throughout my stay.  Fortunately I was visited by the wound care nurses at the hospital.  I brought my own supplies and cut the bag adding barrier rings (I need t...

It has been 5 months now since bladder removal surgery...had a CT scan yesterday and urine collected through stoma catheterization.   Everything good news.  Now today I'm having pain in and above my belly button.  My cancer center is 4 hours from me...as well as my urologist, surgeon and oncologist.  What could this be????