Living with a slowly lengthening or prolapsing stoma that still functions normally can be a bit concerning, especially when you notice changes in its appearance. A stoma that is getting longer and protruding more might seem alarming, but if it's still working well, it might not be as serious as it looks. Here are some helpful tips and insights from others who have experienced similar situations:

- Measure and monitor: Keep track of how much your stoma is protruding. This can help you and your healthcare provider assess whether the changes are significant.

- When to seek help:
1. If your stoma suddenly becomes much longer, stops producing output, or causes a lot of pain, it's important to seek emergency medical attention. You might need a procedure to manually reduce the prolapse under anesthesia.
2. Even if you don't have severe symptoms, it's a good idea to talk to your surgeon or ostomy nurse about any changes. Once a stoma has prolapsed, it can happen again or get worse.

- Day-to-day reassurance:
1. Many surgeons advise that as long as your stoma is functioning and not causing pain, the prolapse itself isn't dangerous.
2. You might experience occasional shooting pains, but these are usually not a cause for concern if your stoma continues to work properly.

- Long-term outlook:
1. If you are planning a surgical reversal of your ostomy, this can resolve the prolapse issue.
2. If reversal isn't an option, a surgeon might be able to repair the prolapse, although it could happen again.

Remember, it's always best to stay in touch with your healthcare team about any changes or concerns you have with your stoma.