This topic is about managing a double ostomy, which means having two stomas. One stoma brings bowel output to the surface of the abdomen, while the other connects to the anus or rectal area. This setup was initially intended to be temporary, but the person is considering making it permanent to avoid using diapers due to paralysis. They are finding it challenging to cut an oval opening in a one-piece pouch and are looking for a simpler solution. Unfortunately, they received minimal guidance from hospital staff and have learned mostly through trial and error and advice from others in similar situations.

Here are some helpful insights and advice:

1. Possible names for this configuration:
- It might be a loop ostomy or a less common "double-barrel colostomy/ileostomy," where two ends of the bowel are brought out: one active and one inactive, which produces mucus.

2. How to confirm exactly what you have:
- Consult your surgeon or a certified ostomy nurse to examine the stomas and explain whether they are colostomy or ileostomy openings and how each functions.
- Home-health services often have nurses certified in ostomy care; make sure to request one.

3. Appliance suggestions for the oval opening problem:
- Some people switch from a one-piece to a two-piece system, allowing the wafer to be cut or ordered in an oval shape while the pouch remains intact. Suppliers can pre-cut an oval in wafers for many two-piece systems.
- After post-operative swelling decreases, some find they can return to using a standard circular hole.

4. Reversal vs. permanence considerations:
- If the entire colon is diseased or doesn’t heal, surgeons may leave an inactive stoma that only passes mucus. If healing fails, removing the diseased segment and rectum is common.
- Long-term users report a good quality of life with a permanent ileostomy or colostomy once they get used to it.

5. General support:
- Keep asking questions in forums; the community can help with specific product choices and daily management tips.
- Direct, hands-on teaching from medical professionals is crucial, so continue to seek it out.