This topic is about a 60-year-old individual who has been living with a nearly flush ileostomy for 42 years. As she plans for a hysterectomy, her gynecologist suggested the possibility of having another surgeon raise the stoma during the same procedure. She is contemplating whether to keep her well-functioning stoma as it is or to have it raised to potentially make pouching easier for herself or future caregivers as she ages. She is seeking opinions and advice on this decision.

Here are some insights and advice shared by others:

1. If you decide to have the stoma raised, consider combining it with the hysterectomy. This way, you will already be under anesthesia and recovering, avoiding the need for a separate operation and recovery period.

2. A raised stoma can generally make applying the pouch easier and reduce the chances of leaks, which could be beneficial for caregivers in the future.

3. Before agreeing to the procedure, ensure that the assisting surgeon has experience with ostomies, a good technique, and a high success rate, as the outcome heavily depends on the surgeon's skill.

4. Consider your personal lifestyle and positioning. A higher stoma placement can be more comfortable when bending, sitting, or wearing lower-rise pants, and it may leak less when lying on your stomach.

5. Weigh the potential risks of altering something that currently works well. Additional surgery can introduce complications, such as the need for mesh, relocation to the other side, or results that are no better than before.

6. Bodies respond differently, and some people find that their stoma protrudes more with relaxation or massage. This suggests that non-surgical management and body conditioning might also be helpful.