Opinions on Elective Colostomy Stoma Placement?

Hi, it's looking more and more like I will get an elective colostomy! Any opinions on placement of the stoma? 

When I got mine, my ostomy nurse had me come in and made me move around, bend, stoop, etc., then she marked me on what she saw my body do. Which, for me, was just to the left of my belly button.

I ordered a sample bag and kind of need a starting point because I want to wear it around to get a feel for it. Thanks for the info.

I don't have a colo but my ileo experience says to keep it well away from your navel so the flange has a completely flat surface to adhere to and nowhere near any fold, such as the fold that appears at the abdomen when you bend over. After that, consider where the waistband sits on your pants.

The day before my colostomy, I had to see an ostomy nurse who made me move around and bend, then marked the spot for it. I didn't get a choice. Mine is also just left of my navel.

I had no say in the location of my stoma.

The nurse comes in, asks me to stand, asks where my belt is when I wear pants, and marks an X where it was going.

It is located to the right of the navel, 2 inches below the belt line. Wearing the appliance sideways helps with wearing a belt for pants. No issues at all.

I can tuck my shirt in and use a belt for pants, even suspenders.

You're welcome. For me, I'd hate to have mine any lower and have it mess with my waistline. Like Axl said, keep it far enough away from your belly button so whatever type of setup you use doesn't get hindered by your belly button. I'd also ask or reinforce to your surgeon that you want your stoma to stick out a bit and not be flush to your skin. Stomas fluctuate a lot in how far they protrude throughout the day. I'd hate to have it be flush at its highest point and then retract below skin level.

Personally... I'd like the location of my stoma... on someone else 🤦‍♂️😊.

I have a colostomy.

I had no choice. My surgeon did an excellent job placing it perfectly on me. I'm a small guy, so my Hollister bag is pretty long on me.

Mine is 3 inches to the left of my navel, and in line with the navel.

I have no problems with belts or bending over.

My stoma sticks out from 1 1/2 to 3 inches. Causes quite the bulge. I have a peristomal hernia, so I really have a bulge. My wife comments about it all the time. I sometimes wear a Nu-Hope support belt with a prolapse strap to rein in my wayward stoma. For a little while anyway.

Be sure and tell your surgeon not to cut your stoma length too close to your skin. Better a small bulge than the constant hassle of a stoma flush or below your skin.

I had emergency colon surgery on Christmas Day 2024, so I did not get to choose where my stoma would be. I also did not have a clue what was going on because of the pain and drugs. The surgeon placed my stoma 2 inches left of my belly button and right on my waistline. So I now only wear sweatpants and pants with elastic waistlines. So, don't put it there. Like everyone else says, 3 to 4 inches from your belly button and below or above your waistline. If you have it above your waistline, your pants will fit under the stoma. The bag might need to stay on the outside of your pants so the output will fall to the bottom of the bag. Note, there are waistline belts that the bag fits in that will hide the bag. If you have it below the waistline, your pants can fit over the stoma and bag. Just watch out for pancaking.

Hope this helps

Golf & Osto

Hi. Good reply. Welcome to the community. It sounds like you had a colonostomy on 12.25.23. Correct me if I am wrong.

Some tidings of comfort and joy, huh? 🤦‍♂️😩

There is no reason for your bag to be "hanging out" of your pants unless you want it to be. There are choices and options.

Being a newbie yourself, you will need to do some research on belts or wraps that hide the bag and support it too. Also, there are appliances enabling you to turn the bag sideways if that's more comfortable. Turning the bag sideways enables you to tuck in your shirt and use a belt for pants. Now do excuse me because I don't know if having a colonostomy you can do this or not. But someone will answer that question here.

Of course, location was the topic thread. Your body organs also dictate placement; that's why ileos are located on your right-hand side and colonostomy on the left. My 2 cents worth.

(7 yrs being an ileo. Kenn Buttor.)

 

 

 

You have a choice? Mine is to the left of my belly button. It has not been too bad. I have made it work with clothing, etc.

Yes, make sure it sticks out, not flush with the skin, away from the belly button, and watch for your skin folds. See an ostomy nurse.

I never had a choice. They came in. X-ed the spot. Boom. Done.

It's like trying to tie shoelaces on flip-flops.

I don't believe you have a say in location. A suggestion perhaps... then the nurse explains, "This is where it goes."

I know for me, a lot of people say my stoma is higher up than usual. That's because I'm in a wheelchair, apparently. I had a memory that before the operation, like right before the operation, the surgeon asked me if I was left-handed or right-handed. I'm right-handed, and I woke up with it on my right side. I also heard somewhere that the colostomy is usually on the left side and the ileostomy is usually on the right, so I don't know if there's any truth to that or not.

JVM, just curious if you are in a chair because of a spinal cord injury? I have a SCI but am not in a chair and am fairly active. I assume that before I get the operation, the stoma nurse or doctor will help me decide where to put the stoma. Thanks for the response.

No, born with neurological damage.

I'm right-handed, my colostomy is on the left side.

Hello and glad to have you here. What hospital are you going to be at? I think the placement may be based on why you're having it done, yours being neurological. Do you know if it's going to be a "loop colostomy"? If so, it will be on the left just above your button. But call all the manufacturers and get all the free samples you can. And start looking at the support belts. Stealth is the best but pricey. And you will end up with a peristomal hernia within a year, just be ready.

Besides the placement of the ostomy, how much the stoma sticks out is important. A stoma is a shape-changing little beast. It will grow longer, shorter, fatter, and thinner. It's constantly in motion due to peristalsis.

If your stoma is too close to your skin, output will get on your skin near the wafer seal area, causing irritation and leaks. You'll have to use convex wafers.

Mention to your surgeon that you want the stoma to stick out enough to prevent it from declining to skin level.

Mine sticks out from 1 inch to 2.