Hello, I have posted before but have not had any replies. I had my ostomy in 2007, so you would think I had it just about down now. However, I have had problems since the onset. First of all, I have Irritable Bowel Syndrome and find that this affects me as much now as before my ostomy -- maybe even worse. I have eliminated sodas, wheat, milk, and several other things from my diet to try and help with the many diarrhea episodes I have.
I recently had a hernia repaired and hoped this would cut down on some of the swelling and bloating, etc. It did reduce the size of my tummy where the hernia had been. However, since that surgery, I have a very large POOCH all around my stoma! It is about the size of a girl's softball and it pokes out very noticeably, even under my clothing. It is almost cone-shaped sometimes the way it protrudes. And the bowel collects in this area and makes my abdomen very hard even to the touch. I don't seem to have a blockage, but I will say it is either small pellets or soft stool or pure right out diarrhea. I almost always have residue in my bag, and it pancakes because I have a slight convex. Thus, I suffer with irritation that can be very painful around my stoma, and often I must de-pouch in order for the area to heal around the stoma. The gravity seems to be pulling my stoma downward, but this does not help with the emptying of stool into the bag instead of around the convex cup. I went to the doctor, but he examined me lying down and I don't think he felt the hardness and fullness of the stool collected around my stoma -- even all the way around sometimes it is hard like a rock and sticking out. He said it was just a weak abdominal wall due to all the surgeries I have had. It is embarrassing. It is so discouraging. I lived my whole life with my bowel habits seeming to control my life, and I truly hoped the colostomy would change this. Is there anyone out there who has this same problem or might be able to suggest some things to me? I have tried medications for the diarrhea from IBS, but to no avail. I can take Imodium, but that is when it gets almost to the point of constipation. My insides under the skin and in the stoma literally seem scalded sometimes, as well as the exterior skin under the wafer. Can anyone please help me with suggestions?
Sorry to go on and on - just frustrated and wondering was it worth it!
I recently had a hernia repaired and hoped this would cut down on some of the swelling and bloating, etc. It did reduce the size of my tummy where the hernia had been. However, since that surgery, I have a very large POOCH all around my stoma! It is about the size of a girl's softball and it pokes out very noticeably, even under my clothing. It is almost cone-shaped sometimes the way it protrudes. And the bowel collects in this area and makes my abdomen very hard even to the touch. I don't seem to have a blockage, but I will say it is either small pellets or soft stool or pure right out diarrhea. I almost always have residue in my bag, and it pancakes because I have a slight convex. Thus, I suffer with irritation that can be very painful around my stoma, and often I must de-pouch in order for the area to heal around the stoma. The gravity seems to be pulling my stoma downward, but this does not help with the emptying of stool into the bag instead of around the convex cup. I went to the doctor, but he examined me lying down and I don't think he felt the hardness and fullness of the stool collected around my stoma -- even all the way around sometimes it is hard like a rock and sticking out. He said it was just a weak abdominal wall due to all the surgeries I have had. It is embarrassing. It is so discouraging. I lived my whole life with my bowel habits seeming to control my life, and I truly hoped the colostomy would change this. Is there anyone out there who has this same problem or might be able to suggest some things to me? I have tried medications for the diarrhea from IBS, but to no avail. I can take Imodium, but that is when it gets almost to the point of constipation. My insides under the skin and in the stoma literally seem scalded sometimes, as well as the exterior skin under the wafer. Can anyone please help me with suggestions?
Sorry to go on and on - just frustrated and wondering was it worth it!