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those who went through the reversal-how bad is the stoma scar?

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Posted 2/9/2011 9:38 PM (GMT 0)
having my reversal in 5 weeks in March 16th.  been living with a temp colostomy due to severe endometrosis since Sept 13th.  endometrosis tissue caused a nearly complete bowel obstruction.   I am not sure yet if my surgeon will be opeing me all the way back up again or with a lasor.  how bad is the scar where the stoma was?  mine is so small, flesh to the skin and about the size of a dime.  would love to wear a bikini again by this coming summer.  hoping to get one in by May esp that we are  putting a pool in the backyard this summer.
Posted 2/10/2011 4:15 PM (GMT 0)
Ask the surgeon to suture instead of staple. The staples leave a much uglier scar. You can also consult a plastic surgeon about diminishing your scars. I am having my scars reduced in 6 months. I have already consulted with a plastic surgeon.
Posted 2/10/2011 11:35 PM (GMT 0)
don't know if my insurance will pick up plastic surgery.
Posted 2/11/2011 3:23 AM (GMT 0)
Just about seven months since my takedown. I had a pretty obvious scar, but now it's hardly noticeable.
Posted 2/11/2011 4:47 AM (GMT 0)
It has been 17 months since my takedown. I had sutures and an open wound. The wound closed up in about 4-6 weeks but the scar is still very noticeable for awhile. It slowly changes from pink to brown/tan depending on your skin coloring. The indention of the scar is more noticeable now than the coloring. I have been told by many friends/family that it is not that bad. They could be sparing my feelings but compared to what I went through the scar is nothing. Nobody will care about the scar. I was really worried about people pointing and staring at the scar the first time i wore a bathing suit. I covered it till I got in the water and then I completely forgot about it. What you are thinking will happen is probably much worse than what will. So relax and realize that the people you love and who love you won't care about the scar just that you are alive.
Posted 2/11/2011 3:23 PM (GMT 0)
Hey Tiger....just focus on getting well. The scarring situation like others have said will diminish over time. Initially you might need a regular 2 piece if you are a bit self conscious. Tell your surgeon your concern so maybe he will do some extra "fine" stitching to help minimize the scarring for you.
Posted 2/12/2011 2:53 AM (GMT 0)
just a thought, but wouldn't it be similar to the stomach (GI) tube scar? I mean I don't know if everyone has to have GI tubes put in, but I did and it wasn't sutured closed at all. They just pulled it out and it closed up in 2 days. Sure it might be a bit bigger, but in my case at least I'm not going to be a stomach model anytime soon seeing as how I have a 7.5 inch scar running the full length of my belly, the GI tube scar, soon a colostomy scar and after that an ileostomy scar. I'm gonna look like a treasure map! tongue
Posted 2/13/2011 8:54 PM (GMT 0)
I can relate and first off my health is of upmost concern. Had total colectomy July 2010 and had major complications, ended up in ICU and had an ileostomy performed...hospital duration 5 weeks. The blood thinners given in ICU made my abdominal incision bleed and so it remained an open wound and took over 2 months to close up. Haven't really talked to my surgeon, will wait until to discuss all my concerns when scheduling my ileostomy reversal. My abdominal wound is 7.5 inches as well, and having been open, the fascia pushed upward. It is so ugly to look at. I wonder what can be done, I would need a fascia tightening and somehow fix the scaring. I'm not too concerned about the ileostomy scar, that would be pretty tinny compared to this. My drainage tube was too just pulled out and left to heal and scar is completely gone. I don't want to sound superficial, but the fascia problem is visible through clothing and I don't want to look like this forever. Hope there's hope for us!!
Posted 2/15/2011 3:52 PM (GMT 0)
I am not too concerned about the scar but very curious just want this bag gone. my situation is diff than most on this forum. I don't have chrones or colitis. just severe endometrosis that wrapped around my colon causing a near complete bowel obstruction. I always wear bikinis in the summer. and in the water a lot in the summer. good thing my emergency surgery was in mid September and getting reversed March 16th. eek one more month! do you think anyone will be able to tell that I had a stoma? most of my close friends and family of course knows, but total strangers?  I am moderatly fair complected naturally.  but I usually hit the tanning beds by April, and I get super dark, super fast.  hoping to be back to my life by May the way it was before surgery.
Posted 2/15/2011 7:38 PM (GMT 0)
well I would think that no one is going to see the scar and go that girl had a stoma! :p Mostly because most people don't think about them. I'm sure it'll take a long time to fade, but with mederma and the like you can speed it up. I image that once it fades it won't be very noticeable. But it probably will still be pretty pink this coming summer. I wish I could wear a bikini, never had the body for it myself. depending on where the scar will be I'm sure you can wear certain cuts of swim bottoms that will help hide it. Good luck on your surgery!!
Posted 2/16/2011 4:16 PM (GMT 0)
yeah I guess you are right. before I had emergency surgery on the Sept 13th, I knew what colostomy bags were. as I know several people that have them. but never knew what a stoma looked like or that it was even called that. I will prob be in a 2 piece swimsuit this year despite the scars. my fiancee loves me just the way I am and that is all that matters. I won't look at them as scars but a way of reminding me of the battles I won. as I continue to fight this disease endometrosis, and praying I am in remission.
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