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Happy with My New Stoma

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Posted 6/10/2012 4:15 PM (GMT 0)
With everything negative going on, I want to add a positive - I showered "naked" for the first time today and couldn't get over my new stoma.  It protrudes a perfect 3/4 of an inch, and is the smallest little thing.  I am so happy to not have male anatomy hanging from my abdomen any longer.  I am so happy my new surgeon took on my case for an issue (PG) that didn't even have to concern him. 

I didn't realize how my old stoma affected my body image.  When the in-home nurse came and saw it for the first time she was appalled and very upset for me.  She said she was concerned for my body image with the way it looked.  It was the same thing when any healthcare professional, including other doctors looked at it.  I tried not to dwell, and often didn't appreciate the questions and comments, but I realize now how bothered by it I was.

This is definitely a good thing, and it helps me not to dwell on the negative!!! 

 

Posted 6/10/2012 6:53 PM (GMT 0)
:)
Posted 6/10/2012 7:06 PM (GMT 0)
Hooray! Dr. S. is good at what he does- when he did my end ileo., a couple of the in-home nurses that saw it said it was the most beautiful stoma they'd ever seen. I'm sure yours is beautiful as well!! :)
Posted 6/10/2012 7:16 PM (GMT 0)
I would say thats not just one positive among the negatives, but that it is really a big positive event that makes up for a lot. Having a stoma and a good body image - so crucial, you've made terrific progress, however you got there. No matter what has happened it is almost divine when you can look at your own body and feel good.
Posted 6/10/2012 7:35 PM (GMT 0)

Yay !!!  I bet she is a beauty and I guess I had forgotton that your other one was like that.

Since becoming an ostomate, I always think how funny that the "old" things that once excited me in no way compares to the "new" things that now excite me.

For example, I am so excited when I get a new package of ostomy goodies in the mail.  Or, when I actually look forward to my next pouch change so I can try a new product.   Who knew?   Used to be a new recipe or a new hair product or make-up would be exciting to try.

I was one who was counting the days until my surgery and couldn't wait to check out my new stoma.   I don't think a new set of b@@bs would have been more exciting to me.   Then again, that may be a stretch smilewinkgrin   

Posted 6/10/2012 9:22 PM (GMT 0)
     My surgeon did a great job on my stoma too!  My ostomy nurse said if he ever had to have an operation like mine...total colectomy with end ileostomy...without a doubt, he would choose Dr. Fry.  So far, touch wood (my head), I have NEVER had a blockage or problem with it (hope I don't jinx myself).  His words to me were...."eat anything you like..BUT...make SURE you chew, chew and chew some more."  I do that and enjoy every bite tongue .
Posted 6/10/2012 10:18 PM (GMT 0)
My new stoma that I had to get due to the otherone stenosing is very swollen.

I need to know what and how much I can eat so as not to tax it.

For breakfast I had juice coffee and rice crispies.

Then I got so hungry I had a protein shake and should have stopped there.

But then I had some nilla wafers, milk, coffee, chicken noodle soup (soft noodles) no chicken bits. Then babyfood chicken no corn starch in this kind.

I feel lkike I am going to explode. There is liquid in the bag but more formed is trying to squeak out. Is this too much that I ate?

How long do stomas stay swollen? And what to eat while they are?

Doc says my intestines swollen so go easy as in no nuts seeds peels. Would not dream of that. If I feel stuffed on what little I had, what ideas do you have. Divide it up more?

Also my old stoma that I was told was not brought out enough the poop came out the bottom of it this one it comes out the middle of it. Where from your stoma does the poop come out?

Rosemary
Posted 6/11/2012 12:05 AM (GMT 0)
     Hi Rosemary, my poop comes out in the middle.  I am just astonished at what this stoma can spit out though.   about a month or so post op I was hospitalized for dehydration.  Since the paramedics took me, I had to go to one of the local hospitals here in south Jersey mad .  Well, they gave me HUGE potassium pills, not one, but two!!!  Several hours later, I looked in my bag and I thought I saw a tooth swimming around in there.  Here, it was a potassium pill, intact.  OMG...I thought...I see one, but they gave me two.  I prayed I wouldn't get a blockage.  about an hour later, out popped the other one..whew!  I told the nurse they would have to give me potassium in an IV because they will not dissolve in the stomach.  So what does she do?  Comes in with not two, but FOUR potassium pills rolleyes .  Ya gotta wonder huh?  This is why I had my operation in Philly..lol.  They finally did hook me up to the IV but they had the drip going too fast and it burned like crazy.  I had to adjust my own drip.  Oh well.

     Eat six little meals a day and make sure you chew really well.  I cannot remember how long it took for my stoma to get to this size...maybe a month or so?  Over the past year I think it shrunk a bit more, but the bags are ok.  Good luck!!!

Posted 6/11/2012 12:27 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks chris. OK so stoma opening in the middle is normal. Guess my new one is normal then. I was very surprised when the docs here said the old stoma was not made right. The poop came out the bottom of it. This one comes out the middle. I will go really easy with the food until the swelling subsides.

I think the reason the nurses were giving you the oral potassium is that it does burn veins. BUT not huge pills for an ieostomate. Auuugh!

There is a potassium powder drink I had to take and it was fine. No aftereffects so next time ask for that. My vein is still collapsed I wonder how long an arm vein stays collapsed. Rosemary
Posted 6/11/2012 12:52 AM (GMT 0)
Rosemary, My stoma was swollen for a good 4 weeks back in November. This time I don't think much was done to the actual intestine, so I didn't swell at all this time.

I think the output comes out the middle for most though.

I am thinking very positive thoughts that your stoma will work very well for you. Still with the mechanically soft as you have been doing as that is standard for all of us post op.

Thanks for the comments everyone. I have really been trying not to worry about the things that go wrong. When I got my first stoma, I was naive, then the pyoderma and all of those other skin issues hit. Since then I admit to having some anxiety regarding the things that can go wrong, rather than focusing on what goes right. It is all work in progress, I guess!
Posted 6/11/2012 1:01 AM (GMT 0)
Uc hope all goes well this time. I will stick to the mechanically soft. The doc said I have much swelling as he had to detach mesentry from down under my stoma. Excise a ton of scar tissue and pull out three more inches of bowel to make the new stoma. Then they did the lap look around or likely they did that lap first. So my guts were twirled up a bit. So I will go easy with the swelling

I have nose spray toridol (high powered tylenol) then ibuprohine then tylenol. Which is best for the swelling? The toridol is great for pain but makes me really groggy and dizzy.
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