HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

Lost stitches

Support Forums
>
Ostomies
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 8/20/2012 11:57 PM (GMT 0)
Hey

 I am 10 days out from a stoma revision, and everything is much better EXCEPT, on 1 side of the stoma there is about a 1/16 inch seperation between the skin and the stoma. I assume the stoma is sewn to muscle underneath, but is there a concern about the top side. It isn't very deep, but is very sore, especially if sweat or something gets in it, or I turn a certain way. I have an appointment with the doctor and WOC nurse next week, but was wondering if anyone had had this happen.....

                             Thanks

                               Ridge

Posted 8/22/2012 10:47 PM (GMT 0)
I haven't had this happen, but I wanted to bump it up, as I think I've read about it here. Hopefully someone can answer you. Hang in. How are you doing now?
Posted 8/23/2012 10:48 PM (GMT 0)
Hey

 Thanks for asking. I saw the surgeon this morning, she said it was not uncommon for surface stitches to pull out, and it would heal over on its own.  I guess the nerve endings have deadened in the cut because it is mostly pain free at this time. I know a lot of you have a ton of experiance about stomas, but i am still feeling my way through, and freak out about little things sometimes. Anyway, I will be glad when I can take this ileostomy thing as common place as a lot of you.

                       Thanks

                        david

Posted 8/24/2012 2:37 PM (GMT 0)
Hi ridgerunner im about the same length out as you only about a week farther. My stitches did the same thing about halfway around stoma leaving the mucous layer if skin exposed like a little trench as some call it. It was alarming at first but it is not totally uncommon especially for ppl on a lot of prednisone before surgery. Its called mucocutaneous seperation. As lon as it diesnt get worse or become painful just keep an eye on it. What i have been doing is changing my pouch an wafer every four days and cleaning out the seperation wih some saline solution and a qtip. Then put stoma powder in the "trench" and barrier wipe or spray over the powder an repeat another time until it looks like the powder and barrier are flush with other skin. Then use a paste or ring around the stoma to protect the seperation and peristomal skin from poo. It seems to be working well but keep in mind these things dont heal overnigt! It can take anywhere from three weeks to months. Mine looks better each time i change my wafer. Not by much but slowly and surely. Your WOCN can help you more with this than your surgeon usually as surgeons are the more physical hands on fix it guy whereas WOCNs know all the tricks on keeping the stoma healthy and getting you on the right track with products. Hope this helps!!!

God Bless!!!
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply