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No one told me about this pesky rod!

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Posted 9/27/2015 3:59 AM (GMT 0)
I am ab 2 weeks post op with my ileostomy and I've only had to change it once due to my having home health and had to be re admitted for dehydration. I have a rod under the stoma currently to protect me from it inverting, they plan on removing that next week.
I think the last time my ostomy nurse change my wafer 2 days ago, she may have cut the hole a tad too big. My wafer has bubbled up around the stoma and I "think" I can see skin, but I imagine it could be adhesive. I don't feel any irritation more than normal. Im just not sure and I don't want to redo the whole thing, working around this blasted rod, if they are just going to come in two days later and remove it because it's time to take the rod out. My skin is sensetive to the adhesive, so taking it off prematurely causes issues.

I'm not sure if I'm asking for guidance or if I'm more just venting. Anyone's thoughts are appreciated
Posted 9/27/2015 3:15 PM (GMT 0)
They took my rod off before I left the hospital. Thinking back it probably could have stayed a bit longer because my stoma recessed big time which caused all sorts of issues. Sorry I don't have any advice. I would say if you feel confident enough to change the whole thing, that's what I would do so stool doesn't get underneath but I understand if you don't want to mess with it. It took me a while to get used to the routine.
Posted 9/27/2015 4:24 PM (GMT 0)
I remember the rod. I had it with my loop ostomy when it was first created. It terrified me when I first went to change the bag, but the nurse showed me I can just slide it back and forth as I need to to fit the wafer on. You don't feel it, of course. The stoma has no nerve endings.
Posted 9/27/2015 4:41 PM (GMT 0)
I had the same experience as Marianne. I'm grateful they pulled the rod so I didn't have to do any appliance changes with it in, but at the same time, my stoma recessed which has caused it's own set of issues. When I was in the hospital and my WOCN changed my appliance with the rod still in place, she cut out the outline of the stoma AND the rod, put a thick bead of Adapt paste all the way around that odd shaped opening before sticking the wafer onto my skin. That seemed to work for at least a few days while I was in the hospital and having mostly liquid output. Hopefully you get the rod out soon and will have a more manageable stoma going forward because of it!
Posted 9/27/2015 6:31 PM (GMT 0)
I never heard of a rod to keep the stoma in place...is this just for j-pouchers?
Posted 9/27/2015 6:54 PM (GMT 0)
I had one with my loop but not my permanent ileo.
Posted 9/27/2015 6:55 PM (GMT 0)

Christine1946 said...
I never heard of a rod to keep the stoma in place...is this just for j-pouchers?

it has to do with when they make the temporary loop ileosotmy. Something about the loop ileo....there's tension or something within and the bar is temporarily placed to keep the stoma from getting sucked back in. I forget exactly but that's the idea. I don't know if the bar is needed for the placement of an end ileo since I never had one....only a loop.
Posted 9/27/2015 9:23 PM (GMT 0)
I'm grateful for the rod, seeing that I had to be re admitted for dehydration so quickly after surgery (I've since learned to drink even when I'm not thirsty!), but it is most definitely intimidating! My nurse taught me to cut a slit in one side of the wafer to wiggle the rod in, buts it's difficult. The one time I changed it, I ended up taking my two piece appliance apart to adhere to wafer first, then I had to wrestle with snapping the bag on. Removing the rod will definitely be a happy day for me!
Posted 9/27/2015 9:48 PM (GMT 0)
My rod was also taken out at the hospital. I do get that puffiness around my stoma from the ring as it gets swollen from all the liquid that accumulates in the bag. Usually just the first day of my complete bag change.

Always makes me nervous like it might have been placed too tight on me. I swear I will never get the hang of it... it can't be too tight, and it can't be too loose. Very hard to tell. I have done a complete bag change every 4 - 5 days.

I am scheduled to have my reversal done this Tuesday afternoon, and I promise to keep checking in on this site to help others. It has been a wonderful source of information for me!! Many, many helpful folks!!
Posted 9/27/2015 11:07 PM (GMT 0)
Good luck Tuesday Wiskers!
Posted 9/28/2015 6:59 PM (GMT 0)
Thank you ByeBye UC-

I will check in and give an update after I am home.
Posted 9/29/2015 6:04 PM (GMT 0)
I don't know what the rod is. I don't think I had one for step 1 or step 2.
Posted 9/29/2015 6:05 PM (GMT 0)
Oh wow whiskers, you must be doing it today!!! congrats & good luck. Excited for your update.
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