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Posted 8/31/2007 10:13 PM (GMT 0)
Is there an average size of a stoma??  Do they really get as large as the pattern thing the nurse first showed me when i had my surgery? I think the largest size was like 2 1/2 inches in dia.  How small can they get?  I have no idea why i'm wondering this.
Posted 8/31/2007 10:58 PM (GMT 0)

Hey Slice - I've thought the same but just never asked.  I imagine the smaller ones are for the wee tiny baby ostomates, and maybe the larger ones are for colostomies.  I started out at 7/8 and now am just under the 3/4. 

Posted 8/31/2007 11:56 PM (GMT 0)
Wow! I have been wondering about things like that myself. So Ileostomy stomas must be smaller. I have a colostomy and mine's 1 - 1/8" and I am tiny. In fact, the biggest thing I HATE about having an ostomy is: between a large stoma and the mound that it sits on, it looks like one big honking alien breast that sticks out bigger than my own. And my natural waitline is only about 22 inches. If I looked like Sigourney, I don't think I would worry so much even when something alive and nasty ejects outta the monster. It's very depressing at times ... I wrap myself with an ace bandage when I go out. Very sexy. Ok. I'm just a little down today. Most of the time I am pretty up! After spending what I thought was a great mini vacation with my partner, I've heard nothing for a week. Of course it makes one wonder .............
Posted 9/1/2007 12:03 AM (GMT 0)
Oh. And it was the first time we really have "gotten together" after surgery.
Posted 9/1/2007 12:25 AM (GMT 0)

mY STOMA Colostomy is about 3 1/2" by 2".   I wish I had one of those 2/3 inch ones Ever see a male with only one breast slipped down to his waist line.  Not funny

Arundinaria

Posted 9/1/2007 2:52 AM (GMT 0)
I have one of those darned "mounds" that my stoma sits on too, Do ther ever go down? mine is about an inch high Dr. says it is not a hernia.

Colostomy May 24/2007

Does every body have one or just us "lucky" few?
Posted 9/1/2007 2:58 AM (GMT 0)
Slice, you have some funny thoughts....ok, here's my 2-cents....

My stoma was 1 3/4 when I left the hospital and now I am 1" exactly. I don't see the difference between having a tiny stoma or a large stoma. We all have to wear these huge bags and the wafer takes up half my tummy.

Badbaggirl, have you tried using a pregnancy belt rather than an ace bandage? Also, you can buy ostomy belts with a pocket in them. They are expensive but you only need one.
Posted 9/1/2007 3:29 AM (GMT 0)
Hi! I'm new to the site. I've been reading lots of positing over the last couple of hours. I have a temporary (3 months?) ileostomy that my colon/rectal surgeon gave me so that I can heal in my rectal area. That was on July 23. As of today, my stoma is about 1". I honestly don't know where it started at. My HomeReach Nurses believe it has stopped shrinking. Right now I am suffering with a yeast infection under the wafer as well as having an allergic reaction to the Hollister Paste. As a barrier, I am now using Eakin Seals. My skin is extremely sensitve. Anyone else have these problems? Anything you can recommend? My nurse believes I may also be allergic to the protective seal.

Any advice?

Thanks!

Mary
Posted 9/1/2007 4:40 AM (GMT 0)
I was under the impression that the average size was 1 1/2 which mine is.

badbaggirl
I too have my stoma sitting on what I call a mound, about the size of 1/2 a softball. It has been getting bigger as time goes on ( been 5 years since I herniated it, about 6 months after getting my colostomy ). I have desided to go to my surgeon and have him look at it because a couple of days ago I was working and I must have caught it on something and ripped the pouch off. I am not sure if I was more imbarressed or mad at what happened. But at least I was only 2 miles from home so I was able to go home and do the clean up there.
He looked at it about 3 years ago and said it could be repaired but lets wait and see if the crohns comes back and have to remove more of my colon then anyway. Gotta love a surgeon that isn't cut happy. But the time has come to concider the "mesh" repair I have been reading on.
I'll let you know more after I see him. Prob a couble of months as I am on HMO and have to jump through lots of hoops to get anything done.
AL

Oh yea got so long winded I forgot the other thing I was going to mention to you. I have been wearing a wide, firm colostomy/ileostomy belt that is more like a binder that has helped hide it and hold it in. It would be alot beter then using an ace bandage. Mine is about 8 in. wide and elastic with velcro to hold it in place. No hole in it as some I have seen on the market.

Posted 9/1/2007 12:46 PM (GMT 0)
You mean this mound can get bigger? I've only had it for 4 months! Where does one find those belts? I have been all over on line and there's been a lot but none that fit a 22 inch waist. Most smalls were like 27 or something like that.
Posted 9/1/2007 2:15 PM (GMT 0)
Here is the site for an ostomy belt http://www.ostomysolutions.com/
Posted 9/1/2007 2:43 PM (GMT 0)
I have that one. It's too big. Plus, I don't know about any of you ... I didn't like wearing my bag sideways. It made my stomach even stick out more when it filled up rather using gravity and collecting in the crotch area making it less noticable. Plus it's very thick and has velcro ALL over it so when you go to the bathroom in a public place you hear lots of RIIPPPP RIIIPPPP RIIIIPPPING!
Posted 9/1/2007 4:14 PM (GMT 0)
LOL Badbaggirl, I am glad I did not try it. Like you, I like my stomach to look flat, flat, flat!!!

Have you looked at this website? http://www.whiterosecollection.com/

I just ordered some items from them. I have some friends who LOVE their products and swear that they have made a huge difference in their live.
Posted 9/2/2007 12:59 AM (GMT 0)
Interesting..I'm 1 5/8. I used to be an even inch but it was a different stoma. For awhile I had to see and et nurse regularly and she said "oh dr, so-and-so did your surgery." She could tell by the size of my stoma! Apparently, it makes a difference who your surgeon is--I prefer the smaller stoma myself. Also, after being prego, my ostomy was a lot bigger, too. And, of course, I used to have the mound on my left side (old ostomy) and now with my new ostomy it's on my right. I kinda hoped I would at least even out, but no, now I'm just lopsided on the opposite side!
Posted 9/6/2007 7:48 PM (GMT 0)
Amey,

I have looked into the White Rose Collection. There are some beautiful undies there, but, again, the small size is too big. I am very small .... like I have to shop at Gap Kids ...
Posted 9/10/2007 11:12 PM (GMT 0)
ok people, let's have a response from any of you with an ostomy belt -----------

what brand do you have and how much was it and how happy are you with it?

i am gonna buy one soon, but don't feel like messing with a bunch of different ones....
Posted 9/10/2007 11:24 PM (GMT 0)
mine is around 1 1/4, but gets slightly bigger when i get excited....hehe
Posted 9/11/2007 1:17 AM (GMT 0)
Why do some of you use a belt? I tried it before but I did not see where I was any better off. The only thing I felt it was good for was tucking the bag up during sex.
Posted 9/11/2007 2:34 AM (GMT 0)
LOL Glad, you crack me up!! :-)
Posted 9/18/2007 2:22 PM (GMT 0)
I had surgery this past August due to the Ulcerative Colitis I had since 1993 and had to have a temporary colostomy.

But my stoma was measured about 1 5/8" and now it has grown to 2". I just dont understand why it would grow, I thought it would shrink?

Did anyone experience this?

 

Posted 9/20/2007 12:46 AM (GMT 0)
boomers205, is the same person measuring your stoma each time? Are you the only person measuring it? The three nurses that checked mine, each measured a different size as did I. I went with the Ostomy Nurse's measurement who has thirty five years experience with Ostomies. If you haven't already, check with your doctor if you truly believe it has grown.

Maybe it just gets excited like Gladbags stoma! : )
Posted 9/20/2007 1:46 PM (GMT 0)

Hi Ohio 43:

Yes, I'm the only person measuring my stoma.

At 1st I didnt get what you meant..."Gladbags" Stoma, until I scrolled down. LOL!!!

Thanks for your reply.

Posted 9/21/2007 2:39 PM (GMT 0)
Well now we still don't know whats normal. As everything else with our surgeries, we all have different outcomes and results. Mine was 1.25 and now has shrunk to just under an inch. I do have the huge mound, size of a softball, but never have had it checked. I thought it was just one of those things that you get because of what was removed from me during surgery. If it gets any bigger I will look like i am carrying a small basketball. lol
Posted 9/21/2007 4:23 PM (GMT 0)
Hi NashRambler:

Thanks for sharing that information.

I can now come to grips that everyone has a different scenario and each of our bodies react differently.

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