HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

weight gain afffect anyone's stoma?

Support Forums
>
Ostomies
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 2/12/2011 11:06 PM (GMT 0)
Hi,

Just trying to figure out some things. Got ileostomy in 2007 after a serious gut injury during 2006, long-story short could not eat for about 13 months. Took 11 docs nationwide to figure out my rectum, colon, and small bowel were seriously scarred.. Only thing that could be done was take down of adhesions and ileostomy.

I was down to 99 lbs by the time I got the ileostomy.

Am now up to 132 lbs.

Stoma still working OK, but seems harder for the stoma to push poop out and I feel a pulling sensation to the upper left of the stoma which is more when it is working its hardest. Am going to try dropping some weight. 125 is plenty enough for me to weigh and has been my base weight all my adult life.

Just wondering if anyone with an end ileostomy stoma found weight gain to have same symptoms as me.

Thanks, Rosemary
Posted 2/13/2011 2:49 AM (GMT 0)
i think that heavy people have a harder time with getting the bag to stay because of skin folds, but 132 is hardly heavy, so i dont think it should be giving you a problem.
Posted 2/13/2011 3:23 AM (GMT 0)
Yeah, the appliance itself seems to stay on OK. I was just wondering about what effect the weight gain would have on the stoma if any.

Thanks for reply.

Rosemary
Posted 2/13/2011 2:18 PM (GMT 0)
Well, I don't think my pregnancy weight has really affected my stoma. I've gained about 17 lbs. Most of it has gone to my belly!
The stoma IS bigger than pre pregnancy, but I thing that's because my uterus is pressing on it.

I would think your 'pulling' sensation is due to adhesions or scar tissue. I have the same thing in the area that my old stoma was. When my intestines move in that area, I can feel it. It's weird and sometimes painful.
Posted 2/13/2011 3:01 PM (GMT 0)
I wonder the same thing too. My husband is lean and trim right now which is not his norm. (He was when he was single and we went out many moons ago but over the years he put on a lot of weight and then lost it due to the UC)

He is satisfied and liking his weight but I assume as time goes on he will put on some weight now that he can eat and doesn't live in the bathroom any longer. So I also wonder how that might affect the stoma if at all as he needs convexity as it is. So my concern also would be if weight gain would further compromise it and make it sink in more???

Hopefully others who has had this occur will let us know. Thanks.
Posted 2/13/2011 7:31 PM (GMT 0)
Same here...got my temp ileo August 2010. I recall my surgeon stating that I had an adhesion in that area, will discuss with him. Throughout this time, sometimes the output does pull in the stoma area and is either painful or discomfortable. Thought it was normal but now hearing you state the same, it could be the adheasions or weight gain. I too lost 30lbs during surgery (5 weeks in hospital because of numerous complications) and have slowly gained every pound back. I'm confused, as you are, could it be adhesions or the weight gain. The appliance doesn't fit like it used to because of skin folds during this weight gain. Ask the doctor, I will too:-) Hope you feel better.
Posted 2/13/2011 9:25 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks all. I had a ct enterography to rule out narrowings in small bowel which would indicate adhesions on the outside of them and it showed no narrowings. This was good. But my stomal output just isn't as fast and as relieving as it was in the beginning. BUT I have packed on 32 lbs. So what I will do until I see my doc March 9, I will try and shed a few lbs. More walking and less ice cream and chocolate, these being the foods that make passing ileo poo the easiest and fastest:-) Rosemary
Posted 2/13/2011 11:09 PM (GMT 0)
I will probably have surgery in the next 3-4 months, due to steroid dependent ulcerated colitis. I'm 5 8' 250 pounds, since off and on steriods the last 2 years I have packed on 35-40 pounds. Hoping it won't be a problem when i have surgery, but I have heard the bag doesn't hang as easy as on a thin person.

Renee

Post Edited (Salamore) : 2/13/2011 5:35:12 PM (GMT-7)

Posted 2/13/2011 11:46 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Renee,

I think the problem comes when the stoma is made on a person when they are really thin, then due to being able to eat after the surgery, they gain weight and issues can happen because the stoma was created when they had less weight on them. It sort of changes the landscape around the stoma so to speak.

If you maintain the same weight you are now after the stoma is made, it shouldn't be an issue. If you lose weight, then I don't think any problem. Good luck with your surgery.

Rosemary
Posted 2/14/2011 12:36 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Rosemary,

So funny the way you said, changes the landscaping...lol
Posted 2/14/2011 4:43 AM (GMT 0)
i think the problem is more with skin folds. And generally people who weigh more have skin folds.
I don't know about the thin part, i was about 130 when i went to see the surgeon and he said, it will work well for you because you are small.
i think there is a problem when you gain a lot of weight though, obviously it's bad in lots of ways, but i did gain about a lot of pounds (not telling) for a while but didnt have any sticking problem. but i gained it to where it didnt cause any skin folds.
Posted 2/14/2011 11:07 AM (GMT 0)
I had my surgery as a 10 year old so obviously over the past 35 years I've gained a bit of weight... too much really and am now in the process of losing it again (I've lost 10.5 kgs = over 20 pounds) in the past 4 months... only another 20 kgs to go lol

Over all that time I've never noticed my weight causing a problem with adherence for me, thank goodness.
Posted 2/14/2011 5:03 PM (GMT 0)
Shaz,,

That is good no issues with adherence.

BUT, did the weight gain cause you to have any issues with the function of the stoma?

Thanks for any info on this. Rosemary
Posted 2/15/2011 12:31 AM (GMT 0)
No problems with appliances BUT I have noticed that my stoma grows with weight gain and I have had to change the precut size that I get. The stoma works the same for me at any weight.
Posted 2/15/2011 11:39 AM (GMT 0)
No difference in function - Harriet just keeps doing her job beautifully - in fact, she's about the only part of me that does function properly lol
Posted 2/15/2011 5:45 PM (GMT 0)
Shaz,

Cute name for a stoma :-) Rosemary
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply