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Changed my stoma today...

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Posted 11/9/2011 4:35 PM (GMT 0)
So, my mom came over to help me change my stoma today. It was awful. My stoma looks swollen. It was bleeding and painful. Yesterday, I thought I had seen blood in my bag but I wasn't sure. I came so close to passing out while changing everything. My mom had to put wet rags on my face and fan me. Now, I'm really worried about my stoma. It's still very sore. I'm waiting on my nurse to call me back about what to do. Is this normal? If not, what could be the problem?
Posted 11/9/2011 9:45 PM (GMT 0)
Survive the first three months and it gets better and better. Who is good at anything right away? Blood is pretty nomral too. The slightest scratch can make it bleed and bleed. If the flange rubs against stoma it will bleed. If the stoma gets bumped too hard it can bleed.

I frankly stayed on pain meds for the first 6 weeks (just enough to keep pain manageable). I was so afraid of getting addicted to them that I probably suffered a little more than I needed but hey, live and learn.

Lucky you have Mom to help.
Posted 11/9/2011 10:39 PM (GMT 0)
From what I've heard, stomas are very sensitive and bleed very easily at the beginning. I haven't dealt with any bleeding, but my stoma is still pretty sore some days, as well as the area around it, and I think we both had surgery around the same time. Changing everything definitely takes some getting used to! I don't know how many times you've done it without a nurse so far, but it gets easier each time. I think I have changed mine maybe three times, and each time has been less distressing, though I still don't know how I'd do it without my mom's help... guess I'll figure that out eventually. Anyway, I'm sure the nurse will have some tips for you and hopefully she won't think it's something more serious. You are doing great, Jellybean, and each day you will get stronger, emotionally and physically. (I say this to myself too... lol. It's been a tough last few days.)
Posted 11/9/2011 11:42 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks guys. That makes me feel better. I've changed my stoma twice w/o a nurse. Each time was rough. I do hope it gets better. My reversal surgery is after New years so, I won't have to put up with it too much longer. I did start trying to come off my pain meds last week Trigirl , but I started taking them again. I noticed I will get up and do more b/c I'm not sore.

Ju330 thanks for the encouragement. I hope each of your days get better and better.
Posted 11/10/2011 12:31 AM (GMT 0)
Stomas are really sore at the beginning, and then they're changing size too, just when you're trying to figure out the bag, so it's hard, and it gets much easier. Now it usually takes me about five minutes to change the bag, and it's usually very smooth.... I still get a bit nervous, and that's just leftover from when it was so stressful in the beginning.

The skin does bleed easily....

Deep breaths...

Hang in (and ps, you didn't really change your stoma right? That sounds painful..... )
Posted 11/10/2011 1:17 AM (GMT 0)
I was very frustrated changing my appliance for the first 8 weeks. I couldn't do it without my husband's help... or at least his moral support. My stoma constantly spewed this really liquid output that got all over everything. My stoma constantly changed size so I had to cut new pattern each time and test it over the spewing stoma to make sure it fit with the right amount of skin showing. It was truly awful and I cried a lot out of frustration. I wanted desperately to try a two-piece because I thought it would be easier to see what I was doing, but my nurse wanted me to use a one-piece until my incision healed. But things did slowly get better... sometime around 4 months post-op my stoma finally stopped changing and my incision finally healed so I could use a two-piece. My output was much thicker by then too. I also started to learn to not be so paranoid about getting it exactly right. In the beginning I would freak out if I could see the slightest bit of skin showing. Now I know what really causes issues for my skin and what doesn't. It is a huge learning process.

People in the beginning always said it would get better in time, and I never knew if I should believe it since I had so much trouble.... but it truly does get easier. It still takes me 20 minutes to change my appliance, but that is just because I relax and take my time and am pretty meticulous. Also, the system that works best for me uses a ring and paste which takes a little longer to apply. It is strange, but I actually look forward to change days now. I sure never thought I would say that in the beginning. It is a quiet time for me, and I get to take a look at my skin and stoma and see how it is doing. One trick that helps me immensely is eating 6 marshmallows 10 minutes before my change. It seems to give my stomach something to work on digesting and stops output for a little while. It doesn't always work perfectly, but it helps.

Oh yeah... my stoma bleeds during a change. Sometimes just wiping it off with a paper towel will make it bleed. It is nothing to worry about.

Good luck and remember... day by day:)
Posted 11/10/2011 2:58 AM (GMT 0)
the bleeding it totally normal, sometimes i will hit mine during a change and the bottom of the bag fills up with blood. it's gross but not a big deal unless it just keeps bleeding all the time. as for the swollen, thats normal too. everything that happened to you is normal, and it will get better!
Posted 11/10/2011 3:10 AM (GMT 0)
Well, good to hear everything is normal. I have been checking it all day long. It is still pretty sore. I guess that may be from the changing? I never hear back from my doctor so, I appreciate everyone's advice. It's keeping me from freaking out.

Blueglass.....No, I did not change my stoma. :) I wish I could make it go away though.
Posted 11/10/2011 5:16 AM (GMT 0)
They do bleed easily. Mine bleeds everytime I wash around it. You will get into a rhythm for changing. Get everything ready, set out, cut, prepped before you start anything. My changes take me about 2 minutes now. It's a learning process.
Posted 11/10/2011 5:41 AM (GMT 0)
my stoma just un-swelled last week and im about 4 wekks out of surgery (timeis going by so fast ) i freaked out because i was souse to it being bigger than what it is now. bleeding from your stoma is normal i diddnt experince bleeding. changing your bag will eventually get better i fell like gaging when i have to change it in public because theres not much space available in restrooms but while at home you'll eventually grasp it , it still freaks me outat home.
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