Stoma Size

Hi Ziggy...when they say the moldables "expand" that means in every direction. Kind of like foaming shaving cream. Just make your moldable the same size as the pouch/flange opening. Then it will expand to fill in creases and maybe turtle neck your stoma a bit. However, if you start with it tight then it will still be tight. Sometimes the ostomy can be kind of indented by the supplies. I have a problem with my pouch slipping forward sometimes, meaning it starts to exert downward pressure and push the top of my stoma in toward its center. Maybe you had the moldable too tight?

My stoma changes size like that all of the time (in and out I mean). Sometimes it sticks out further and sometimes it shrinks in some. 1/4 of an inch seems about right for me. Even the stoma nurses have commented about it. I think it also changes circumference. If you see it changes sizes (bigger one day, smaller the next, then bigger again the next day), keep your cut-out size the same as the largest size you are consistently seeing. You don't want to strangle it. You past or moldable should be able to deal with the size change.

Overall you are probably fine since it looks normal and seems to function normally.

Both of my stomas were "moody", got larger and smaller in the space of one day. That's normal small-intestine behavior. It can stick out more and then retract, or grow larger and smaller in cirucmference, all is normal.