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Stoma lengthening

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Posted 12/3/2014 3:59 PM (GMT 0)
So this morning I noticed that my stoma was protruding about an inch more than it usually does when I was changing my pouch. It went back to the normal length as I jumped in the shower. Could this be a sign of a prolapse or does this just happen sometimes?
Posted 12/3/2014 4:41 PM (GMT 0)
I think that's fairly normal- I rememebr my GI telling me your intestine is always moving, it's never really still. Sometimes I think mine is crazy long all of a sudden, then it seems to shrink back down. And yeah, always in the shower! Weird, it must be the heat, or water. Unless it gets to be like 5" long, I wouldn't worry too much.
Posted 12/4/2014 3:01 PM (GMT 0)
The same thing happens to me. I followed an ostomy Facebook group, and people started posting pictures of their prolapsed stomas...some were about a foot long! Scared the hell out of me!! Needless to say, I quickly unfollowed and now just get all of my info here. :-)
I hated signing in to Facebook and having those pictures pop up!

I also notice that my stoma gets more bulbous, and thicker in diameter sometimes too.
Does this also happen to you?
Posted 12/4/2014 5:22 PM (GMT 0)
the thing is- I find it hard to really notice the changes in length/width, etc. I only ever see the actual stoma maybe once a week, if I happen to shower before a change. Otherwise, I quickly check it over & stick on a new wafer. Sometimes I do think it's longer/wider, etc., but the next time I happen to look, it's "the same". One of us ought to ask their WOCN... if I talk with mine again, I will! Just out of curiosity- I do think it changes size, etc. regularly. I can't worry about it, as long as it's working ok & not too long, well... I'm good!
Posted 12/5/2014 3:45 PM (GMT 0)
This is pretty much normal. As long as it's not many inches long, you likely have nothing to worry about. The intestines are always moving, digesting, wiggling around. You'll see that activity in your stoma, since it IS the end of your intestine.

My stoma grows and shrinks A LOT, both in length and diameter, etc... I think it's weird, but I've asked my surgeon and WOCN more than once, and they've said not to worry about it unless it gets excessive.
Posted 12/10/2014 4:12 PM (GMT 0)
So I've been wondering about this topic ever since this post- I sent my WOCN an email yesterday, asking her about it. She said that to be considered prolapsed, a stoma has to protrud <3 inches consistently, without retraction. I told her my own experiences- that it seems to range in length from 1-2 inches at any given time- she said that's normal day to day movement. Sooo... here's to a no-prolapse 2015!
Posted 12/10/2014 7:51 PM (GMT 0)
Yes here's to no prolapse!
Posted 12/10/2014 9:19 PM (GMT 0)
I was at a support group meeting yesterday and there was a woman there who said it was one week since she had her prolapsed stoma repaired. I asked her how she was out and about after just 7 days post op. She said it was out-patient....not a big deal.

So I've decided to stop worrying....if it happens, I'll deal with it. :-)
Posted 12/11/2014 1:03 PM (GMT 0)
yeah, me too1 I can't imagine it'd be a very invasive procedure to fix one- just a few stitches here & there... When I first had my surgery done, I was terrified that the stoma would just fall off! For like 3 weeks I worried about it... silly, but..!!! funny too!
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