Mind over matter?

I am a recent ileostomy person had surgery about 3 weeks ago, 16 years of UC - no meds worked at the last and finally had to have surgery #1 of 3. Removal of colon with ileostomy. Every time I change the wafer\bag I break out in cold sweat and feel traumatized just looking at the stoma. After I get finished I literally have to sit down and rest. I am getting by and able to change it ok. Just wondering if anyone else has gone through this?

I'm wondering if what you're experiencing is a Vasovagal response. It can manifest as a host of different symptoms set off by a trigger. I've gone thorough a few of them, mostly during hemorrhoid lancing procedures and most recently when my Picc Line was put in. This is what wiki states about symptoms...

"Episodes of vasovagal response are typically recurrent and usually occur when the predisposed person is exposed to a specific trigger. Prior to losing consciousness, the individual frequently experiences early signs or symptoms such as lightheadedness, nausea, the feeling of being extremely hot or cold (accompanied by sweating), ringing in the ears (tinnitus), an uncomfortable feeling in the heart, fuzzy thoughts, confusion, a slight inability to speak/form words (sometimes combined with mild stuttering), weakness and visual disturbances such as lights seeming too bright, fuzzy or tunnel vision, black cloud-like spots in vision, and a feeling of nervousness can occur as well. The symptoms last for a few seconds before the loss of consciousness (if it is lost), which typically happens when the person is sitting up or standing."

A picc line is a central catheter used when a patient needs to have an IV at home or for long term use. Most commonly placed in the upper arm. It is not used for surgery. Unless a complication occurrs that requires TPN or IV antibiotics at home. Both are risks or complications of colorectal surgery if there is a leak or abscess.

Are the leaks and abscesses that require this a risk of jpouch surgery (when take down is done) as opposed to end ileostomy?

I had a temporary ostomy first and then an end ileostomy and I developed an abcess after both so it can happen even without doing a jpouch. The first one happened while still in the hospital so they caught it right away. The second one happened a couple of weeks after surgery and I ended up back in the hospital for several days w a drain. Guess my body just likes to form abcesses. When I had my hernia repaired and anus sewn shut in December it was one of the things I was really worried would happen again but none that time, thankfully.