Doing Well but had a Scare

 Hi everyone,  I have passed my one year mark of my colostomy.It was one year the 9th of this past June.It has been a long hard struggle,but I made it.I really hope that the rest of my life with my colostomy with be smooth sailing.All thougth I did scare myself the other day.I had to shower with my bag on,because I was going to much to shower with it off like I usually do.So anyway,after my shower,I took a white wash cloth and started cleaning around my stoma like I some times do,and I guess I scrubbed a little to hard,only because it really itched really bad,well,anyway,I happened to noticed that there was blood everywhere.So I stopped,started to panic for a second,and then turned on the cold water and started applying cold paper towels to my stoma,until it stopped bleeding,then I continued to clean up myself again.I waited a few minutes before I started putting all of the good stuff back over my stoma.I was so scared all day long that I had damaged it in some way.I checked it that evening before I went to bed.There was some red stringing mucus around the outer part of the stoma.I have always used Q-Tips to clean my stoma with.Everything is fine now,but I will never do that trick again.I will find some other way to scratch the surface that itches.That was one scary experience that I never ever want to go through again.The was the way I started out year number two.I guess it could of been worse.    It was a fast year.I also have ventured to the pool this summer with my grand kids.I have been to the pool five times.We have had a blast.I have even got into the water and eveything went well.I just had to watch for that air bubble and the ball in the front.I had one each,but just wrapped a towel around myself and went into the ladies stall and did my thing,and came back out and continued on having fun.Last summer I stayed away from the pools,but no more.I have a one piece stretch black bathing suite,with large flowers in the back ground,so it does not really show the stoma ring.I hope to be able to go a couple of more times before the season is over.

 

I hope no one else out there has ever done the trick that I did the other day.like I said it scared me like there was no tomorrow.I thought I would never get it to stop bleeding.

 

Well,thank you for listening,I try to get on once in a while,but I really don't always have that much to say,but I love to read what others have to say.A lot of you have some interestering things to say.

                                                 Take Care

                                                     Walking Scared

Walking Scared ~ Congratulations on getting through your first year! Sound like you're doing great!

Sometimes the area around my stoma also bleeds when I itch it. I always thought that was normal, but you can check with your doctor to make sure. Mine always stops bleeding after a few seconds. Plus, it feels SOOO good to scratch that I just can't give that up :) I try not to scratch too hard or too close to the stoma.

That's great that you've been enjoying some fun pool time with your grandkids! The first time I went in a pool, I thought that the adhesive on the wafer would definitely peel off, but it didn't! Now I swim all the time and even go to water parks without any worries. I also have a one-piece bathing suit with a skirt, and it hides everything really well.

I think your new screen name for year two should be Walking Tall :)

Cecilia

 flchurclady,

  Thank you for the compliment on my first year.It sure was a long hard year.So many things went wrong,and there was so much to learn.I learned a lot from people off of Shaz Internet Site and my Stoma Nurse.I was very lucky and got a great Stoma Nurse.She is always there when I need her Monday through Friday.

   My stoma always bleeds when I clean around it,and it stops after a few minutes.I will not start to put the flange or wafer on it until it does stop.But,the other day,I had myself scared to death.I had blood everywhere. I would love to know,why we itch under the sticky stuff,anyway.That is the only place that I itch and I have heard a lot of other  people say that they itch there as well.I always put a lot of Stoma Powder on the area and let it set for a few minutes before I brush it off really good.I thought that was supposed to stop the itch.I think I am going to try Gold Bond Powder,and see what it does.I have heard that it works as good if not better then stoma powder.

   Why should I change to walking tall?  Thanks, good talking to you. hope to talk to you again.

                                                 Walking Scared