How do you tell if there is blood mixed in the output after ostomy?

Here I am enlisting your help again.  When I emptied out my bag today, I found the output reddish and kind of a smell (Not too bad like blood but I am concerned)   I guess I am worrying a little about it being mixed with blood.  (I had bloody diarrhea when I was very sick with Crohn's before I had my ileostomy surgery).  I record what I eat faithfully with a food log and I cannot recall anything (maybe food coloring) might cause it?   How do you tell if it really is blood and that I should be calling my doctor?  I am still trying to find the right appliance that will stop leakage (due to two dips beside the stoma, hot weather and occasional retraction on the stoma)  so my skin will have a chance to heal (it has been six months!)  I think I finally find Coloplast (deep convexity), plus skin  barrier and Adapt seals to fill the dips at the sides of the stoma.  The thing is, my E.T. nurse told me that it is not in stock with Shield Health Care and I may have to order the items myself (pay out of my own pocket).  Anyway, I am still waiting for the order to go through.  Will greatly appreciate it if anyone of you can help.

JudyK89, if you are rading this, I just want to say "Welcome back!"  I hope your surgery went well and it was good to to know that you are back.  I had been thinking about you while you were out.  Also, thanks for all your help to all of us who get on this forum.

Thanks so much for you kind words.  Unfortunately, it is confirmed that my Crohn's has come back.   Needless to say, I am very sad and disappointed.  It really happens without any warning at all.  I had my surgery Feb 2006 and I thought that I would stay well for a while.  Anyway, my G.I. doctor is working with me to see what is the best course of action to take.  She told me that she hadn't have a patient who bleed from the stoma.  I wonder if this has happened  to anyone.  I was so looking forward to visit my mom who lives 8,000 miles away in Christmas.  This is quite a set back for me.  I am hoping and praying that we can get control on this and that I will be well and stay away from the hospital.  I really feel bad not just for myself but also the worry and pain I put my husband and family through.

Thanks again for writing.

Tintin

I was first told that I had UC.  Then I got a J-pouch after terrible blood loss and sudden drop in blood pressure; horrible pain too.  Then the pouch worked for about 7 years or so then I started to develop obstruction problems which also led to my ileostomy last year.  I was never told that I had Crohn's in my small intestine prior to this last incident.  I was taking Immuno suppressant drugs for a while after the surgery but I started a month long cold last winter with quite a bit of complications.  My G.I. doctor and I agreed to take a break.  Then came the bleeding stoma.  When my doctor did the EGD, the doctor mentioned ulcer along where the stomach and the intestine connects.  Too much acid.  I wonder if that was why I have been having a hard time getting a wafer that lasts.  I also wonder what the other ostomates' experiences are if they do have a return of the disease.  It is always scary not to know when it will hit and how will it hit.

Anyway, I am trying to look at the bright side - I am not bleeding and I hope it will stay this way when I start eating solid food.  I hope my doctor would come up with some medications that can help my condition.  Right now I just really would like to have a break from the illness.  I am thankful to my family (but I do feel really bad about having them worrying about me all the time).  And I am thankful to people like yourself who try to help in every way.

Tintin