Dealing with a Painful, Bleeding Stoma - Need Advice

I have a very sore bleeding stoma. So painful I cannot sleep. Been to see my nurse about 5 times.... no change. Anyone got any ideas. I'm desperate now. Ruining my life. Thanks.

 

Is it sore around the skin area?  Stomas always bleed.  I would suggest if your skin is sore don't put a bag on but catch liquid into tissue. Put some calamine lotion on all sore areas. It means you being awake throughout and I guarantee after 24 hours your skin will have started to heal. 

Thankyou so much. Will try it.

My stoma itself has never hurt, but the skin around it has caused me to lose sleep a number of times. I feel for you! I have started showering "naked" on occasion, meaning without a bag or wafer. Mine is an ileostomy which, as I understand it, is more active than a colostomy, so I wait until long after a meal before doing so. 

I prepare a new wafer so I can put it on as soon as I finish showering. While in the shower, I remove the wafer and use an adhesive remover wipe, and let the water run over my belly. Then I use a foaming soap that is actually part of a facial skincare line called Vichy. It's for sensitive skin - no perfumes, and I swear I can feel my skin relax instantly. (I've used Vichy for years and love it.) 

I would try to go wafer-free for as long as you can - even if it means sitting in the shower/tub for an hour. Let your skin dry completely before applying any products, and then apply them in stages, to avoid irritating your skin. 

I've also found that letting out a good scream in frustration can be helpful. 🙂  I get so tense when my skin is irritated that I can feel it all over me. Slow, deep breathing is relaxing. As is Lavender essential oil, it's a stress reliever. Sprinkle a couple of drops in your bath while you sit on the edge of the tub with your feet in the water, (don't sit in the lavender bath without a wafer!) and maybe some Epsom salts. I find that if the rest of my body is calm, I can deal with skin irritation a lot more easily. 

I hope that helps, Verdun. Hugs to you. 

Hi,

I use Eakan rings. I prefer the slim ones. My stoma is not a perfect circle but irregular. It's like really sticky firm play dough. I tear it open breaking the ring, this allows me to run it right along the edge between stoma and skin giving me a tight seal between the flange and my skin. I've seen people apply it to the actual flange but I prefer applying it directly around the stoma for a more precise seal. I am assuming your pain is here? Or are you suffering on the wider skin around?  It last quite a long time for me. Longer than paste. And is a complete barrier. 

Good Luck! 
L

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