New Member Introduction and Health Journey

Hi all,
Just thought I'd leave my first post. I joined a while ago,
so here's a little about me.

I am 25, from Glasgow here in the UK, now living in a town called Hawick.
I have an ileostomy, had it since 1998 due to megacolon. But I was only meant to have it for a wee while, then I caught an infection so they could not reverse it.
Since then I've been getting abscesses at my backend and on my bum cheek, and I've seen the surgeon umpteen times to see what he can do. So, I've got another appointment on the 15th of July with a new surgeon, so I hope he can help.

So that's me for now. Take care all. x x

Hi Davidlf, welcome aboard from Tara, the mad one from down under. Hope you have better luck with the new surgeon and your troubles are short-lived. How's the weather over there? From what I see on TV, it's a pretty place. Take care and good luck, Tara.
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Hi all, I'm new to this but would like some advice on dealing with an ileostomy. Surgery is scheduled for 7/22/08, and I'm not sure what to expect in the beginning. Doctors and ET nurses are helpful, but I believe the ones who can help the most are the ones who are in the same boat as me.
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Hi there Tootie, I thought someone would have answered you by now. Anyway, here goes. My version for you. I think the main thing in the beginning is rest and making sure you eat and drink the right things. Having support for when things are not going right, which can happen, is important. Being able to talk about it to another helped me. And here is a hint: if anywhere near the stoma is hurting, or more like stinging, it probably means your appliance has sprung a leak. Do a complete change as soon as possible. That burning/stinging is the waste hitting the skin and that's not good. Red raw skin/sleepless nights come from that. I didn't realize why it hurt, just thought it natural. Would end up not being able to put a bag on at all. At the start, you might like to carry a complete change with you everywhere.
Find yourself some plastic mini shower caps; they are actually bowl and can covers. Make or get made, material ones. These will help keep the bag up and away when needed. You will understand that better when the time comes. Some things you are used to doing, well, you might need to find a new and different way of doing them. You won't need to stop doing anything you have done before; it just will take time for you to heal and learn.
Hope I have been of some help and good luck with your new life. It isn't as bad as it may seem, especially if it makes your life a better one. Cheers for now and hope we chat again. Tara... P.S. You can ask anything here, and generally get an answer. Take care

Hi all, back again... still not been sorted, still got abscesses on my bum cheek and to add to the problem, I've been leaking loads from my anus which I thought they sewed up when I got my bag.

Do any of you get leakage from your anus???

It's good to be back.

Hope all is well. Take care x x x

Words of Encouragement from Ostomy Advocates I Hollister

Until your wound heals, it may leak, but it should clear up within a month or two.
But don't suffer in silence; it doesn't sound as though you are healing properly, so keep on at your doctors until you get sorted.
What you must remember is that the liquid from your ileostomy is corrosive; it contains digestive juices that break down everything that you eat, including meat, and your skin is meat.
So make sure that the Karaya washer on your bag fits neatly around your stoma. I also use Stomahesive paste around the washer to seal it tight. Don't keep the bag on too long as it may make you very sore, as it wears the Karaya around your stoma.