Most people, when they think of the word tumescence, they think of the Merriam-Webster definition: the quality or state of being tumescent, especially readiness for sexual activity marked especially by vascular congestion of the sex organs.
I'm sure it would not surprise many of you to know that it can also describe the behavior of a stoma, particularly right before it begins to flow.
It doesn't matter whether it is a urostomy, ileostomy, or colostomy. Just like your sex organs, your stoma too can become engorged with blood as it begins to perform its job. This was true before you ever had an ostomy; you just didn't get to see it and therefore didn't associate the sensation with the release of mucus and peristalsis. Mucus is, of course, to lubricate the passage of matter. And peristalsis is the medical term for the rhythmic contraction of muscles to move things along.
Some men tell me they associate the sensation with their first erection when they were young boys. Because boys' equipment is on the outside and easily visible, it's not surprising they would associate the sensation with the event. Girls, on the other hand, may have experienced the sensation with regard to their sexual organs but may not have understood what was happening or even acknowledged it. Now that you have a stoma, it's a whole other story; it's a different place, a different body part making that same sensation. It can be kind of strange at first, but just realize that it is normal and typically happens when extra lubrication is required, but some people experience it whenever their stoma is active.
Aren't you glad that's normal? Well, normal for an ostimate.
