Soreness in My Stoma

I have had to change my bag because it was too thick. For a while, I had a lot of diarrhea, but it's back to its old self. Is your stoma sore?

Do you use any deodorants in your bag? When I was using them and supplementing with Tic Tac mints, my ileum would be slightly sore. More of an itch-type soreness. Since stopping all deodorants, no more problems.

There really should be no reason to change your bag due to thick output. If you are having trouble getting it out, try adding water. I typically use 150 ml on the initial flush and follow that with another 150 ml to complete the flush and get all those little sniggly bits out. You will hear some people say that using water will loosen your seal. That's an urban myth, in my opinion. I normally get 7-8 days between changes.

Daniel

What deodorant were you using?

Both Adapt and Brava lubricating deodorant. They did not cause the irritation, as I kept using them for a while after stopping the mints. I've stopped using anything, as I have adjusted my diet enough to pretty much eliminate the stinky stuff.

Welcome to the club. I too have an ileostomy. You are in Kansas City. You need to be seen by an enterostomal therapist and develop a routine. Personally, I made a checklist so I would not forget something. Enterostomal therapists are available through Visiting Nurses and St. Luke's Home Health in your own home plus other services. Also, there are stoma clinics at Menorah, KU, University Health, and in the Northland. I highly recommend the clinic at University Health. I know the nurse. Good luck.

Words of Encouragement from Ostomy Advocates I Hollister