Stoma Relocation Due to Skin Ulcers: Seeking Advice

I have some bad skin ulcers above my ostomy that are not healing despite every recommendation of my ostomy nurse. It is looking like I will need my stoma relocated. Has anyone had this done? How big of a surgery is this? Do you end up with your stomach split and stapled like with a colostomy?

Hi kbd,

I've not experienced either skin ulcers or a relocation but wow, I never knew they would possibly cause a relocation of the stoma. Why is that, will moving the stoma make it heal better?

I guess the idea is that with the area free of the stoma it will heal more easily. The ulcers are cause by Crohn's Disease, so I guess it makes sense to get the stoma out of the area. The ulcers are right next to the stoma. Everything from collagen patches to silver nitrate sticks have seemed to do nothing but piss the ulcers off at this point. Not looking forward to having my stoma relocated, but running out of options :(

I had a couple of ulcers, one above and one below my stoma, for several weeks after my surgery.  We tried all the standard remedies but none worked.  We always keep an Aloe plant in the house for medicinal purposes, cuts and scrapes.  So, we applied the juice from a leaf of the aloe plant to the ulcers, dried it well, and applied some Stomadhesive powder before replacing the barrier and pouch.  We noticed a marked difference at the next change.  We continued using the aloe until the ulcers were completely gone.  They have not returned.  You might want to give this a shot before going ahead with another surgery.  It might just work for you as it did for me.  Good luck.

 

Thanks for the suggestion :)

Living with Your Ostomy | Hollister