Should I See a Doctor for My Shrinking Colostomy?

I went running and my colostomy almost disapeared, it shrunk down

to almost nothing. I feel discomfort but no pain. Is this dangerous?? Do I need to see a doctor?

Bobo,



I guess you mean your "stoma"..........that which protrudes from your belly.......I am not a doctor,  but I do know that the stoma sometimes has to elongate to expel some of the matter going through the intestines as well as shrink when it sometimes has to work harder at pushing the waste through the stomas as well..........When you are running i am sure that your intestines as well as stoma change in size and your blood supply is going to other parts of your body needing that blood supply and maybe this is a reason that your stoma is shrinking or in your case disappearing...........As long as when your body wants to get rid of the waste it goes through your stoma and into your pouch ,  my guess is you will be fine.............Can i ask when you are done running and when you lie down to rest does  your stoma come back to the surface?........It should...........And lastly you should always be in contact with an ET nurse..or  a WOC nurse.(Wound Ostomy continet nurse).............Im sure you will get the most appropiate advice from them............Michael:)

Hi Bobo



This is the first time I have heard this while running.  Not quite sure what to make of it, but beyondpar's reply had some good points.



Most stomas do shrink during the first year.  Folks who have had radiation may continue to shrink.  If you are not constipated and no pain, I would not be too worried.  But, since you mentioned you had some discomfort, it would hurt to just have the surgeon check.



Do you have a stoma measurement?