Ostomy Topics

After 13 years of having an AJ pouch, I am going in for a complete removal of the J pouch and a permanent ileostomy bag.
Any feedback would be appreciated.
I am really nervous about my first surgery, which had me in the hospital for 3 months.
I have since been diagnosed with Crohn's, and it is moving up 40 cm into my small intestine and all throughout the J pouch.

Good morning, ostomates. First off, I want to thank all who chimed in on my first post about the "smelly pouch." It turns out it is "all in my head." I made an appointment with my nurse and wore smelly clothes from the day before just to make sure she could smell it. All she could smell was the baby powder fragrance from my antiperspirant. Thanks all for your comments.
So my stoma journey star ...

Hi all, does anyone have suggestions on how to have a fairly regular time to have output from a colostomy? I have a lot of output daily between 5 and 7 pm, very inconvenient. A few hours later would be really good. Thoughts?

Shiela's perfume was heavenly as her blonde hair brushed against his cheeks. His nose began to twitch and fidget. His frenzied brain screamed out: Concentrate! As his tongue pulled the prize in...he suddenly blasted out a huge sneeze, swallowing the coin.
Immediately he was wracked with uncontrolled coughing. Sheila looked on, horrified. Her fair face bearing the brunt of Horario's mighty blow ...

I had ileostomy surgery in 2023, my gallbladder removed in 2023, and the rest of my large intestine, rectum, anus, etc., in 2024. I contracted a serious infection (M. Abscessus) which is just clearing from the last surgery.
I've always had pain a few inches away from and around my stoma, especially on change days, no matter how gentle I am, but I've always been recovering. We're moving past th ...

Ok, this might fall under the category of silly questions. Ok, you know how when you get nervous and you don't have an ostomy, sometimes you fart. Well, when you have an ostomy and you get nervous, you can't fart out your butt. Can you still have a sensation down there? A nervous sensation? See, I told you it's a silly question. I was just wondering.

Does anyone take Metamucil daily or a stool softener? I've had a colostomy since 2015, never had a problem going, but now it's literally days before anything happens, and then it's all hell breaks loose. I'd like to be regular again. Oh, I eat healthy, drink plenty of water, and walk 2-3 miles a day, so there is no lack of that. Anyone know if that's something we can safely take daily?
Thank you!

Hi. I had a bad accident in July 2023, and ended up with a colostomy. Things went well for 4 plus months, and then they didn't. My pouch leaks almost daily! My stoma is round and protrudes about an inch. I use a Coloplast 1-piece, cut-to-fit, drainable pouch with a flat barrier and a moldable barrier ring. Currently, I use "adhesive removal" wipes because when I remove the leaking pouch, part ...

Yes, I still dread the bag change day! (My colostomy was done in July). I want to do it early enough in the day that the stoma isn’t too active but I have that second cup of coffee to avoid starting.

My newest routine involves getting in the shower with the old bag still in place. At the end of the shower, I remove the bag and place it in my prepared bin (a dog waste bag opened and standi ...

Since approximately 6 weeks after ileostomy surgery, I have experienced severe itching over my entire body. Also, there is redness around and under the wafer and barrier strips. I use Hollister wafer and Brava Elastic Barrier strips.
Has anyone out there had allergic reactions like this? If so, what products do you recommend that might be more hypoallergenic? I am miserable! Help!!!

Hi lovely people out there. A year after my surgery I have started to feel bloated and feel pressure on my rectum. I have also started passing wind through my bottom. Has anyone else experienced this?

My reversal surgery is 4 weeks away from today.

Ostomates - Satiates
The name I have given to a personal file on my iPad which houses comments or information with much humor from this site. It can actually double as my medicine cabinet as well = laughter pill
Thanks to all who contribute to my well-being. jb

My ileostomy & rectal stump are now 8 years old, and were created due to sepsis. I had been ill for months, going in & out of the hospital, but during any of my admissions, I was never taken seriously and always discharged as soon as possible. This was especially the case on my last but one admission, which then led to me having to be readmitted for sepsis, as the consultant who discharged me ...