Ostomy Topics

I was struggling to choose a title for this. A friend of mine told me about this program on BBC Radio, and I thought some of us might like it.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m0025491
Released on: 20 Nov 2024
Available for over a year
"Sarah Mills' comedy guide to dealing with a fallible and embarrassing body. Since losing part of her bowel, comedian Sarah Mills has used a stoma bag. She mig ...

Greetings everyone,

I'm currently on day 3 of my new loop ileostomy and experiencing some gas issues. My bag isn't ballooned, but I'm feeling rumbling in my stomach and pressure as if I need to pass gas, but I can't. I was able to pass some gas anally right after the surgery, but now it's a bit uncomfortable and annoying. What are some remedies?

I've had an ileostomy for 45 years. I have been through many situations and here are a few things that have helped me along the journey.
If someone asks or thinks you have a disability, tell them you have an ability. You can do everything anyone else can and sometimes even better. Don't hide the fact that you have an ostomy. I had emergency surgery when I was just 20 years old. My doctor told ...

I got to thinking that there are leaks and then there are LEAKS. So I developed a staging guide. (Anyone else think I might have too much time on my hands?)

Stage 0: Output is pancaking but you catch it before it compromises the device seal

Stage 1: Leak is contained under the flange. You catch it before the skin becomes irritated.

Stage 2: Leak is contained under flange extender. The s ...

Hi all,

My mom has had her colostomy bag since Aug 2022. I help her change her wafer but I forgot a step the visiting nurse taught me a couple years ago and wondering if it matters.

After I removed the wafer this morning, I cleaned her stoma and her surrounding skin with soap and warm water. Soap had no moisturizer. But normally I rinse again with plain water and let that completely dry be ...

Hi does anyone else have the problem of ostomy bag filling with air at night. I use a Cpap machine for sleep apnea and every night my bag fills almost to bursting with air. I was wondering if anyone experiences this and if they have any tips to avoid it.

Hi, I'm a new ostomy patient. I was discharged from the hospital yesterday and wanted to know what resources are out there for me. I'm on a very limited income, and my insurance doesn't cover home health services. I basically got some ostomy supplies but not enough of what I need. Can someone point me in the right direction of what I can do?

Thanks.

Merry Christmas to all Ostomates!
Need advice—my bag fills with gas a lot and often. Any ideas on what I can do to help with this problem? I've tried anti-gas pills orally and in the bag with no success. It doesn't matter what I eat.
Thanks.

My question is this….. how do you date someone when you have an illeostomy? When do you even begin to tell someone about your condition?

Hi Ostomates and Happy Belated Thanksgiving!

I don't know if anyone has experienced this problem, so I'm looking for some advice if you have and how you coped with it. I'm only at the 6-week point of my colostomy, and I have developed a severe reaction to both the wafer adhesive and the Cera-ring. (I use Hollister flat 2 1/4 inch wafer, 2-piece pouching system, Slim Cera Ring.) No matter how ...

I have a heck of a time with the waistband on my pants pressing against my stoma. I try to wear it above or below but it's a constant problem. How do any of you relieve the pressure of your waistband at the stoma site? I would appreciate any suggestions.

Thank-you,

CowboyH

I have a colostomy after having an illeostomy for 3 1/2 yrs. Hernia repaired and reversal and moved to other side and now a colostomy. My stoma tends to bleed much more than when I had an illeostomy. Is this normal for most colostomates? Also, I've heard of people putting olive oil in their bags to help with waste moving to bottom of bag easier, does this really work? I wasn't expecting to hav ...

Hello again. Ileostomate here. Thanks for all the info so far and I have another question.
I always seem to have leaks just below my stoma. The skin is definitely softer down there. What I've noticed is my barrier ring always expands up and around my stoma and I think it then starts to leak around the bottom.
I started with Hollister 7805 ring. Tried the Brava barrier ring and now trying the H ...

I had noticed a bulge around my stoma with my stoma in the middle of it. It doesn't hurt, and when I lay down, it goes away and is flat (no bulge). I went to my surgeon today to ask about it. He looked at it and said, "Yep, it's a hernia." I told him I've not lifted anything at all to get it. He said it happens and seemed unconcerned. He smiled and said, "You'll be fine. When we do your colost ...

I have a loop ileostomy and am supposed to book a reversal soon, but I've had issues for the last month and a half since a sneeze suddenly became a destructive force. I've made two trips to the ER, changed pain meds to Lyrica and hydrocodone, and undergone an endoscopy and colonoscopy, including a barium enema X-ray, with no signs of a hernia. So when I mention to the surgeon about a giant pro ...