Ostomy Topics

Hi everyone, I'm a newbie both here and to ostomy (not quite 5 weeks). I had my first "blowouts" last week, which now has me thinking about summer. I'm a big boater, jet skier, paddleboarder, and am now suddenly "pre-worrying" because I read that bag adhesion is more difficult in the heat (not to mention water). Living in the South, summer is nothing but hot—skin always "glowing." Thoughts, ...

I'm eight weeks into my temporary colostomy, and about three weeks ago, maybe longer, a bulge appeared next to my stoma. Because it's in my nature to do such things, I pressed on it... there was a slight pop as something must have slid back inside and the bulge wasn't so pronounced. Hmm...
Over the following few days, I noticed that the bulge was there any time I checked and that pressing it b ...

Has anyone used the Cymed ostomy bags? They use a micro skin application. I decided to try them with this month's order. The bag attachment is as thin as a piece of Tegaderm.
Curious to know how others found these.

Hi there, I'm brand-new to this site, but I'm hoping this community can help ease some worries I'm having!
I originally had my ileostomy performed back in August of 2019, and in all that time, it's been one of the best things I ever had done to me.
The only times in the original "post-op timeframe" that I was still passing stool were not even a week after, and then around 7 months later. So ...

Any advice? I have a loop ileostomy and had an ultra-low anterior resection, and I'm wondering what life will be like after reversal.

I have read from members who suffered with an extended stoma that placing sugar on the stoma actually will retract it. Wondering if it works on ballooning stomas too?
It did not work for me recently. It just caused a glazed, shiny stoma. It began to weep, and the sugar started dripping off the ballooned stoma like liquid.
For those members who have used this trick, and it worked, my questions: ...

Hello friends! It's been a while since I've been on! I'm doing well with Rosie, my ileostomy. I finished my doctorate and graduated on May 11. I also had my BB surgery on Friday, the 24th. What helped you all with the pain besides the narcotics? Ice? Heat?
Thanks!!!

I got a small dog bite, so the GP has put me on doxycycline. I'm a bit worried about taking it with an ileostomy. Has anyone else taken it okay?

Hello All,
My name is Molly. I'm a 43-year-old mother of 3 young boys and live in Michigan.
I'm new to the site and really appreciate how informative and supportive everyone seems to be. It's heartening to know there is an outlet like this, especially for someone just starting the journey.
I've suffered with slow transit constipation as well as a significant amount of gas in my large intesti ...

I've found storage has always been a big issue. In the beginning, I always had a big mess piled up on the bathroom sink, was running back and forth to the closet where I had the supplies stored, and trying to put on a new outfit. I found an ideal way to deal with this. In most of our bathrooms, we have a small drawer that opens up right beside the toilet. Personally, I sit on the toilet to cha ...

Yesterday, I was going a little crazy with sensations after I changed my pouch on Thursday. The itching was a pain in the neck, and when I'd walk around, I'd feel the pouch tugging on my skin. It's not that I'm in dire pain, but I wanted to see if anyone has any advice on how to correct the problem. I did take a little Tylenol and felt like it helped, but I don't want to be dependent on it.

I was rereading the comments about rectal mucus. My husband is 2 years post-ileostomy and only had mucus twice in the past. This week it's happened twice in one week. From what I was reading, it didn't look like there was any correlation between what's eaten and mucus creation. And no way to stop it except further surgery. Right now it's not a big issue, and we're hoping it doesn't become one. ...

Hi all,
I have had my stoma since May of 2021. I have had many issues unfortunately with leakage and skin rawness. I honestly feel like I am losing my mind. It seems no matter how differently I cut my hole (larger, smaller) for some reason at the bottom of the appliance where it meets the stoma, there seems to always be a hole that opens up and lets leakage through. I tend to have to change m ...