I have a loop ileostomy (supposedly to relieve my Crohn's problems - although I still get trouble, but that's another story). When I first had the surgery (about 9 months ago) the cutting size for the adhesive base of the two-piece system, recommended to me by the hospital, was 32mm. On my first follow up visit to the stoma clinic, I was advised to increase the cutting size to 38mm. On my next visit, this was increased to 50mm, and last time to 55mm! As the hard (relatively) plastic flange of the base has just a 60mm hole, I'm now getting stoma pain sometimes which I think is due to the hard edge of the flange pressing against the stoma. Anyone else have a similar problem (and, even better, any suggestions/ solution)? I'm a bit concerned that this is continuing to increase in size after all this time... :confused2:
Ileostomy size - just keeps growing?
- Thread starter davmor
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The increase in size is concerning. I don't think that is normal, though I could be wrong. Most stomas shrink in time with maybe a mild fluctuance to increase from time to time, but not that drastically. I think you might need to see your GI rather than just a nurse about this.
annawato
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Hi Davmoor, I got my stoma (my second) in Nov '12. It has been slowly increasing in size too, from 38 wide to 48 wide and also a bit of growth the other way. I saw my surgeon a couple of weeks ago and he wan't at all concerned even when I mentioned it had also prolapsed a bit. All he said was that's good it means there is no crohn's if it is so mobile! i thought this was a bit odd and a bit of a generalisation so I'd advise you to get your GI or surgeon to check it. And I'd be really interested in what they say. I wouldn't think a growing stoma was normal but then I'm not my surgeon.
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