Moving your stoma

[janellespring]

moving your stoma

Ok, so after being in and out of the hospital the past few months with pyroderma gangrenosum around my stoma....then a huge abscess had to be cut out around the skin right beside my stoma....then two lovely fistulas appeared around my stoma a few weeks later and are still there....
The decision has been made to take down the whole thing and make a new one in a different location.

Has anyone ever had to do this? Just wondering what the old location will look like?

I can barely even look at my stoma anymore...so many holes and sores to contend with, not to mention the fact that bags just wont stick with all the mess going on! I can't believe all these complications came at once....sigh....

 

[PsychoJane]

I'm so sorry to see you have to deal with all that. I can relate as I am having issues with fistulas around (4-5 since september) but only 2 are opened at the moment. I haven't seen the surgeon yet but the GI was telling me that I too have a chance of needing a relocation of the stoma. So yeah, I am also interested in knowing what happens with the old location... like is it just a scar or is it somewhat hollow or what not... I'm curious as if it can be taken down just a little or something...

Hopefully these issues will be solved for you soon... it is quite a lot to deal with when it's happening! Good luck

 

[janellespring]

Thanks for the well wishes. I'm having surgery in the next week so I'll let you know. The surgeon mentioned the need for a wound vac at the old site, which I had to use when I had the abscess wound, so I'm guessing it'll be a big open wound? Not sure...
I had fistulas on my bottom end before and thought those were horrible, but having em around your stoma is no picnic either!!

 

[moogie]

I'm sorry to hear about all your difficulties you two...

I've had 2 stomas on both side of my navel. I had them for 6 months each togive time to my gut to heal properly after a hernia.

If you guys want to see my stomach I can take a picture and send it to you you can see the scars, send me a personal message and I will send it.

I heal very well and my scars are just cute lines on my tummy. it's a little hollow but you can barely see it. They look more like streching marks.

I call them battle scars, being a guy with fur it's not so bad. Being a cute guirl with a nice tummy I guess it might be more obvious.

Good luck to both of you

 

[Terriernut]

Stomas are frequently moved due to hernia surgery as mentioned. No picnic, but often required!

I would guess with the infection, they will want you to heal from the inside out so to speak. If you go to the 'back' of this sub forum you can see poor Kello's issues with this.

When I was last in hospital, I saw a lady who had the same issues as you, and you couldnt see much scarring believe it or not! It seems when you heal from the inside out, you do better with scar tissue. Whodathunk?? She also had the vac, and I can tell you she wasnt best pleased with it, but it really worked. I also was across the aisle from a lady who had maggots used for healing. They worked a treat! Not great for all our appetites in that particular ward, but hey...saved the ladies life! (me being me, I had to go have a 'nose' didnt I?)

Please do keep us posted on how it goes for you, and dont forget, we can be a great cheering section!
Wishing you WELL...pronto!!!
:hug:

 

[lari]

I had mine moved to the other side of my belly. I had a huge hernia beneath it. Ths was the third jernia surgery in 3 years. I have a deep scar where the old pne was... about 3 inches long. The surgeon didn't put ant stitches on the outside. He wanted it to heal from the inside out. Itook a long time to heal but it did heal with no problems since. But I'm afraid to say its my ugliest scar. And its a year latet amd I have 2 new hernias!

 

[Terriernut]

Iari, I am wondering, you and I have these parastomal hernia probs. Would it work to have full mesh and tummy tucks to keep them from returning?

Thats what I want anyway!