There is no sensation in the stoma, so it is not at all painful to touch. The stoma can bleed a little when being cleaned, especially in the beginning, but this is quite normal, and should stop shortly afterwards.
The stoma is usually swollen right after surgery. It is soft, moist and reddish-pink in colour, much like the lining in the mouth. There is no feeling in the stoma so it will not hurt if you touch it. There are many blood vessels on the surface of the stoma, so it may bleed a little if you rub or wipe it too hard.
Once home, avoid strenuous activities that could place a strain on your abdomen, such as lifting heavy objects. Your stoma nurse will give you advice about how soon you can go back to normal activities. At first you will pass wind through your stoma and then, usually within 2 or 3 days, you poo through it.
Massages help to keep the adhesions from setting and can even minimize the formation of scar tissue down the line. If you're concerned whether you can get a massage with an ostomy, you don't need to be — getting a massage is a perfectly safe procedure.
Skin Irritation
This is usually due to leakage from the ostomy device. This is when output from the stoma seeps under the adhesive part of the wafer and output is now touching the skin. This can be painful as well as damaging to your skin and your ostomy device.
You can bathe and shower as normal with your stoma and, unless you have been specifically advised otherwise, you can do so with the stoma bag on or off. It won't fall off in the water if you choose to keep it on and if you bathe with the stoma bag off, soap rinsing over the stoma isn't a problem.
Stool irritation, product sensitivity and yeast are certainly the more common reasons for redness around the stoma.
Skin irritation around your stoma is usually caused by leakage from your ostomy pouch and the output from your stoma getting underneath the adhesive and onto your skin.
Bending. It's near enough in possible to do gardening without having to bend down. This is fine, but you can bend down in a way that reduces the risk of injuring your stomach muscles and stoma area. For example, rather than bending over at your waist, try bending down slowly at your knees.
Pouches with alginate, Aloe Vera or Vitamin E in the backing of the pouch can to help soothe the irritated skin. If you suffer with a skin condition such as psoriasis or eczema and the sore skin around your stoma resembles this too, you can try using small amounts of your usual prescribed cream.
The BBC Radio 1 presenter had a stoma bag, which she refers to as Audrey, fitted last October after being diagnosed with bowel cancer. The operation diverts one end of the colon, which is part of the bowel, through an opening in the abdomen called a stoma.
Many people enjoy leaving their skin uncovered for 15 to 30 minutes after taking their pouching system off. This is called a skin break. Taking a skin break can help with irritation or keep it from happening. You can decide if you want to take a skin break.
In fact, 38% of colostomy patients prefer to shower bag-less every time, and 23% shower without the bag 3-4 days per week. However, it is recommended to leave the bag on in case of a fresh surgery, wounds, a quick shower, or high or uncontrolled output.
1. Use the palm of your hand to apply gentle pressure to the stoma, very gently pushing it back into its usual position. 2. Another alternative is to apply a cold compress to the stoma with your pouch on.
If you prefer to sleep on your stomach, this will be fine at the beginning of the night but increases the chances of leaks as the night progresses and your bag fills up. So, try to roll onto your side or back before you fall asleep.
Retraction/ Prolapse
A retraction of the stoma is when the stoma lays flat to the skin or below skin surface level. This retraction can become problematic as it can affect the fit of your stoma bag and cause leaks, which can lead to sore and broken skin.
The best position to sleep in when you have a stoma is on your back, or on your side.
It's common to have problems with how the bowel works after a stoma reversal. This is because part of the bowel has been removed. You may have symptoms such as loose stool, incontinence, sudden bowel urges, and pain. Other risks include infection in the belly and blockage or scar tissue in the bowel.
Water will not harm or enter your stoma. Prior to swimming, make sure your seal is secure. Empty your pouch before swimming. Also, ensure your wafer has been on for at least an hour prior to getting wet.
This pain is often due to intercostal nerves caught in scar tissue or even stitched when the surgeon closes the site. This can lead to irritation and inflammation that produces a burning or stabbing sensation in the area of the colostomy site.
A rash around the stoma that is red, or red with bumps – this may be due to a skin infection or sensitivity, or even leakage. Wart-like, pimple-like or blister-like bumps under the skin barrier – this type of irritation can happen any time, even if you've used the same product for months or years.
Recap. Call your doctor immediately if the skin surrounding the stoma changes colors, develops sores or chafing, or shows signs of infection (including increasing redness, pain, swelling, heat, and a pus-like discharge).
Skin irritation
This is the most frequently observed complication with all stoma types [2, 7, 12].
Most people with stomas may have to go through a stoma infection. However, it is a possibility that anyone with a stoma should know about it. The first sign of a stoma infection may be a pus-like discharge, unusual swelling, increasing redness, or color changes.