Posted by: @varg55

increased risk of output getting under the flange/barrier ring

Hi Terry

Yes! I struggled with leaking from the second opening of my loop ileostomy. It’s level with my abdomen and lower than the main stoma. So I ended up needing a low convex pouch system in addition to the barrier ring. I also use a mirror to make sure the second hole is not covered. As a heads up- I didn’t know you can have stool somehow go back into the large intestine and end up coming out with the mucus.  This was a huge shock and worry to me when it happened!!  It was three years after surgery!! I couldn’t figure out how stool got into my large intestine. I posted here and Eric sent a great link. I had my dr check everything out and confirmed it can sometimes happen with loop ileostomies. 🤷🏼‍♀️😕🤷🏼‍♀️🤷🏼‍♀️
Good luck finding a solution. 
joanne

Varg55...Hi Terry...have you tried using a mirror to see what you can not?  Also, keep a food & output journal and maybe mark times down as well to help figure out what foods may be causing some of these issues.  There are others here with loop ostomies, I am not one. Eventually they show up and weekends can be a bit slow.  When I have thicker output I find increasing my fluids did help.  Plus I find drinks like V8 juice very helpful when my guts feel icky and output is thick.  Hang in there in the mean time. 

Its common to have a mucus discharge from a loop stony which what you are probably noticing the semi-redundant part of your intestine still has blood and nerve supply and will also produce mucus its natural cleaning process.

If Lk can blast corn kernels across the room then I guess some output can still sneak around the hairpin bend due to its velocity (I have vision of the Italian job movie with the mini's - my mini when i had one, was nicknamed by my friends, my "little fire engine!!")

@jattzlHi Joanne,  This is very helpful, thanks.  Can I ask you what brand of pouch and barrier ring you use?  I've found they are not created equal and not the same brand works for everyone, still what I have doesn't seem to be working for me now.  It just occurred to me yesterday that something has changed recently that is probably what is causing my blow-outs.  I've just started back at the gym and I'm doing pretty strenuous workouts.  I'm going to post another question related to strenuous workouts and ileostomies!  About your ileo, just so I'm understanding you.  Do you also have a stoma from a colostomy and the output you are talking about is coming out of that stoma with the mucus?  I still have my stoma from my original colostomy and my loop ileostomy is temporary.  I am going to have the rest of my large intestine removed and the old stoma closed and an end ileostomy created.  I have noticed when I change my stoma cap (over my old stoma) that there is some dried output that is very dark and I thought it was dried blood because my stoma was sticking to the inside of the stoma cap.  I started putting some vaseline on it but I'm still getting that dark output, so maybe that is actually stool coming out with the mucus?  Is this what you are talking about? If so, did your doctor think there was anything to worry about with this happening?  Is your loop ileo permanent?  I thought they were usually just temporary.  Is there a reason you can't get an end ileo?  Many thanks!

Terry

@dlkfiretruckHi Linda,  Thanks for your reply.  I think I've figured out that the reason I'm suddenly leaking is that I've started doing strenuous workouts again.  Since we last spoke I've made some pretty great progress with my diet, in fact I've found that I can eat pretty much anything!  It's been a pleasant surprise.  I do use more sugar than I did, but I've been reducing it and now it's mostly just drinking this concoction of water with a little sugar and salt mixed in that I drink throughout the day.  It was recommended by the hospital and it's working for me.  I was drinking a lot of fruit juice, which I've greatly reduced.  You were very helpful Linda, thanks!

Terry

@chrisandbagpusBlast corn kernels across the room?  Someone does that?! What a great skill to have!  Maybe it could become an Olympic sport!?

Are you referring to mucus coming out of the second hole of the ileo stoma, or as in my case, my old colostomy stoma, as mucus does come out of there.  It seemed like what was coming out of the second hole in my ileo stoma was regular output, not mucus.  I'm a bit confused!

Terry

@varg55 Hey Terry - those of us who have been through cancer treatment have super powers. Corn projectiles are Linda’s, apparently.😄

Laurie

@varg55...hey  again Terry...well, it wasn't across the room, lol,  but it did leave an outward dent in my pouch plastic! Lol...it was over in the forum on what's your best leak story. It was the experience of changing my pouch where my stoma did shoot output 4 feet across the room.  One of my new super powers i guess!! lol! Funny,  my son always thought it was the eyes in the back of my head! 

@chrisandbagpus...your funny!! My stoma had several names before settling on Rose. one was  Mt. Vesuvius, for obvious reasons,  then about 4 others! I think the names changed as her personality settled. 

@tigerlilyHi Laurie,  Well, as much as I'd like to have such super powers, I think I'll pass on the prerequisite cancer.  Still learning how to navigate this site.  I was wondering how to "like" a post as I was sure I had done it before, then realized I had to "sign in" first!   Duh!

Terry

@varg55 Terry, I should add Crohns and Colitis sufferers to the list of super heroes.   I think I can safely say that our super powers include a heightened sense of empathy; not just for ostomates, but for anyone who is struggling with whatever curveball life has thrown their way. Linda, however, is lucky enough to have an extra super power - that corn projectile thing! I wonder if Guinness has a category for that?🌽

Laurie

@tigerlily...lol...you guys are killing me here!! This is too funny!!!!! I love it! Lol! Superpowers!  I needed a good laugh & I got one! THANKYOU ALL!!  My hubby had a sense of humour just like you folks! 

I do need to clarify though that I did not have cancer. I have another super power...lol! What I have is kind of rare.  My intestine fails to work at all sometimes & fails to absorb vitamins & nutrients  for ??? periods of time.  I get whats called Psuedo Obstructive disorder, disease....hmm...something like that, and my guts become very painful, l become malnourished & most always anemic. 

Your free to read my story under a heading something like...I'm sorry if I'm wrong...my memory takes a hike when I'm anemic.  Its a ling biring story. lol...I think I titled it Crohns disease, malnutrition & severe anemia, am I having fun yet??   If someone finds it feel free to say the title then our newbies may want to read it8 to get a better idea of what goes on.  Maybe I should update it...??  

I've been back at it for a few  months now. I noticed fats floating on the water when I empty my pouch & my Iron was 2 last count. I just finished a third round of iron Infusions which thanks to covid took 9 weeks to get the iron approved. Its one normally given to patients on kidney dialysis. Usually only takes 10 days to get approval. It was a very long drawn-out wait this time. 

I can't help thinking it would be easier if they just okayed another blood transfusion but I also understand the reasons why not. I just would love to feel as incredibly energetic the way I felt back in Feb. With the precious blood of two kind strangers running through my viens. That was marvelous!!!  

@dlkfiretruckWow, Linda, you sure have had a lot to deal with.  We all have our crosses to bear don't we?  Your positive attitude and sense of humour are inspiring.  

Terry

@varg55...thank you Terry, thats very kind of you.  Yes, WE do all have our crosses to bear but the best of it is this group of people that come together whenever they can and encourage, toss ideas around, listen, respond with kindness and experiences,  make jokes, and share!  When I 1st joined I think I was in shock.  I was 8 years into my ostomy & learned more in one day binge watching Eric's Videos then I had learned in  8 years alone.  Some of the topics blew me away a bit, but I learned quickly that  this is a very safe place to be! 

@dlkfiretruck

Linda:

My stoma is still nameless, but I did consider Vesuvius.  😆  I am leaning toward El Diente currently because that little sucker can really put away some food, and it's also the name of a prominent peak here in Colorado that my stoma likes to imitate when it stands proud.     

Posted by: @glenn-giroir

I am leaning toward El Diente currently because that little sucker can really put away some food, and it's also the name of a prominent peak here in Colorado that my stoma likes to imitate when it stands proud.     

I love reading these stories and the laughs that some of them bring, even amongst the more serious side of what is being dealt with. I think El Diente is a fabulous name! Living on a (fortunately dormant) volcano and kind of near an active one, I couldn’t help but think of my stoma as a little volcano. It’s the polar opposite of dormant – given to surprise eruptions even when I plan my best for timing my appliance change-outs. And all that rumbling!