Hi Michelle, Welcome 🙏. You really have been through the mill. Are your surgeries being done by the same medical team. I would look for a second opinion as to the stoma sinking. I could be barking up the wrong tree 🌲 but just a thought 💭 

Welcome, Michelle!

I'm not sure what your options are in Thailand, but if you can speak with a surgeon who specializes in colon and rectal surgery, you will likely be better off than with a general surgeon.

Especially since you've had ongoing complications and multiple surgeries, it would be ideal to speak with a specialist in this field.

Best to you!

Welcome Michelle.  I don't have any silver bullet advice but do send my very best to you. You deserve a better outcome so hopefully another doctor or specialist can get you on a path to full health and an easily managed ostomy.  Given your interest in yoga, this yoga instructor with an ostomy may be of interest to you.  

Elaine O'Rourke Yoga, Ostomy, IBD - YouTube

Thank you everyone for your warm welcome and well wishes!

I have seen the same colorectal surgeon since 2017 and he has preformed all my surgeries 🙁 .

I am now trying to find a less invasive way to help me find a better way to heal.  I journal everything I eat with the inclusion of activities I do what what my stoma is looking like as well as what my output is like.  I am starting to feel like I am overly obsessing over this and the stress of that is to blame for some of the issues.  

@Lynne I have done some of her classes and she really is great!

Posted by: @michelle-gregoire

 The last surgery was decided upon as my stoma was retracting to the point where it looked like an innie belly button.  Things were really great for a few months (my surgery was May 2022) and now I have gone back to stoma retraction which then leads to leaks ALL the time.  I am lucky if I make it one day without a leak.  I currently use a coloplact one piece, convex sensura mio appliance with no barrier ring or paste.  However, I just recently moved to Thailand and I cannot get that product here so I will be moving to a coloplast "Alterna" two piece, convex.

I am a vegetarian and yoga lover. 

Thanks for listening to me vent 😀  

Hi,

I would recommend trying adding the coloplast Brava protective ring / barrier ring with your retracted stoma.  

For me it takes a Convex barrier and a Brava protective ring to get a good seal.  Coloplast also makes convex protective seals as well that could help also.

I change my bag every 4th morning with no leaks.

For support I wear the Ostomy Armor Petite Ostomy Belt while training / working out and am very happy with it.  I find it pretty comfortable, I put it on before I do my morning stretches and keep it on until I am done with my training for the day unless I forget to take it off.

Have a good day

cygo

I’m so sorry you’re going through this. I too had hernia surgery last year. He did not create a new stoma for me and mine too retracted. It sounds like yours is really sitting way in though.
Have you tried a convex bag yet? You might want to try the convatec active life convex bag.   That was the only solution to mine. I use a one piece and they have different  softness and hardness that the convatec Ostomy nurse can guide you over the phone to which one might work better. They sent me samples first to try. My hernia is slowly coming back too. 

by the way you may want to get a new surgeon. Too bad you can’t get to the Cleveland clinic foundation for a consult. If you could ever make it there I would highly suggest. They have hernia specialists in the colorectal surgery dept and they also know how to do stoma’s if need be. 

Thank you everyone for the great suggestions!  I am definitely going to give a few a try.  I can see my choice in foods also has been impacting the retraction of my stoma a lot lately.  I was trying to add more insoluble fibre back into my diet but that has not been going so well.  As a vegetarian I am really tired of eating bread, pasta, and white rice 😫 .

It is just one day at a time and one battle at a time.

Thanks again everyone!