Hi JTVT, Yep there are many questions and it’s a path of discovery. Don’t be concerned about the length of your stoma cause a good spout eliminates a lot of problems. Flush or short stoma can be more prone to leaks and pancaking. I too had some crusty healing around my stoma and it soon goes. Keep measuring as it heals to get a good fit.. right you are to ask as that’s how we learn 👍

Hi @jtvt,

These issues appear to be about right for being 3 weeks out from surgery. The band formation you mention is probably normal hypertrophy from the healing process. I would still talk to my nurse about these issues just to keep her abreast of your physiology, especially since you have specific concerns about this. The nurse will be better able to tell you whether there's enough cause for concern to warrant an earlier followup.

There's a possibility that your stoma may settle into a down-pointing configuration. Frankly I wish mine were like that. Your stoma, as you know, should shrink in diameter, but edema works in 3 dimensions, so it might also shrink in depth. The reason it protrudes now is perhaps that your surgeon deliberately formed it that way to try and prevent a flush stoma, which can have its own difficulties, as John pointed out.

I don't make these statements dogmatically. Ultimately, only you and your healthcare team can hash out what is or is not a problem and how best to proceed. However, we are happy to supply our input based on firsthand personal experience.

Finally, I'd like to share a short article that might provide a bit more info for early postop ostomates. Apologies if you already know all this:

What To Expect After Stoma Surgery - Bladder & Bowel Community

Hi jtvt,

I will definitely second what Tony and John said - that a longer stoma would be so much better than a flush or recessed one. I have had so many problems with leaks which would be prevented if my stoma hung into the bag. 

I believe in your other post, you mentioned that you have lost a lot of weight?  That may be affecting your stoma. Perhaps as you gain back some weight, the stoma will seem to shorten??

Yes, lost a ton of weight so I suspect things will change as I get back to my healthy self. I will definitely talk to my ostomy RN but I agree that hypertrophy and differences in healing/scarring in areas of increases tension seems likely. Thanks for the reassurance about a “long spout”! As I will be saying innumerable times in the future, thank you all for the insight and support! 

Hi JTVT...I have a longer stoma then what I read most have here. About 2 inches and with a good down spout! Gratefully so! At one point she  took a hike &  fell out a good 7 inches or so and scared the  output out of  me! I decided to lay down to think about who to call & while, thinking I watched her creep on back to where she belonged in the first place to never to show her blushing face again to this day...so far. I named her   Rose, butt  I would have called  her "sneaky snake" had the real things not  terrified or paralyzed the output out of me! The name also would have provided many a night of nightmares too, so I opted out of that one! Lol! 

In healing,  it is normal for the skin area around the stoma area, that the stoma is  stitched to, to  have a raised red swelling happening to it. So long as there is no sign of infection happening, pussy, oozy, smelly, stuff, I believe you are safe. If your really concerned, call & push your apt. closer if you can.  However, always err on the side of caution & get your doctor or stoma nurse have a peek  when you see them next.  Be sure and bring a new appliance or two along.

 No question is a dumb question and always better safe then sorry.  

That’s a scary story, Linda! Glad to hear it “snaked” it’s way back in ;-) I’m heading in tomorrow for early appointment as have some separation of stoma from suture line. Damn steroids and malnutrition. Also wonder if I should have been wearing a belt or something. Hopefully it is minor and will heal. For some insane reason I though this would go smoother. Haha. Jokes on me. 

Thought I’d update just in case anyone else is in same boat in the future. Nearly one month post op. Per first visit with ostomy RN after DC, thick band formation at top of stoma (between 10 and 2) is part of healing and may or may not go away as this area is under more tension (I have a long stoma). Area of mucocutaneous separation at 6-7 o’clock (skin no longer attached to stoma) is also ok but recommending treating with power and skin protectant. It is allowed to heal like any other wound. Wanted to emphasize that she said it was good to be proactive and get on these things a early as it makes the them easier to treat. So no worry too small! Visit your friendly Ostomy RN with any concerns rather than freaking out on your own ;-)