Hi Mary, 

It's not too important to scrub down your stoma or anything like that, but you do want to make sure that your skin is clean and dry. 

This can be done as simply as using a wet/damp gauze or cloth. 

The idea is to remove any stool or fluids that might burn the skin (your output may have digestive enzymes in it), but you don't have to use soap or anything like that. 

That's really only something you need to do when changing your appliance. 

If you're just emptying your bag, a quick rinse or nothing can be done. 

Hi Mary, I had/have an oblong stoma too. I just  measure the longest part (which mine is an inch) and then I soffen a seal ring (I cut that in half for a better convetx-you may want the whole seal) then I put this around the cut I made (I order now an I inch pre-cut and do this) on  NOT the stoma- ON the wafer/barrier and press well.  U may use a hair drier to heat this up so it will stay put / seal better.

Also, I remember the laying down part-- You CAN lie on your side- both of them (one at a time, haha) That helps the flow to go to the side and down the pouch.. I do this when I know that I will be having a fun time with it.. Good luck! Marcie..

Hi Mary, yer still in the early days of learning and each day and each time you change your bag you will learn a little more. Rinsing out the bag is some thing a lot of folk like to do. I don't do it but some times if I have output that's hard to move will change bags. (using a 2 piece) its personal and if rinsing makes a body feel good I say go for it. Check out some of the posts on showering, as you get stronger and gain confidence you will want to try more things.

Not sure what to say, make a list and see whats the most impotant and start from there

Hi Mary,

I was a mess when I first got my Pippa the ileo but as time goes by it really does get easier, more predictable etc. I'm at 5 months now and still trying new techniques now and then.  Mines a weird shape so today I tried the idea I learned here in the forums of molding an Eakin seal to match the shape of the stoma then attached that seal to the wafer.  So far so good. 

Youll find a lot of help here   Welcome!

Hey Mary and welcome!

You will get it. And it really does get easier. I think I was actually afraid of it the first few weeks. Don't forget, you are also recovering from whatever illness led you here! It does get less mysterious and more approachable.  I am happy you have joined us.

No question is stupid if you don't know the answer!

Well put Dona... SOOOOOOOOOOO true Mary- be patient.. Easier said than done but try--  Find something to reward yourself... each day-  u deserve it.. We all do and should reward ourselves.. 

Such stupid movies on the T.V. Love the holidays but these stupid gushy-non minded shows? God!! I love the Old time movies..  Guess I  have to wait  until after the news years... Now, I have to reward myself -I had a progress day-- Took picture of some room of my house to send to my sister in-law in Ohio.. She sent me hers.. So had to shape up the house a bit.. 

Thanks Everyone For You Comments... They Do Help.  

God Bless

Mary

Mary, where are you from? USA?-UK? 

Getting cold outside now- guess I have to get into mind of re-arranging my cigs in put.. So hard, but as u have read, I have been through worse-- The best way to quit for me was being in a 2 month comma.. not recommended... dont want to go there again!!!! 

Marcie, I  was a 40 day smoker for many years, I will be of the backy 1 year very shortly. if I can do it any one can.

Hey John, I am a professional quitter,,, Now, I have to say that I love myself enough to quit...

gezzzzzzzzzz.. Keep getting emergency testing on the T.V. lately-- And different ones than the others.. Seems all the time.. Maybe I should go down to the shore line and checkout the USA sub. base-- With the N.K. and our Mr. T. things have been rather scary........ 

Glad it helped Mary!!!!!!!!!! Works for me!!! 

different strokes for different stomas huh?? 

See u in the lounge later on Mary?? 

Floyd Co., Kentucky  (Eastern Ky)

nice country-been there a few times... I am from New England-Ct. North/central. 

Hi Mary, hang in there it will get better. My ostomy nurse and i made a template of my stoma (Stella) that i use for cutting wafers. We used a piece of lighter typing paper, placed it over Stella and carefully traced around her with a thin felt tip pen.then we took the cover that goes over the adhesive part of the wafer to protect it, and copied the tracing to it. We carefully cut out the hole for the stoma...voila a template. I put it over the new wafer, trace the hole and cut.  Once in a while Stella changes, then I just make a new one. Makes it really easy to  get a good tight fit with the new wafer. 

Hi, Mary!!!  And welcome!!!!!  My colostomy (Rosebud) and I get along very well nowadays.  In early November 2013, I was diagnosed with Stage 3-C Rectal Cancer, so chemo and radiation were started in December.  The chemo was no where nearly as bad as the radiation!  Did lose some hair, but not nearly enough to make me bald.

On April 1, 2014, my colorectal surgeon and I had a date in surgery and that's when Rosebud was created, and the cancer was removed.  At first, Rosebud and I had many, many problems, but now she and I get along terrifically well.

I use Hollister supplies, New Image, two-piece, closed pouches.  That means my skin barrier (wafer) and pouch (bag) are two separate pieces.  (I like closed pouches with Colo-Majic liners because it's cleaner and much less fuss for me than emptying a pouch.)  I use the Cera Plus infused convex skin barriers because it's much kinder to my abdominal skin.

Rosebud is fairly round, so I use pre-cut skin barriers with an Adapt Slim Barrier Ring (or Eakins ring - depending on your preference - same kind of product - different manufacturers).  The Adapt Slim Barrier Ring works with my convex skin barrier and ensures I do not have leaks.  (Haven't had a leak in many, many months - and I LOVE IT!!!)

Your stoma may change size and shape in the next couple of months, so give it time.  Learn to love your stoma.  You can wash it - GENTLY - with soap and water, but do avoid lotions on it because your skin barrier will not stick well to a well-greased body.  Rosebud seldom gets a real bath with soap and water as I shower with my barrier and pouch still on.  I just pat them dry with my bath towel when I get out of the shower.  The wafer does not fall off or become loose - just wet!  So I pat it dry and go along my way.

A word of advice:  Become good friends with your ostomy nurse.  He/She will be your best friend to help you take care of your stoma.  My ostomy nurse is AMAZING and I love her like a sister!  She has taken care of the little "warts" that periodically develop on Rosebud and has helped me get the very best fit for my wafer which has helped me have no leaks.  I try to see her every six months or so just to touch base and have her look at Rosebud to make sure she's healthy.  Rosebud's color is always nice and bright pink - and when she's all clean and shiny bright, she does indeed look just like a little Rosebud.

I truly hope and pray you come out of this cancer-free!  My last CEA (carcino-embryonic antigen) blood test last week was 1.8 and my oncologist and I are thrilled, as that means there is no active cancer anywhere in my body.  Best wishes from Nebraska!!!!

Thanks so much for your comment... I call mine "Buster Brown"  and yes I am now cancer free...  Only thing is (most of the BM's) start with cramping/spasms an at times get pretty bad.  Thank God, they don't last for long..  and having a sharp pain that hits in my left hip area deep down behind hipbone... and I am unable to empty my bladder fully. 

I go back to my surgeon on the 13th.. but he told me last visit that I have had so much done to me and gone throu in the last year that little cramping is ok.  If it becomes unbareable, go to ER.

And Buster and I are ok... just wish he would go on a schedule <grin>.. I like for him to be clean but soon as I change or clean it.... he decides to go again.  When I get stronger I plan on making him covers as I don't plan on wearing anything tight for a while.

Thanks again

Mary

Posted by: maryep

Thanks so much for your comment... I call mine "Buster Brown"  and yes I am now cancer free...  Only thing is (most of the BM's) start with cramping/spasms an at times get pretty bad.  Thank God, they don't last for long..  and having a sharp pain that hits in my left hip area deep down behind hipbone... and I am unable to empty my bladder fully. 

I go back to my surgeon on the 13th.. but he told me last visit that I have had so much done to me and gone throu in the last year that little cramping is ok.  If it becomes unbareable, go to ER.

And Buster and I are ok... just wish he would go on a schedule <grin>.. I like for him to be clean but soon as I change or clean it.... he decides to go again.  When I get stronger I plan on making him covers as I don't plan on wearing anything tight for a while.

Thanks again

Mary

Ask you doctor about a prescription for Flomax . Yes it's usually used by men for enlarged prostrate to help them urinate but it's also used in women to help them empty bladder easier . My Auntie takes it . It will lower blood pressure as a side effect so if you are really low then beware of that . If it's high then it's a good thing . Start off on the lowest dose I think it's 5 or 10 mg . 

Mary, Buster Brown is a really cute name for your colostomy!  I like it - very much!!!!

As for the cramping, if I am very still and very quiet, I can feel Rosebud working.  Normally, I have no idea what she's doing, but if I stop and pay attention, she "talks" to me.  I find I touch my pouch (over my clothes, of course) often to check to see if I need to change my pouch.  It's just a quirk and I think lots of us probably do it - unconsciously.

The only cramping I have is when I eat raw veggies.  My body just does not process them - no matter how finely I chew them up.  Cooked veggies are fine, but they have to be cooked all the way through - not crisp steamed.  Raw veggies make me sick - really, really sick and I get severe cramping very low in my abdomen and I vomit.  Other than that, I'm never sick.

Am REALLY REALLY HAPPY that your cancer is gone-Gone-GONE, too!!!!!  Isn't it a great feeling?  My surgeon took lots out of me, but the pathologist said he got it all.  Took 25 lymph nodes and I now have lymphedema in my lower legs, but colorful compression knee-highs take care of that!  So many pretty colors now!!!  It's awful, but I am alive - so I don't care!

Let's see if Buster Brown doesn't settle down a bit when he gets used to this new way of living.  I know things were kind of weird when Rosebud was first new, but now, I know what to expect and am not usually surprised by her shenanigans.

I haven't tucked in a shirt for literally decades.  Everything I wear is more or less tunic-style and nothing fits tightly or close to my body, so nobody knows I have Rosebud unless I tell or show them my pouch.  (I have used Rosebud's pouch to encourage others to get their colostomies and perhaps save their life.  She is quite a teacher!  When I tell them that this is how my body poops now, most tell me they're gonna call right away and get an appointment, so Rosebud is doing a terrific job!!!  If we save ONE life, that's wonderful!)

Mary, you're gonna be OK.  The worst is over.  But please don't hesitate for a second to call your doctor (or your ostomy nurse) if something doesn't seem quite right.  It's better to be a pest than have something really wrong.  Here's to many more years cancer-free!!!!!

Ann in Nebraska