Just had colostomy surgery and I'm scared I made the wrong choice.

GoTWHeeLs · 06-23-2012, 07:56 PM

Hello everyone, I'm still recovering in the hospital from my colostomy surgery that I had Friday morning. My concerns are that I'm not going to be able to care for this independently like i was told. Is there a medical website with quad friendly clips, or something someone could recommend?

My stoma is black and much larger than expected. The odor is soooooo foul. More blood than stool. I should have posted in advance...

Could you guys give me some advice plz.

Patton57 · 06-23-2012, 08:01 PM

Hang in there! You have a lot of things to learn yet. I'm a C7 and had buyer's remorse for several weeks. Others will chime in shortly with more specific solutions and links with more information.

Patrick Madsen · 06-23-2012, 09:17 PM

Same as Patton saiys. It will get much better. The stoma just had surgery so yeah its going to be black and skabby. That will fluff off eventually. It'll take a few weeks.

Is it on the left side or right side. Sigmoid loop or the other? It'll be okay. You'll have to find a new hobby due to all the hours saved not sitting on the pot or having someone else's finger up your butt.

GoTWHeeLs · 06-23-2012, 09:31 PM

It's on the left. Any tips or advice?

Patton57 · 06-23-2012, 09:55 PM

The smell can be neutralized with your choice of foods and taking Devrom tablets.

I use the clips as they are but there are many differnt types out there. If you are online I would google colostomy bag (replacement) clips and start there. Even if there's nothing out there someone has had to have thought about it before. If not we'll all just have to put our heads together and come up with a way to manage it. What level are you and how much dexterity do you have in your hands?

You can also use closed end bags. They don't have clips but aren't drainable. You just pop them off and dispose of them after they fill up and then pop a new one on.

The blood should subside in the next few days.

lynnifer · 06-23-2012, 11:02 PM

I had much remorse after my hysterectomy (I know it's not the same) but at 3 months out, it was much better. At six months out, I had no regrets and was perfectly back to normal! Take Care!

It's normal what you're experiencing.

smashms · 06-23-2012, 11:04 PM

first off if it is black your surgeon should know about it because it is not normal i had an ileal conduit and my stoma nurse said if it was black to immediately notify the surgeon or in your case the nurse since you are still in the hospital, but like patton said it will get better. it usually takes 6 to 8 weeks for the swelling to go down on the stoma. leaks are very common during this time so don't get discouraged. and what you go home with is not necessarly what you will end up with in the end. i can recommend the UOAA.ORG site it is the united ostomy website and has a ton of info on it as well as a support message board. Good luck to you and it does get better!!

addiesue · 06-23-2012, 11:58 PM

You still have carls number?

I was just looking at your facebook when going through my friends list and wondered how you and your boy were. Hope this gets better.

TheRainman · 06-24-2012, 12:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GoTWHeeLs

Hello everyone, I'm still recovering in the hospital from my colostomy surgery that I had Friday morning. My concerns are that I'm not going to be able to care for this independently like i was told. Is there a medical website with quad friendly clips, or something someone could recommend?

My stoma is black and much larger than expected. The odor is soooooo foul. More blood than stool. I should have posted in advance...

Could you guys give me some advice plz.

Thanks for posting this. I'm thinking about getting it done soon myself. Just like you, I would like to be able to take care of it myself.

TheRainman · 06-24-2012, 12:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Patton57

Hang in there! You have a lot of things to learn yet. I'm a C7 and had buyer's remorse for several weeks. Others will chime in shortly with more specific solutions and links with more information.

I'm also a c7 with decent finger movement in my right hand. Are you able to take care of the colostomy yourself and do you think I will be able to with my right hand? And are you glade you had it done?

06-23-2012, 07:56 PM	#1
GoTWHeeLs Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Oklahoma City Posts: 1,745	Just had colostomy surgery and I'm scared I made the wrong choice. Hello everyone, I'm still recovering in the hospital from my colostomy surgery that I had Friday morning. My concerns are that I'm not going to be able to care for this independently like i was told. Is there a medical website with quad friendly clips, or something someone could recommend? My stoma is black and much larger than expected. The odor is soooooo foul. More blood than stool. I should have posted in advance... Could you guys give me some advice plz. __________________ Say what you mean and mean what you say because those who mind dont matter and those who matter dont mind. My Myspace

06-23-2012, 09:31 PM	#4
GoTWHeeLs Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Oklahoma City Posts: 1,745	It's on the left. Any tips or advice? __________________ Say what you mean and mean what you say because those who mind dont matter and those who matter dont mind. My Myspace

06-23-2012, 09:55 PM	#5
Patton57 Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Posts: 1,368	The smell can be neutralized with your choice of foods and taking Devrom tablets. I use the clips as they are but there are many differnt types out there. If you are online I would google colostomy bag (replacement) clips and start there. Even if there's nothing out there someone has had to have thought about it before. If not we'll all just have to put our heads together and come up with a way to manage it. What level are you and how much dexterity do you have in your hands? You can also use closed end bags. They don't have clips but aren't drainable. You just pop them off and dispose of them after they fill up and then pop a new one on. The blood should subside in the next few days. Last edited by Patton57; 06-23-2012 at 10:08 PM.

06-23-2012, 11:02 PM	#6
lynnifer Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Windsor ON Canada Posts: 15,310	I had much remorse after my hysterectomy (I know it's not the same) but at 3 months out, it was much better. At six months out, I had no regrets and was perfectly back to normal! Take Care! It's normal what you're experiencing. __________________ I think over again my small adventures, My fears, Those small ones that seemed so big, For all the vital things I had to get and to reach; And yet there is only one great thing, The only thing, To live to see the great day that dawns And the light that fills the world. Anonymous (Inuit, 19th century) T-11 Flaccid Paraplegic due to TM July 1985 @ age 12

06-23-2012, 11:04 PM	#7
smashms Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: New York Posts: 2,053	first off if it is black your surgeon should know about it because it is not normal i had an ileal conduit and my stoma nurse said if it was black to immediately notify the surgeon or in your case the nurse since you are still in the hospital, but like patton said it will get better. it usually takes 6 to 8 weeks for the swelling to go down on the stoma. leaks are very common during this time so don't get discouraged. and what you go home with is not necessarly what you will end up with in the end. i can recommend the UOAA.ORG site it is the united ostomy website and has a ton of info on it as well as a support message board. Good luck to you and it does get better!! __________________ T6 incomplete due to MS and aortic aneurysm surgery that went bad.

06-23-2012, 08:01 PM	#2
Patton57 Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Posts: 1,368	Hang in there! You have a lot of things to learn yet. I'm a C7 and had buyer's remorse for several weeks. Others will chime in shortly with more specific solutions and links with more information.

06-23-2012, 09:17 PM	#3
Patrick Madsen Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Blaine, Wa Posts: 3,875	Same as Patton saiys. It will get much better. The stoma just had surgery so yeah its going to be black and skabby. That will fluff off eventually. It'll take a few weeks. Is it on the left side or right side. Sigmoid loop or the other? It'll be okay. You'll have to find a new hobby due to all the hours saved not sitting on the pot or having someone else's finger up your butt.

06-23-2012, 11:58 PM	#8
addiesue Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: TN Posts: 4,463	You still have carls number? I was just looking at your facebook when going through my friends list and wondered how you and your boy were. Hope this gets better. __________________ If you can't handle me at my worst, then you sure as hell don't deserve me at my best. Sometimes it is easier to widen doors than it is to open minds.

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
another sling surgery? hard choice	darlagee22	Care	34	08-28-2012 03:53 PM
fear of colostomy surgery	bnb	Care	46	06-04-2012 06:19 PM
Surgery scared	para33	Care	5	03-28-2011 05:04 PM
Colostomy Surgery Tomorrow	sreneet	Care	28	03-18-2011 02:45 PM
Colostomy surgery complete	mike bauer	Care	32	08-02-2006 10:27 AM