Stoma placement & colostomy

ChesBay · 08-13-2007, 05:27 PM

For males with colostomies, is your stoma above or below belt line?

As a male giving a lot of consideration to getting a colostomy I was hoping to get some input on where individuals, especially men, have their stomas, "above the belt line or below the belt line" ?

In most of the AB forums I have read people suggest 'below the belt line'. With our unique w/c sitting situation I can't see how that would work for me and would be concerned about my belt slipping down below my navel / over stoma continually if I had a stoma below my belt line. I guess you could say as a 30 year, T2 para, I have the middle age gut hanging over the belt deal going with abdominal area. I realize that drainage of pouch and skin folds are also important considerations.

There have been a lot of good threads on the subject of colostomies and I greatly appreciate it. Helps me alot in making probably one of the biggest decisions since getting injured. I may be 'overthinking' but would like to get it right.

Thanks in advance,
Paul

justadildo · 08-14-2007, 12:06 AM

mine is at what "beltline" was when a.b......1/2 way between navel and s.p. off to left....my left...has been no prob there for 1.5 years...easy to manage there with no fingers...

crppled007 · 08-14-2007, 12:18 AM

My doctor did an excellent job of putting mine in. It's about an inch and a half to the left and up from my belly button. That way whenever I'm sitting the belt line on the pants do not hit the stoma area. About inch and a half below the rib line. I have been in the chair for 22 years, C4 incomplete, and I did not get this until last July, and I wish I had gotten the years before.
Cripp

jryprt · 08-14-2007, 09:15 AM

Same here about 1 1/2 to 2 inch to the left of belly button down about 1 inch from center of belly button . Had it for 2 years and love it , very little head sweats arms do not tingle anymore . Freedom no bowel program .
Good luck Jerry

quadvet · 08-14-2007, 09:23 AM

Same, above the beltline, there isn't room to have it in the pants. Got mine 8 years post-SCI, in '98, can't say enough good about it.
All the best.

DeadEye · 08-14-2007, 03:49 PM

Below the beltline, 2 3/4" left of bellybutton and 1-1 1/2 below. Works great for me. If I'm at the river or beach and want to pull off my shirt, the last thing I want to have to worry about is a poop bag hanging out. I've got a decent quad-gut but my pants aren't high-waisters. The top of my pants is right at the top of my belly-button.

Had it 2 years and it's been a life-saving stress releiver.

ChesBay · 08-20-2007, 01:49 PM

I appreciate everyone's input on this. It helps alot in the decision process.

jime · 08-25-2007, 04:17 PM

Mine is below belt on left.
Also, try to use closed end pouches. They are much easier to manage.

08-13-2007, 05:27 PM	#1
ChesBay Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Norfolk, Virginia Posts: 1,128	Stoma placement & colostomy For males with colostomies, is your stoma above or below belt line? As a male giving a lot of consideration to getting a colostomy I was hoping to get some input on where individuals, especially men, have their stomas, "above the belt line or below the belt line" ? In most of the AB forums I have read people suggest 'below the belt line'. With our unique w/c sitting situation I can't see how that would work for me and would be concerned about my belt slipping down below my navel / over stoma continually if I had a stoma below my belt line. I guess you could say as a 30 year, T2 para, I have the middle age gut hanging over the belt deal going with abdominal area. I realize that drainage of pouch and skin folds are also important considerations. There have been a lot of good threads on the subject of colostomies and I greatly appreciate it. Helps me alot in making probably one of the biggest decisions since getting injured. I may be 'overthinking' but would like to get it right. Thanks in advance, Paul

08-14-2007, 03:49 PM	#6
DeadEye Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Hoo-ville, VA Posts: 2,491	Below the beltline, 2 3/4" left of bellybutton and 1-1 1/2 below. Works great for me. If I'm at the river or beach and want to pull off my shirt, the last thing I want to have to worry about is a poop bag hanging out. I've got a decent quad-gut but my pants aren't high-waisters. The top of my pants is right at the top of my belly-button. Had it 2 years and it's been a life-saving stress releiver. __________________ "It is every man's obligation to put back into the world at least the equivalent of what he takes out of it. Try not to become a man of success but rather try to become a man of value." - Albert Einstein Last edited by DeadEye; 08-17-2007 at 04:46 PM.

08-25-2007, 04:17 PM	#8
jime Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Posts: 53	Colostomy Mine is below belt on left. Also, try to use closed end pouches. They are much easier to manage.

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08-14-2007, 12:06 AM	#2
justadildo Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: rocky mountain high Posts: 1,395	mine is at what "beltline" was when a.b......1/2 way between navel and s.p. off to left....my left...has been no prob there for 1.5 years...easy to manage there with no fingers...

08-14-2007, 12:18 AM	#3
crppled007 Senior Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Serenity Posts: 458	My doctor did an excellent job of putting mine in. It's about an inch and a half to the left and up from my belly button. That way whenever I'm sitting the belt line on the pants do not hit the stoma area. About inch and a half below the rib line. I have been in the chair for 22 years, C4 incomplete, and I did not get this until last July, and I wish I had gotten the years before. Cripp

08-14-2007, 09:15 AM	#4
jryprt Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 513	Same here about 1 1/2 to 2 inch to the left of belly button down about 1 inch from center of belly button . Had it for 2 years and love it , very little head sweats arms do not tingle anymore . Freedom no bowel program . Good luck Jerry

08-14-2007, 09:23 AM	#5
quadvet Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 2,707	Same, above the beltline, there isn't room to have it in the pants. Got mine 8 years post-SCI, in '98, can't say enough good about it. All the best.

08-20-2007, 01:49 PM	#7
ChesBay Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Norfolk, Virginia Posts: 1,128	I appreciate everyone's input on this. It helps alot in the decision process.