Cut on my stoma

[Johanna4kids4me]

I had the rare experience of my flange lasting nearly 10 days. As I was cleaning up,I noticed that there was a cut into my stoma. If you picture your stoma as a bagel ( I know, I know...) and think of how you slice a bagel, that's how the cut was. I think because of the long wear the edge may have been rubbing against my stoma. I suppose I cut have put it on a tad bit off center too. It also appears bruised which makes sense. I was wondering if any of you have had this happen and how long should I expect it to take to heal.
I'm 48 and have had Crohn's for 32 + years. I had my Ileostomy surgery in 2001. I have four kids and am doing well. I'd be thrilled to be able to share any advice or info so...

[Nimoy]

Hi Johanna,

My name is Trini. When I wore my colostomy bags, I had the same thing
happen to my stoma. When that happened, I called my wound care nurse
and she advised me to use lots of the stoma powder for a few days/week
to help clear it up. She also advised me to cut my wafer hole smaller
or larger(which ever one I needed). It worked. If the cut looks like
it was sliced then I would make an appt. and let the doctor look at
it. I'm 40 and was diagnosed with Crohn's in 1999. My husband and I
lost our baby about 10 months ago. We don't have any other children.
We didn't expect to get pregnant at all because my doctors always
advised us to adopt instead of having our own because of the Crohn's.

[worried878]

Also a good idea if you cut your own hole to run your finger around the hole after you cut it to remove any jagged edges...smoothit out with the pressure  pre-cut wafers are great...sounds like you may have cut your hole too small or had a jagged edge...stomas heal quickly and the powder is great just dont get it on the skin that you will stick the wafer to...this is possible but requires more step..some do get irritation on the skin around the stoma that must be treated

[Isabelle1963]

I use an adhesive ring that slips on the sticky side of the flange.  I can't remember what it's called but it can be shaped to whatever size hole you need and let the edge of the inside ring hang over the cut hole on the flange to protect you from the cut edges.  this works as a type of gasket to protect any leakage from between you and the flange as well as  you can tuck the edge over the edge of your stoma.  who ever created these things have got to be commended.  It saved my partner from hours of pain and raw patches.  hope this can help

[Helmar]

Hi All... Just wondering...is a flange the part that sticks onto your skin, and then do  you attach the bag to that? Over here (Australia) we have bags that are pre-cut to the size one needs, and they stick directly to the skin. They sit very flat, and can be changed daily, thus allowing a shower to keep the skin clean and so there is less likelyhood of getting sore skin.
Johanna, if you have a cut on your stoma, it would be best to have it checked by your Stoma Nurse or Doctor to make sure all is well. I hope everyone is doing well....hugs...Helen..

[edy2000]

I have a wound in my skin at the back of my faceplate or wafer,  besides in stoma wound. When I discoverd it,  the skin is infected and I went to my doctor, advise me to take antibiotic for the inpection. I went to my gastroentrologist  and the same advise to take antibiotic. I was cured but the wounds remains, a small wound at the back of my wafer,  it was disturbing.  What will I do,  pls help me.

thanks

eduardo c. vasquez

[aswife]

My husband uses a wafer by ConvaTec that doesn't need to be cut, you just stretch it to the appropriate size and the edges are smooth.  It's called ConvaTec Natura Durahesive Moldable Flange.

[daniathome]

Hi Johanna
I was wondering about the moldable flange bag that your husband uses.  My husband just had a colostomy a couple of weeks ago due to a gunshot wound through his gut and we have been having a lot of problems with the bag not sticking.  He has a large open incision (where they repaired his intestines) that is only an inch or so from his colostomy hole so I have to trim the bags and they blow out there regularly.  We are hoping a more flexible flange would help.  Any suggestions?