Okay, so I'm 2 1/2 weeks away from the j-pouch surgery, and I just noticed this last night as I was changing my wafer. The edges of the stoma, where it meets the skin on my stomach, were bleeding. Now I know that a little bleeding is normal, but this was a good amount that didn't stop for about 10 minutes. Once it slowed, I put a new wafer on, but I'm not sure if I should call the doctor. The skin around the stoma isn't irritated or anything, and I've had no problem with leaks. I just don't know why this might be happening. Any thoughts?

Hi Michelle,

It could be that your wafer has irritated the base of the stoma. Have you checked to see if your stoma has any cuts? This used to happen to Wee Willie before I switched to the moldable wafers because he has a habit of telescoping and retracting and in doing so was catching on the side if the wafer's hole (which can be a bit on the sharp side).

I would just keep an eye on things. A little bit of bleeding isn't unusual and as long as it has now stopped it should be ok. I know it can be very alarming when it seems to bleed for a while but your stoma is made up of the same sort of mucous membrane as the inside of your mouth and remember that if you bite the inside of your cheek it seems to take ages to stop bleeding.

If you are still worried or it starts to bleed again, swells up, or starts to get painful then I would try to see your doctor or ET nurse as soon as possible, if only to put your mind at rest.

Let us know how you get on.

Take care

Shell

Shell,

I think that it may be due to some cuts on the stoma, like you said. Currently, I use Hollister's 2 piece system with the cut-to-fit flextend wafer. Since it's hard to cut a perfect circle, I am sure there are probably some edges that aren't smooth that catch it during the protraction/retraction. I believe from your other posts that you use Convatec's wafers, yes? I'm wondering if Hollister makes something similar.
Thanks for the help.

Hi Michelle!

Hollister really doesn't have anything that can measure up to the moldable wafers that ConvaTec makes. I used to be a HUGE Hollister fan- until I tried the durahesive wafers. They are very nice to a stoma.

-Rae

Rae,

Well, I'm 11 days out from next step, so if I happen to wake up with a loop ileo rather than a functioning J-pouch, I think I'm going to try the ConvaTec wafers...I've heard their convex wafers are great for the more temperamental loop ileos. If I happen to wake up with a functioning pouch, I guess I won't have to worry about it!!!!!