Hi guys....experience is not helping me with this 'new' pouch. Things are very different from the previous times and I am discovering all sorts of new 'events'.
First up, sometimes when I intubate the valve gets blocked open. When I remove the tube the air and stuff just rushes out. This never happened with the previous pouches and I was wondering if any of you have had this happen and what if anything does it mean?
Second, I am developing a stiff ring around the stoma. It feels as if someone has placed a round plastic ring under the skin. It started slowly working its way around and is now almost totally circling around the stoma. What is it and why is it happening????
The third thing is the usual, unfortunately. I am having to intubate only after urinating because the tube won't go in otherwise. Dito if the pouch is too full.
Any input?
sharon

I used to have stitches come out around my stoma and the stiffness loosenned up. But, I don't like that your cath doesn't go in and out easy....the valve is very tricky. do you see your surgeon again?

Thanks Janice,
I have gotten rid of all of the stitches but it feels like a ring of scar tissue under the sking, almost a doughnut! thicker and thicker each day....may need cortisone shot or something into it...
as for the intubation....every time I wake up I hold my breath until I can get the tube in....about 2 or 3 times a week it is impossible with the strait cath that is newer and a bit more flexible than the old curved one....so I have to push a bit harder and sometimes even force it a bit to make the valve push open...gets stuck sometimes too....dribbles a bit and then closes..
I feel like I need a new instruction booklet!
Nothing is the same anymore...the stoma is still bleeding after nearly 4 months...I don't remember it ever happening before....I keep making deals with God...I can survive this if only you will let the valve hold and keep functioning!
I don't know how he feels about deals though.

I will be going away with a girlfriend and her family for a week and I am terrified! This will be the first time in over a year that I have left the safety of home/hospital and family for a cottage by the sea.
It is only a few hours away by train but still I am aprehensive at best...
No doctor visits programed...Dr. C is in Canada and I am not and the french Dr. is not competent to fix anything if it breaks...he can only stabalize me at best....so I will stick to a low residue diet and nothing dangerous that can not come out through a very skinny tube just in case of emergency and try to enjoy the sea and sun.
Wish me luck on this test...if it works out well I will then go for a road trip with my hubby in a month or two...we need it!
Sharon