Whoa, it looks like a piercing! Did this affect the adhesion of your barrier ring??

No.. No leaks.  Fortunately it's at the top.  All this time.. Five and a half months I thought it was a pimple or part of scarring.  Just can't see the shiny looking down at it.  Even when I know what it is.  Thank goodness it's not rusty.  I know they use titanium staples.  I think. 

Piercing.... Hahaha... It does... Weird place for one ... 

Hi  ouch, having a staple left in!

 We had our surgery at about the same time, and wouldn't you know  about two weeks ago I noticed a small abscess near my scar. At first I thought it was a hole caused by a staple,  but why would it take so long for me to notice it? Then I thought it might be a fistula. I poked a Q-tip soaked in alcohol into the hole  and slowly it is closing up. I don't know if it should be. Of course I should go to my PCP, but I'd rather not go to the bother.  Mind you I just have my shoulder replaced so  any infection could be terrible disaster   Anyway I just thought I'd add  to the list of strange things that  happen after surgery.    Janet 

Ya... That's weird. This has never had an infection by it... Just felt like a scar tipped pimple.  Best way I can describe it. I just happened  to go across it pretty hard with a wash cloth and caught it.  Ouch.  Still look at it and it doesn't look like a staple.  Pic shows it clear as a bell.  Never would have known if I didn't take a pic. 

  I know what you mean.  Now it's just another.... although simple... Thing I gotta do!  

Richard 

Ok, wow....

Maybe it worked itself out? Sometimes staples let go and then take their sweet time working themselves up to the surface...it can take months or years.

As long as there are no clamps, rolls of suture silk or sponges following it you should be ok...

Sharon

Ya... It was smaller at first.... I think.... Just didn't pay that much attention to it at first... I am hoping she just leaves it alone and it will just work out.  Be the best thing.  It's so close I don't want a raw spot there.  Not a good place to have a sore.  I am waiting for her to call back.  

See what she says.  I just want to send a pic.  I work late afternoon and really don't have time to take off.  I have never changed my appliance out of my house.  Doing it in the Dr office is not gonna be a thing I look forward to.  At home it is easy.  Cleanup would be well... Different.  And putting one on there.  I wouldn't trust myself.  Be in a rush. 

But... I will do what I have to. 

Richard. 

richard

hadn't thought about the changing appliance complication.  always more difficult towards end of day.  at least in the doc's office they are used to the situation.  tough for you.  i had found--during my one year with the bag-- that after every time i was pushed into an awkward situation that my boundaries expanded and i became more comfortable with the bag.  worse was no pit stop or on-board toilet while on long bus trip across kosovo, of all places.  finally somebody else was desperate and i ran into the woods and let go, just in time.  oh no, that wasn't the worst one by any stretch of the imagination.  another time.....

i have an appointment to see my doc re the weeping of the staple hole.  only made it because i also got hit with another dizzy spell--feel like a drunken sailor when walking and head spins when sitting.  happened a month ago and as it went away in several days i cancelled my appointment.  this is actually the third time so they told me i had to come in.  am more curious about the weeping hole and will report tomorrow!  but mine isn't a staple, just the hole.  very curious.  janet

I have a hole that has not healed but thank goodness it's not under the wafer.  I usually do not cover it but I had to put a bandaid on it just now cause it's getting on my clothing.  I am at work and will address it better at home. 

If I do have to go up and change at an appointment the only thing I can do is pretty well just not eat.  That's what I do at home and it behave for quite awhile.  30-45 minutes.  But boy it hits active as soon as I eat after that. 

The staple does not bother me.... yet.... I would only hope it just comes out by itself or far enough so I can pull it. 

I sent my pictures up to th  surgeon.  Waiting on a response. 

Richard. 

I hope it all works out easily, Richard.

Ouch Richard! Sorry to hear that!

I haven't heard back from my surgeon yet but I have made my second change since and it looks like it's working itself out.  Not sure but comparing pics it seems so.  I just hope it works it's way out.  Be best if it did.  Doesn't really bother anything... Of course unless I hit it but that has only happened during cleanup.  Time will tell. 

Richard. 

richard

my staple hole--but no staple--that opened up is closing on its own.  the doc said to keep antibiotic ointment on it as well as a bandage, which i realize you can't do when it is under the seal.  i'm writing this so you watch our for any signs of infection.  since the hole, an area of the stitches opened up, but closed on its own.  

decades ago i had a head injury that required 10 or 20 stitches, don't recall now.  apparently they used interior stitches as a year latter stitches were worming and bleeding themselves out of my head!!  i was so glad they didn't go the other direction i.e. into the skull!  strange things happen.  peace, janet

I am keeping an eye on it.  Not even redness is around it.  Looks the same.  Maybe just a hair further out.  Here is a picture from yesterday.  I can feel it but the wafer doesn't even cover it.  Which is a good thing.  It's at the top of my stoma.  That's a good thing too.  I don't have any leaks around it. 

 If something happens I will go straight to the Dr.  For sure. 

The brighter picture is from a week ago.  Hard to tell if it has moved.  Gonna hurt to pull it.  And may cause a sore spot.  Which would worry me more than the staple as infections go. 

As for holes... I still have a hole that is trying to heal from the big incision made to remove my pouch.  It's only the size of a pencil eraser but I keep breaking it open even after five months!  It's right at the underwear band line.... So it gets quite a bit of attention from sitting and twisting at my job and at home.  Which keeps it open.  I wish it would heal.  It gets close and then I move the wrong way and it opens up. 

Richard 

Oh... Update... If anyone cares.  It came out by itself.  Never felt it or seen it.  Just gone.  Kinda weird.  I know this has nothing to do with it because all the skin around my stoma has healed... But my stoma has since looked elongated.  Maybe it's just me.  It a shape shifter all the time anyways. 

But I do have a question for those that have an ileo.  I did a change yesterday and normally it behaves but while changing it was actually shooting out not oozing.  I have not felt well the day before and the day of the change.  I don't feel like I had a bug... today I am fine... But for two days I swear it was just like after surgery!  Totally exhausted and whole body pain and weaknesses.  I thought to myself... Oh No... Now. What... But I am much better today.  

But this was the first time in six months I felt any pain in my gut area.  That's why I was worried.  It felt like the UC pains.  But it's all gone after two days.  Thank goodness.  Had me worried.  You know our luck!  If it's nit one thing it's another.  

I am just a worrier. 

Richard. 

This may sound weird but, as a fellow ostomate, I think about your staple from time to time  Glad it worked itself out. As far as the shooting output, this happened to me about six weeks after surgery. Abdominal pain, exhaustion and then forceful output that knocked my whole appliance off my skin. It must have been a blockage. Maybe yours was, too?

I'm thinking it may have been a small blockage.  

Usually it only takes a few hours after I eat to know... And yesterday I had pickled beets.  You definitely know when they exit and I never saw it.  But that was after I started feeling ill. 

Ya... I was so happy the staple came out by itself.  Being so close to the stoma and having it pulled would injure the skin and cause problems for awhile.  Thanks for thinking of me.. 

How are you doing?  Better?  Seems so. 

Richard 

That's good new Richard. It's a bit freaky having a staple hanging around. 

Yes, better. I'm using a good appliance system, skin looks good. I'm awaiting a sample of the Coloplast Mio one piece. It seems like Coloplast took all of our feedback into account when they designed this bag. Opaque but with a pullaway window so you can see your stoma; a built in filter that's in it's own section of the bag so it doesn't become rendered useless once stool hits it, and; a more pliable barrier (I think that's what you call the adhesive part of the bag.) I'm curious to try it....

I went through a period about four months ago where I had this persistent feeling of, "Wow, I'm really going to have this bag for the rest of my life." The weird thing is, I'm really ok with my bag, I feel so much more like a survivor, more of a sense of daily peace than I ever had with my jpouch -- and, yet, these thoughts persisted. Maybe I'm seeing friends divorce and enter the dating scene again. I don't see this in my future, love my husband, solid marriage...and yet I'm quite aware that if I DID have to enter that scene, I'd start with an "issue." My rational mind says everyone has something and this is mine. It just all made the bag real. But it's passing, so that's good.

Maybe you had a little bug and it coupled with the beets that never showed? As long as it worked itself out.

I'm not inclined to use another product.  I did try the Mios way back but don't remember how good or bad they were.  I tried most.  I just use the precut convetec..I just like the precut... Just stick it on and the size is right. They work fine so I will not stray from them. 

I know what you mean that you have come to peace with the appliance.  I did the same.  As for the rest of my life.  Ya.. Sure... Most of it is behind me.  I will be 60 in June.  Been married a long time (38 yrs)  and if anything happens to that I won't be on the lookout.  Lol.  I will never find a woman like I have now.  

As long as I have no skin issues I don't even think about it most of the time.  Used to bug me when first going to sleep.  Knowing it was still busy while I am trying to fall asleep bothered me... but I got past it.  I seem to wake at the right time.  Crossed fingers... No accidents as of yet. 

Thanks for posting the picture Richard. I had no idea we had Staples like that around our stomas. 

I'm a 60 year old married 40 years I agree with you both.  This is much better than life with my j-pouch.  I wish I'd had it removed sooner but can only go forward.  It's final and it is better than I hoped for. 

TE Marie posted:

Thanks for posting the picture Richard. I had no idea we had Staples like that around our stomas. 

I'm a 60 year old married 40 years I agree with you both.  This is much better than life with my j-pouch.  I wish I'd had it removed sooner but can only go forward.  It's final and it is better than I hoped for. 

So happy it worked out.  Took a little longer but you made to this side.  Once there it's wonderful isn't it.  

Not saying it doesn't have problems but I must say mine have been so minor it's not even worth mentioning. 

This is a breeze compared to the pouch.  It didn't like me at all.  

I will be 60 in a few days... Married almost as long... 38...and I can enjoy what's left and go to work with no stress.... Well.. Some but it doesn't cause flares anymore. 

Richard.