I never had trouble with heartburn, just sometimes a "sour stomach" if I eat too much. I used to have some pain around the stoma early on, I guess as my stoma worked hard to learn its job. Are you eating a larger quantity of food now? Coloned people can poop it out when they've eaten a large meal - maybe we just get heartburn or a sour stomach.

Yes my food intake is much more then post op x 3 months. Maybe just an adjustment but seeing my gp doc tomorrow just to see if taking antacids reg is ok. Also on vit b12 shots monthly. Are you taking those as well?  

Lynn 

No shots, just Feosol iron twice daily and chewable B complex daily. So far so good.  I'm a year and a half out now from surgery so I'm also eating a lot more. My blood numbers and weight are good and I don't get that sour stomach as much anymore. It's weird that even this far along things can still change. The iron thinned out my output as did a migraine prevention med and those, along with this brutally hot NY summer, have indicated that I change my bag almost every other day or else I have skin issues. Not a big deal but I had a nice every four day routine going for a while...

Yes def things can change for sure. When did the sour stomach issues go away for you? I think that's what this is as well. Kind of like indigestion. I change usually 4 days depending sometimes like you say with weather and food  if too liquidy it becomes a problem  

Are you used to the whole thing yet?  I'm still working on that but def  feel better then J pouch 

The stomach discomfort went away, I'd say, after several months, up to the first year after surgery. Yes, I'm pretty used to the whole thing. Although I suppose the summer makes it more "obvious" with swimwear, lighter clothing, sweating, being outside more and away from restrooms for longer periods of time, etc......sometimes I hardly think about my bag and other times I have to think about it frequently. I had some sort of virus this week, headachy and exhausted, worked and slept, that's it. I was so grateful for my bag. I had no stomach upset and barely had to do anything but pee and empty, then back to bed. Went to an outdoor blues festival yesterday. Drank beer, sweated and danced. Fine. Teach an aqua exercise class and think about my bag constantly, if it's filling up and showing through my swimsuit. Hoping that it'll stay on when I move in the water. Like I said, sometimes it's barely a thought, sometimes it's all my thought. I guess it'll always be that way.

Thanks for the info really helps. I was a water jogger prior to surgery and haven't gone back in yet. Worried too about filling up. Have you tried any of the belt type stuff you can buy online ? Sort of holds it in place I heard but haven't yet purchased one. That's great that it subsided after a year cause that's the only issue right besides tired early in the day. 

Yes, I think your tummy will settle, too. Six months is actually still early out. Also, with the pool, I think I'm more aware of the air in my bag (which seems to happen in water - a weird physics thing, perhaps?) because, as the instructor, all eyes are on me. And, quite honestly, I'm probably being more paranoid than I need to be. I'm sure no one notices anything. Please don't let me dissuade you; you should definitely go back in!

P.S. No belts, but I just ordered three boxes of the Brava strips to reinforced the edges of my barrier. We shall see......

I find the brava strips are not good for my skin but maybe just for pool ok. What type of suit do you wear ? 

I thought they looked a little stiff when I took them out of the box. Hmm, oh well....

The swimsuit website is www.vblush.com. I have a one piece of theirs now. They're a company based in the UK. Their swimsuits are nice, run a little tight in the midsection, but have nice coverage and an internal pocket for the bag. They don't have a big selection. Another company is www.whiterosecollection.com but they're in the process of switching ownership and their stock is low. I ordered from them when I had my temporary stoma six years ago and liked my one piece. It was more modest, though, with a lower leg cut. I donated it when I had my takedown - too bad, too. They're expensive!

Thanks again for the info. Are they specific suits for ostomies? On the website for the for Vblush did not specify. I have so many suits that are regular but have only tried one so far. 

Yes, all suits for ostomies.

Off topic I have itching 6 mos post op in rectal area after removal. No problems till now past 24hrs. Any suggestions for that?? 

I get that occasionally. I've used just some Vaseline and a thin pad for protection. I have no idea what causes it, it's not particular to the summer heat. About a year ago, I actually had some sort of swelling there that was very painful. I made an appointment with my surgeon. Luckily, it popped the night before as it was a bit messy. He put me on an antibiotic although the tests came back inconclusive for infection. He said sometimes these things happen, that there can be a slight opening there even though it's sewn closed and it can become irritated. It has nothing to do with hygiene. I haven't had it since, just sometimes that bit of itchiness. Hopefully yours will go away as quickly as it came on and is just that random irritation but, if it becomes more like mine (you'll know - mine happened really fast within 24 hours), you may consider a call in to your surgeon. Please don't let this alarm you, it really was no big deal in the scheme of things and yours is most likely NOTHING. I only mention it because it's good to know.

That's great info thanks! Hopefully it will pass. Not really too bad right now but still feel it.