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This is a two part question. I am dying to get some uninterrupted sleep. The past couple of nights I have taken 2 immodium to try to not have to empty my bag so often during the night. I don't know what happened, but I woke up in terrible pain. I couldn't fall back to sleep, so I took half a xanax. Two hours later, I woke up full of very liquidy stool. I got up to take a shower and change my bag. My stoma was completely in my abdomen. I have never seen it like that before. I got in the shower, and it slowly came out.

Is that normal?

What can I do to get some sleep?

Thanks in advance for your help!
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A stoma recessing back into the abdomen is not funky. That is dangerous, as the stuff would the go directly into your body. I am glad it came back out. If it does not pop back out, get to an emergency room.

I learned the hard way to empty the bag right before I went to bed. Even still, I woke up a time or two, with nothing having happened to wake me up.
I had UC for two years and that totally screwed my sleep pattern. I got my colon taken out in January and I am still struggling to sleep through the night. I sometimes take a Benadryl that sort of helps. Otherwise, it might not be a bad idea to ask your doctor to prescribe you a sleeping aid.

Regarding your stoma recessing into your abdomen, I am not sure why that happened. But, it sure doesn't sound normal. I hope it doesn't happen again!!
I think if your stoma recesses into your abdomen, even if it comes back out, you need to call your doctor ASAP.

If it's not too bad, there are products that can help with a recessed stoma. If it is bad (as only your Doctor can tell), you might have to get a stoma revision.

Jan might have more details, but I would call my doctor right away.
A retracted stoma isn't an emergency and is fairly common. But, it can lead to problems if it is persistent, mostly due to leakage of stool under the wafer and causing skin excoriation. It is highly unlikely to become detached and leak stool into the abdomen, so don't freak out about that. Persistent stoma retraction is dealt with by using a convex pouching system or a stoma revision.

The causes can be many, mostly due to weight gain, adhesions interfering with movement of the intestine, and similar things. If you are completely obstructed and in pain, yes, you need to go to the hospital or call your surgeon. If it worries you, also a good reason to call your surgeon for reassurance or he can check it to be sure.

In this case, it might have been due to too much slowing of the gut with Imodium.

Keep an eye on it and be sure to mention it at your next appointment. If it keeps happening, call your surgeon and see if he feels you need to come in.

Jan Smiler

I totally agree with Jan.

I have a relatively flat stomach, not as flat as I would like, certainly not a six pack and since creation of my Stoma, it ofton retracts inward, although I only notice it when changing my colostomy bag, otherwise I never see my Stoma as a bag is permently attached, especially when bathing.

To prevent leaks from around the Stoma, I use a convex appliance landing zone/wafer.

As for cramps, maybe the Imodium and whatever's been eaten earlier may of caused a little too much bulking up.

On one occasions and totally unaware of the consequences, I ate a bag of Dry Roasted Peanuts. I was aware of the possibility of a blockage, so I ensured to chewed the peanuts and chewed some more but peanuts can cause a blockage or slow down movement by bulking up, regardless of how much they've been chewed, I wasn't aware of this at the time. That night and best part of the following day, I endured stomach cramps, for the first time ever.

It may be a little different for yourself as you've had a J pouch reversal.

Like Jan suggests, I would only worry if stomach cramps are apparent and there's no output.

As for getting a good night sleep; from time to time I suffer from the same. Most of the day I'm tired, not to the extent I need to sleep but lacking energy, which has been suggested as being due to disturbed sleep, which to some extent, is probably true.

I've also come to the conclusion it could be dehydration.

I'm tired most of day, yet it tends to lift late afternoon, coincidently when tired, I'm also hungry, so I eat and drink, normally a couple of hours before bed; but when I go to bed, I can't sleep ?

When I do finally fall asleep, I will awake within a couple of hours, sometimes I awake again to change my bag, so by time I do fall into a deep sleep, I have to wake up for the next day.

It's a viscous circle and probably difficult to understand; it's certainly difficult to explain but somewhere in all that, I think it's due to dehydration.

Last edited by Former Member
Thank you for your replies!

quote:
But, it can lead to problems if it is persistent, mostly due to leakage of stool under the wafer and causing skin excoriation



This is what is happening. What does a stoma revision entail? I didn't know it could be revised. Is it a quick procedure or considered another surgery with a hospital stay?

Thank for your help!
It is real surgery. They need to detach the stoma and reconstruct it. Sometimes they even need to re-site it or do a hernia repair or plastic surgery. But, basically, you need the stoma to protrude and inch or so, so the stool empties into the bag, not undermining the wafer.

It is not an office procedure or something super simple. But, it is not like your major resection either.

Jan Smiler

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