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Compared with a conventional suturing of an open wound my stoma site has been left open with packing ribbon in the cavity. The side walls of the cavity are supported by sutures strung from either side like guitar strings causing that painful tugging sensation.

How long will it to close the cavity up do you reckon?
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If my memory serves me well around the 6 week mark you start to remark a major change...it granulates from inside out and works its way upward towards the surface.
You can help it by approaching the edges together at around week 3 or 4 (I used 1 or 2 steri strips at either end so that the scar wasn't absurdly ugly...it sort of worked out well.
Keep it clean and dry and beware if it gets hot or red around the edges or if you have a fever...if not, just be patient...We all heal at different speeds...and by the way...not smoking helps...just in case you do.
Sharon
Thanks Sharon,
My wound is going to need regular attention from the community nurse team to dress and pack it.
When I had my original proctocolectomy surgery the incision looked fine but it broke down within weeks leaving me with several open holes down to my muscle layer. At worst I had 3 wounds being packed, eventually they healed up after 4 months.
The way my wound fell apart showed how ill I was before my operation without realising or more likely accepting it, all my bodys reserves had been depleted by the colitis.
Of course everyone heals at different speeds but im two weeks post op and I had my stoma left open to heal as well and it is already about halfway healed I would guess. It was about an inch or so deep and now it is definitely under a half of an inch. Packing everyday and cleaning, also dont pack too tight. I did have a small stoma though so that could be why mine is healing so fast, plus Im young.

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