New stoma healing question - freaking out!

Chute, if you're eleven days out, then the stoma will certainly adapt as the swelling starts to go down. The skin may not stay flat as the stoma shrinks (and I seem to recall it starts to shrink pretty fast.) and this is probably what you're seeing when you say the skin is pulled away a little. Chances are this is absolutely nothing, just the stoma and surrounding skin adapting to the changes. Do you have a visiting nurse to check this out? Can you post a picture here? We've seen it all - and our own stomas! - so maybe we can help....

I remember that early period of adjustment. Once things have settled, you'll have more peace of mind.

Don't freak!  You'll be ok. I couldn't even look at mine for a month.   I give you credit for even looking at it. 

You came to the right place. Seeing how you cannot see anyone.   Very informative people here. 

Yes post a picture.  We won't be freaked out from it.  We have one. 

Lambiepie gave you some good advice.  Takes awhile for the skin to heal and attach to the stoma. If that's what you call it.  Just so that it's all one.  Maybe. And don't worry. A stitch came loose. But we need a picture.  I had stitches pulled months after surgery when they started poking out. 

Kudos to you for even looking.   I know I'm weird. I don't think about it twice now. (humor)  Only been 16 months. 

Richard. 

Hello, Chute. 

You will be okay. Your stoma is very new. Mine used to move in and out like a mouse peeking from its hole!  Over the weeks as your stoma shrinks or possibly retracts a tiny bit, try to keep your output from staying on the surrounding skin too long. Output can cause skin breakdown and stinging, unless your stoma eventually sticks out and above your skin. Maybe some barrier cream near the stoma, but not so much that it interferes with your wafer adhesion. My stoma retracted on day 1 and was flush with my skin the entire time, and I longed for takedown. Sometimes in between changes I would open the wafer to expose my stoma and dab gently with a warm towel, just to keep it clean. You will be okay. You got through your big surgery! One thing my home care nurse used to do after we removed the old bag was clean the area then place a very warm damp towel over the whole area for a few minutes. It was soothing, gave me a break from having the bag on, and brought blood to the area to help everything renew and get blood flowing. Good luck!

I think what  Chute means by the way I'm reading into it is not necessarily the shrinking of the stoma but where the stoma is supposed to be attached to the skin.  

If I'm wrong. And I usually am way off. Lol. 

My stoma never goes so far in. It protrudes probably close to half an inch.  Which I am very thankful for. Works like a charm. And I do smush that little bugger all the time.  But it functions well.  Further out the better. Flush stoma are difficult. 

It has not healed yet it doesn't seem. But will. Show your nurse and she will know. Just be gentle taking wafers off. Especially at the beginning. Anytime really. Use a releaser to take the wafer off as so not to cause any unseen trauma to the skin. You'll be ok. 

Richard. 

I had something like this happen when I had my loop illeostomy.  My doctor used some kind of medical glue and bunched  the skin around the stoma to adhere it after surgery. He didn't use stitches like I had for my end illeostomy.   I was home a week and a half and the skin separated from the stoma so you could kind I'd see inside.  I panicked and sent a pic to my wound nurse.  Every time I changed my appliance it seemed worse.  She called and I went in.  She told me not to panick and it would heal up, and gave me a pastey ointment to put on it every time I changed out.  It did heal up.  I know how scary this can be especially when everything is so new.  I was an emotional mess.  My poor husband lol  I think it will heal up, but I would definitely talk to your wound nurse. Good luck to you ��

I had the same thing and it looks horrible. I used the "crusting" technique.  On dry skin put on stoma powder then put on Barrier film. I use Cavilon no sting barrier. Then repeat this on the problem area. (I thought you might have these on hand."