Ostomy takedown wound questions

Yeah for most of the guys I've seen, myself included the area remains reddish and sort of visible to the naked eye. Its just a scar tissue the natural skin never comes on that place so yeah a small patch will remain.

Wow. Feel free to not answer but is yours still reddish/pink today? And doesn't it ever shrink? How long do you think it was before you regained sensation there?

You said you are “weirded out by how the skin stopped growing.” If it’s healing by granulation then it’s not skin, it’s scar tissue, and you will have a scar there for life. It’s never going to feel or look like skin, because it isn’t skin, it’s scar tissue. Also, there are no nerves in scar tissue so the sensation will always be different. It’s not skin, period, so mentally you just need to accept that and understand that your body has changed.

I would suggest applying vitamin E oil to soften the scar tissue. It will take a long time to fade to a different color but the depressed area of discoloration will remain for life. As long as it’s not infected it’s just a cosmetic issue and in the big picture not as significant as Pouch functionality issues will be going forward.

Thanks for clearing that up for me. I had no idea the skin would never grow back. You mentioned that it eventually begins to fade into a different color. What color would you say your has faded into, and how long did it take?

Jonathan posted:

Wow. Feel free to not answer but is yours still reddish/pink today? And doesn't it ever shrink? How long do you think it was before you regained sensation there?

Mine is reddish pink and visible clearly to naked eye. I feel a bit awkward going into pool naked but it hardly bothers me. I apply oil daily to it to make it soft overtime. There is no sensation just like a soft rock on the belly.

Everybody, wear your scars with pride. They made you stronger. You're a survivor of this awful illness. 

My scars from the 4 surgeries I need to get to final takedown and JPouch plus from my kidney donation really don't bother me at all.  Depending on my mood I offer up either the truth or a ridiculous tall-tale when asked about them.   I think my surgeon did a great job with the ostomy site, the scar is much smaller than I expected.  A 'purse string' suture reduces but does not totally close the wound.  

Thank you all for the replies. I think i may have been a bit misleading.

I DO NOT feel embarrassed or insecure of my scar. Mostly just trying to get an understanding of what it should look like when it's considered to be fully healed. 

Good luck fellow Jpouchers! Have an amazing summer

girlunky posted:

My scars from the 4 surgeries I need to get to final takedown and JPouch plus from my kidney donation really don't bother me at all.  Depending on my mood I offer up either the truth or a ridiculous tall-tale when asked about them.   I think my surgeon did a great job with the ostomy site, the scar is much smaller than I expected.  A 'purse string' suture reduces but does not totally close the wound.  

 

 

Now I'm curious! What are the tell-tales you tell? I want to hear them! Haha

I've been skewered by deer antlers,  by a swordfish and by an umbrella.  

girlunky posted:

I've been skewered by deer antlers,  by a swordfish and by an umbrella.  

That's awesome haha