sex for women after colostomy/ille.

[Cathy T]

I had a colostomy/illeostomy in June. I still am "dead" from the front vaginal lips all the way back to the vaginal opening (the vagina itself still has feeling) but I 've no feeling at all in the clitoris, labia. Is this because of my festula under the colostomy bag? Or is it because I wear my nephrostomy bags' elasatic tight? I think it must be the festula, I've had the nephrostomy bags before and I could still have sex and feel everything then, the only difference is the colostomy and festula. My festula still hasn't healed at all and still leaks alot of liquid. I don't have any feeling from the stoma down, to be exact, I can't feel my belly button either. Its like all the skin is dead.
Will this pass? Or is this permanant? My doctors are ofno help at all in this matter. They're not much help in any matter, they can't even remember what appts they are supposed to set me up for. Its like a circus at MD anderson cancer center in Houston, This is supposedly the best cancer hosptial in the world, they say, all the celebs come here, Eddie Van Halen was taking radiation at the same time as me.....and some arabian prince in a limo too....
thanks,
Cathy

[Kathy_from_England]

Hi Cathy,
I can't help from experience, as it's my husband who has the ileostomy.
There is a thread on Shaz's Board which you may find interesting...although it's not exactly the same question as yours.

www.ostomates.org/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.pl?board=main;action=display;num=1070750006

[judyjd]

Hi Cathy!

I only have a colostomy, but years ago I had my gall bladder removed. The nurse struck a nerve in my right thigh while administering a pain shot. I did not have feeling in my thigh or buttocks for years. With all that you have been through, I'm guessing that you have nerve damage. The Dr.'s won't admit that to you, of course. When the feeling 1st started coming back to me, all I could feel was tingles in my leg if it was touched or I bumped it on something. Give it more time. If this is what your problem is, it takes a long lime for a nerve to heal itself. Mine did, I hope yours does too! Goood luck!