Hello there Brad
My initial reaction to this was to wonder if you are you shaving the area and creating a rash? Ostomists who have furry belly's (like me) have to shave the flange area every time they change the pouch. So it could be a razor burn type of situation - in which case a barrier cream applied each change will sooth it until the skin develops a tolerance to the blades..
The skin isnt used to this, and its like having to learn to shave all over again. I know, I know... Puberty again... gawd, just when u thought an ostomy was bad enough you have to learn to shave again too.... ***groan***
;D
;D
Another possibility is that if the stoma is an "inny" then bowel movements are causing the colon end (stoma) which is stitched to the skin to tug on the stitches and making it bleed. In which case, a convexity based flange may help to bring the stoma out a little bit more and help prevent this, but convexity is limited in how much it can help in a situation like that. They are designed for the job but they dont work for everyone sadly.
I know you say its the skin that is bleeding, but the stoma bleeds very easily. If the flange edge is rough it can catch it and make it bleed. And if the stoma is vogourly cleaned it can bleed too.
As you are experiencing it stops almost as soon as it starts so actual quantity of blood in minimal at the end of the day.
If the flange edge is causing it I find its best to gently rub the edge of the flange hole before application with your finger end. This develops friction which warms the edge and moulds it to a smoother edge.
If you use machine pre-cut flanges then its very unlikely the edges will be sharp anywyas, but if you cut the hole in the flang eyourself with scissors, or if your home delivery/product providor company do them for you sharp edges can be left behind and that is when its best to rub edges smooth with your fingers.
Unfortunately without actually seeing the area in question all we can do is guess Brad. Sorry. I would suggest you see your GP over it and see what advice he or she has to offer. Failing that a Stoma Nurse or Surgeon would be cool too.
Smell issue:
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There are hundreds of different deoderant products on the market today for ostomies. Some are capsules you place in the bag, some are tablets you put in the bag, some are sprays you spray in the bag. And so on.
And whilst they can help, that is very much like closing the stable door after the horse has bolted.
Therefore have you ever looked at your diet to see if theres any smelly foods you are eating tonnes of?
Theres a list of 50 or so common-ish foods and drinks on the website as well as their effects on the different types of ostomsits. Have a look and see if you are eating vast amounts of any marked with O for Odour.
www.ostomy.fsnet.co.uk/foods.html That said though, EVERYBODY smells when they pass stool. An ostomy makes us more conscious of it though. We all pass the same stuff and because we pass it thru a different orifice doesnt make it any more unpleasant - what does effect it though is the amout of time it sits in the bag, sweating, working and stagnating... pheewwwwwey... The longer it sits in the bag the more it will smell and all the deoderants in the world wont counteract that effectively.
Heres what I do and have found to be as good anything else for a colostomy change.
1. Use a 2piece appliance.
2. As soon as the stoma has finished change the pouch, or as soon as possible after that if during work hours, sleep hours etc. Pop the pouch in one of those nappy/diaper sack things(*), and give it a blast or room air-freshener, or ostomy deoderant, whichever you prefer.
Tie the handles so its are tight and smell is contained.
3. Spray the room with a good quality air-freshener.
4. Dispose of sack outside in the waste bins.
(*nappy sacks available at the supermarket if you dont get them with your pouches upon ordering.)
For me personally that works fine, and if anything it smells less than when my dad leaves the room.
Striking a match like Julie says can work but it needs to be very minor smells.
Finally, its still early days for you. 6 weeks post op. The digestive system/bowels have had a heck of a kicking during the operation and will take time to settle down. The bowels do tend to over work post op in the early days, as a routine develops they will slow down and things will cool off a little bit.
Hope things soon improve and hope this post has some useful points for you. If you have any more questions you know where we are.
Buh bye now,
Jason D.
(I have a friend who learnt the hard way ;D).
;D
