placement of stoma

[nancy]

I will be seeing my stoma nurse in less than two weeks to have her mark me for my surgery. Even though she is the experienced one, I would be very grateful to anyone who can help me with any suggestions or pros and cons about best placement. I will be having a colostomy and the stoma will be on my left side.
Thank you,
Nancy

[Jason_D]

Hi There,

Best place for a stoma is below the belt line, away from any natural body creases and so on.

When you see your stoma nurse for placement she will firstly look at where your belt line is on your clothes.

Then she will have you sitting down, standing up, crouching, bending, leaning, standing on your head (kidding about that one) all in your underwear, or a surgical gown or something. This is so that together you can find the best place which is away from natural body creases, existing scars on your tummy area and so on.

As a rough guide most stoma's for a regular colostomy end up four or so inches diagonally left of your belly button (your left, as you look down on your belly button.) This is only rough guide though, it depends on your frame and size etc, but there is an inch or two's wiggle room either way as well as up or down, so that it is placed in a good position for you.

The place will then be marked, with a marker pen, and probably covered with a clear adhesive plaster/elastoplast/bandaid to keep it dry so the ink doesn't vanish before the operation.

When it comes to the operation the surgeon will then place the stoma there (so long as it's physically possible - which it is in 99.9% of the time, because the stoma nurse will know as well as the surgeon what restrictions there are in placements).

Without the placement markings, the surgeon will place the stoma in the place he thinks is best for you. But although it is well intentioned they dont always get it in a good place. It's hard to judge belt line's from that position, and when you are laying down your back you cannot see tummy creases etc. So therefore it's very important to have it professional placed by the stoma nurse before hand, and it's excellent news that you are able to have this done!

Hope the op goes well for you, and if you have any more queries before or after the vent you know where we are. We can also be reached at the ostomy chat room if you ever need to talk it thru in realtime with an ostomist. www.ostomy.fsnet.co.uk/chat.html

Before I go, whilst you are there and if you have sensitive skin, it might be worthwhile asking the stoma nurse if you can have a sample pouch of as many different brands as possible. Then, when you get home cut a small 1cm piece of each pouch's adhesive out and stick it on your back - with the help of your partner or a close friend - and make notes of which piece is from which bag (number them on your skin for example, then make a note of the numbers on a piece of paper.)

Leave the adhesive pieces on for three days or so, then take them off and see if any have left any red marks or signs of skin irritation. This way, you know in advance which pouches are good for you skin and wont be causing any skin allergies or anything.

Take care, and good luck for the operation!

Buh bye now,


Jason D.
webmaster and colostomist.
www.ostomy.fsnet.co.uk

[Joey]

I agree with the above response when he says away from creases. Mine was done emergently and mine is in a crease when I sit down. Therefore I have had much difficulty with finding the right kind of bag to use. I cannot use any of them with the wafers. So try sitting down and checking things out that way too just to be sure.