Ostomy Sizes

Growing up I never knew stomas came in different sizes. Having stomas I now know that its determined by how the surgeon can pull out the small intestine. I have a 3/4" size in my urostomy and a 1" size in my ileostomy. Did you know also that they can grow? Its scar tissue but it can grow and its sensitive and bleed heavilly. I remember growing up I would knick myself and I would bleed and I would panic. I would take some tissue and blot it. It still happens and it can actually hurt despite not having alot of nerves there.

So why did I make this post? Well I have learned that despite there being default sizes that nothing fits perfectly. Ileostomies have stool and of course it causes breakdown in your skin if its left there for long periods of time. Each wafer has to be molded and it needs to fit like a glove. I wish sometimes ostomy nurses had a stoma, that they would understand what its like becasue there is a generalized statement they make, and it helps but each stoma is unique. Stomas have folds, primairly red, but different hues depending on blood flow, and the skin around it matters. Where its located it can be impacted by hair growth.

I know doctors and nurses hate this statement because its not "correct" but iit'sbest to do what is best for you. Just because my stoma is a 1" round doesn't mean that its a snug and perfect fit everytime. ItIt'sot and most times when an ostomy nurses puts an osotmy on me I end up leaking or having massive skin breakdown. I have been doing this for so long I practically can put one on with my eyes closed. I use a barrier ring to get a better fit but I have some breakdown where it is painful and if I put my ostomy on it when I emesis it will cause me alot of pain. Its this strange precedent of doing things my way because I know it works for my body. I think theres alot of generalizations and sometimes it s fiorgotten how different ostomies can be.