Stoma too close to belly button, should I get a reversal?

HI TinkaT 

I had a reversal 4 weeks ago following operation to remove part of my large intestine and part of my rectum ,in Dec 24.

When you say the stoma is very near to your belly button, how close is it? My stoma was about 4 inches away, I guess but the reversal went smoothly and I am SO chuffed at no longer having a stoma bag! The opening in your belly to allow the stoma to poke out is 'just' an opening; in any operation, that wound would be extended probably away at the other end from your BB and then sewn up so that your BB wouldn't be involved at all. I may be wrong but I cannot see how the nearness to your bellybutton would be a problem. 

As for your stoma, YES try convex because I suffered for months with annoying leaks until I tried convex bags. I would suggest, get your bags sorted and once that's all happy, look into getting the reversal.

Hi Nevermind

Thanks for your reply.

1. My stoma is only an inch away from my belly button, so the bags do not seal correctly, so when pancaking occurs it pulls the bag off and my bb fills up. That is why it is a problem. My stoma nurse is sending some different products to try.

Hi TinkaT 

I have 2 stomas, one on either side of my belly button, which has in the past caused issues with the seals around the bags at times.

I’d agree with Nevermind to try a convex bag-I did, and never looked back. Neither of my stomas protrude at all from my body, so using a convex bag definitely helped. 

You might also want to take a look at products to help with sealing the bags to your skin. I use Fusion Independence applicator sticks on my skin prior to putting the bag on, and Brava Elastic Strips around the bag once it’s on. Along with my change to convex bags, it’s made a huge difference to me. 

Sarah xx

Thanks for the advice Sarah.

Hi TinkaT

I would agree with Nevermind & Sarah21 good advice on a convex bag. Besides the convex, I also found barrier rings were helpful....one of my temporary illeostomies was a high output illeostomy, was awful and leaked alot. But I figured out cutting a small piece of barrier ring and filling the dip before I put the bag on (and pressing down firmly) helped a lot. Mine was not near belly button, but near an old scar - thus the dip. 

I now have a permament colostomy & urostomy. On the urostomy I use a full barrier ring and never had a leak. So, bit of a fan of barrier rings. :-)

I would agree with Nevermind, get your bag sorted, then think about reversal. Personally, I've had 2 reversals and never looked back, but mine I had a good piece of colon left and rectum in tact. I think having a thorough discussion with your surgeon about what is involved, and what he expects afterwards. (My most prominent question with my surgeries was will I have bowel control, they assured me I would so I went for it.)

PS I also struggled with pancaking on my colostomy bag....tried a lot of bags but now using Salts Confidence BE. Doesn't pancake at all for me. May not be the bag for you, but what I've learnt there is a solution. Final thought - with my current stomas I wasn't happy with what stoma nurse could give me in terms of bag options, so went directly to the companies (Clinimed, Salts etc) for samples - you can order on their websites. But fingers crossed your stoma nurse sorts you out with a good solution and you don't have to bother with that. 

All the best! 

Evening Babotie 

Lots to digest in your post, there. I feel like I missed any sort of discussion with the surgeon about what to expect once the reversal was done, all he really said to me after agreeing a date and looking at his computer was 'any questions?' I was worried that where the remains of the rectum were rejoined with the colon, a sigmoidoscopy showed what looked to me a very 'small' looking hole between the 2 and I asked if that was ok...He asked me to hop onto the bed ,lie on my side and stuck a finger up my backside and assured me that it was all good 

I too discovered the Salt Confidence BE bags in the summer, but only a few months ago, not long before my reversal & after tolerating quite a lot of leakage from other types of bag. I'd heartily recommend the Salt bags, which seem to stick better than any others.

You make the very good point that there is almost always a solution , though it may take quite some time to find that solution.

TinkaT

Been thinking about your leaking problem a bit more...I would also recommend looking at the Holister soft convex cera plus bags...they made differently than most other bags.

Most bags have a plasticy/sticky bit around the stoma hole and thats it. Hollister bag has the same but then they have a material like flange around the plastic bit....material bit looks something like elastoplast (ie very flexible because it is material like, and not plastic). I do think that material bit helps really stabilise the stoma bag when there are dips etc. I had some pancaking with the Hollister but zero leakage. 

Here's an example of one of thier bags just to show you what it looks like - if you look at the first picture, the white pieces pull off, and the material bit is underneath - so quite a big flexible flange area. 

https://www.hollister.co.uk/en-gb/products/ostomy-care-products/one-piece-pouching-systems/drainable-pouches/with-convex-skin-barrier/moderma-flex-one_piece-drainable-_-soft-convex-ceraplus-viewing-option-lock-_n-roll-tape-filter

Al the best. 

Hello TinkaT

i hope you’ve got some samples of new bags to try and resolve your stoma issues. I’d second Babotie’s recommendation of the Hollister bags - they are the ones I use.  I have a colostomy rather than an illiostomy which I understand means my output is much less liquid but we’re all keen to avoid leaks! I was fortunate to have been given the convex Hollister bags by the stoma nurses in hospital after my surgery over a year ago and have only had a handful of leaks in that time. Now I’m considering a reversal and am struggling to decide mainly because I’ve coped so much better than I ever imagined I could. 

Good luck!

Hi there !

I have had my stoma for 6 years now, it is also close to my belly button. One stoma nurse showed me how to cut the hole very slightly to one side which brought the bag slightly away , it might be worth experimenting. This helped a little.

I got quite a few leaks at the beginning from the belly button side. I discovered zinc tape ( its a bit like a roll of elastoplast) in the chemists which is cheap and last ages. I cut a piece and stick the bit of bag down that is by the belly button.  It stops the bag from working loose.one roll lasts me a few months and costs less than£2. 

When I had a check up with the stoma nurse, she watched me change my bag and I was using the tape then. You could get the proper strips but I find the zinc tape is cheap and I always have a few spare rolls.

It works for me!

Good luck x

Catherine 

Hello 

I had an ileostomy in 2017 when I had all of my rectum removed due to cancer. Following treatment and checks to see whether everything had healed internally I opted for a reversal.

For me this was the correct decision since I never succeeded in thickening the output and was always dehydrated.

The reversal was successful and I accept that I need to wear a pad just in case I have an accident which is extremely rare.

Like others I would suggest you try other bags since there’s plenty out there to try.

A reversal is not an option for everyone and some choose even when it is available to not take up the offer.

A personal decision for you to discuss with the medical professionals.

Good luck x