So heres a fun fact that no one has ever talked about. So I’ve had this thing lately where whatever I eat….I smell it again when I’m emptying my bag. And I’m not talking I smell it all digested and poop smelling…but like…it smells like it did when it went in + poop. Example: I had a BBQ burger for dinner the other night….the next day for like 2 empties, I smelled BBQ sauce. I thought I was going crazy but I started noticing it more. Its real. Its weird. Its real weird.
Also…heres another fun fact. I had to go to the effing ER AGAIN today. FML x 1000. I think I may have mentioned this but I had a barrier ring a few weeks ago that stuck like crazy in one spot…and I eventually had to sorta just rip it off. It ripped open a spot on my skin which got a little worse and after a call to the WOC nurse they said liquid band-aid would help it. So then I use that for a few weeks and on this past monday, I changed it and it looked better/smaller/less gross. WIN. I went to change it again today, and it was HUGE, RED and painful. FAIL.
So I started freaking out…I called everyone. Cleveland: Sat on Hold. Former Stoma Nurse: Disconnected Number. Remzi’s Cell: Right to voicemail. A friend thats a nurse who also had an ostomy: no answer.
Wound on the left...Stoma on the right. Thought I'd clear that up considering the doctor had to ask....
So I did what anyone else would do while freaking out…I totally cried. Like a loser. But I knew I couldn’t put a wafer back over it…and I didn’t have a bag on, so I knew eventually I’d just be pooping all over myself, with this big ol wound there that I couldn’t fix. I felt helpless. So my friend called me back and told me I should probably go to the ER. So I did. It was a useless trip because it took a long time (like usual) but they packed the wound, covered it with that thing plastic stuff that they use for IVs, and gave me numbers for a stoma nurse tomorrow….I feel better about it…but it might take just about forever to heal. Seriously in a weeks time it went from the size of the tip of my pinky, to almost 1/2 inch big and deep. Like a god damned canyon.
Hey, what’s not to love about BBQ sauce?
Kidding aside, that wound’ll get better with enough TLC. Just stay on your dr and stoma nurse to make sure they give it their full attention; it looks like it needs their TLC too.
Take care and happy T-day,
Russ
Holy lord that looks painful!!! You cannot catch a break. Get better, damn it.
That happened to me in June. Try Medi-Honey. Seriously- it works.
How do you heal this thing…the ER dr yesterday was say to change the dressing a few times a day? How the crap am I supposed to do that when its under a wafer? Change the wafer 4 times a day? I’m sure thats great for the other skin.
Did you start using a wipe-on skin barrier to help maintain your skin? My skin was awesome until this…now I feel like its just gonna keep falling apart…I gotta take more proactive measures I think. UGH.
Here is what happened to me…. I lifted a case of water back in June and felt a “rip.” When I took my bag off that night it looked JUST LIKE YOURS. (literally scared the shit out of me.) My surgeon said that the majority of the damage was exactly what I saw- just a hole in my abdomen (turns out it was a hernia and I got that fixed in September). He was going to have to repair it surgically, but, the Medi Honey cleared it up within a few days. It’s like crack (and it smells really good). I’m not sure why the ER doc would tell you to keep taking the wafer off- that just irritates it more. ??? Try getting something called Duoderm EXTRA THIN (which is a bandage that fits under the wafer/ bag and will prevent the constant irritation.) For preventative measures I use the Stoma Powder, a “fungal” powder for the itching THAT MAKES ME WANT TO KILL MYSELF, and there is a spray that you can get that forms a clear plastic- like barrier over the skin (just spray it on and give it a few seconds to dry). Does that help? Life sucks. 🙂
Oh. And the smell? It’s hilarious. Chinese, Barbeque, and Pizza ESPECIALLY.
I have a friend with a pouch who said she can still smell things like that…I’m guess its because of the lack of absorption? I dunno. But its weird that pooping makes me hungry right?! kidding.
Oh Jackie, ouch!! 🙁