Question for you baggers.

Should be able to do it all
The location of the stoma will depend on what surgery your doctor is doing.

Mine is located on the left side because I had sigmoid colon/rectal surgery and that happens to be the side where the "new end" is. If you have an iliostomy instead of a colostomy, then chances are it is more center or right.

As to how far below the beltline, that depends too. My ostomy nurse had me lay on my back then sit up while she felt for the muscle there. They like to anchor it at a muscle.

Your ostomy nurse should be able to do a good job of finding the right location. Just tell here what you want in the way of 'after surgery' abilities and she should do the best possible to make it perfect location. If you wear differnet types of shorts/pants/trousers that would cause you to have a varying belt line, take some of each with you to check it out while it is still just a mark on your belly.

Best wishes for sucessful surgery and speedy recovery.

Marie who loves kitties

Hey Kenny - The bag will
Hey Kenny - The bag will provide challenges, but it won't hold you back from doing anything you want to. I had a colostomy (left side) for several months and no have a ileostomy. My ileo is a little below my waist line. My ostomy nurse and I marked where the stoma would best work for me based on my body shape, waistline, skin folds, etc. Spend plenty of time with your nurse on Thursday. She will help you now and in the future as you get the whole thing figured out. You'll do fine.
Take care - Roger

Kenny -
I could swear I already posted this, but.. ya'know, age?

There's a "4x4" rule that most experienced colorectal surgeons
go by, when placing a stoma. It's 4" to the side of the navel,
and 4" below your beltline. A colostomy is usually on the
left side and an ileostomy on the right side.

The pouch should point downward along the face if your leg
while standing, and it ends up nicely pointing down between
your legs to empty. This is the ideal placement for a stoma.
You should be able to wear whatever clothes you wore before
(with some exceptions), and allow it to be concealed nicely
under your clothes.

If you don't have a well experienced colorectal surgeon, you
should have. Most surgeons do not think too much about
your continued life with a stoma. If this is a temporary one,
they might opt to stick it anywhere, not wanting to ruin a perfect
spot if later on you have it reversed and find you need a permanent
stoma after that......

These are issues to take up with your colorectal surgeon well
ahead of the surgery. For permanent stomas, they usually will mark
the area, and often will provide a pouch (or complete appliance)
to wear for a day or two (usually filled with applesauce or similar),
to make sure it'll be in the right spot for you.

There should be no folds of skin where it will be placed, and
no scars or uneven skin surface.

And one other thing that's important: The stoma should protrude
from the surface of your skin by -no less- than 3/4 to 1". That will
provide what is called a "spout: for the waste to be ejected from
the stoma and into the pouch. If the stoma is made to be at the skin's
surface, there will be continual problems of seepage under the flange,
and the need to wear special convex appliances in an attempt to stop
that leakage. Life can be simple when things are done right the first time.

Go to the UOAA web site for more info. Most there, have an ostomy
due to Crohn's or Ulcerative Colitis and not cancer, and their positive
thoughts about having a stoma are skewed to their having continued
unresolved digestive problems for many years; to them, an ostomy
is/was welcomed...... to us.... it's something that usually isn't desired at all,
except for the saving of our life.

I had four feet of colon removed, leaving about a foot still in there.
A reversal is possible, but the risks of more surgery outweigh the
benefits of not having to wear an appliance...

No-one knows I have an ileostomy unless I tell them, and I wear
shorts and blue jeans most of the time. Wearing dress pants and
a dress shirt tucked inside the pants, isn't a problem. The appliance
isn't noticeable unless one is pressed to actually look for it.

And in cases like that, I find that unzipping my fly usually gets
them to look away.

Seriously, have it done right the first time, if it's going to be
permanent, and ask about it if it's going to be temporary.

Mine was to be "temporary"..... 'nuff said?

Good luck!

John

tammy31269 said:

about the bag problem
hey im tammy in richmond,va. im a 9yr colonrectal with 2tumors, 5operations,2different colostomies/stoma-the bag..different years. i was 30 when i got this damn nasty cancer.im now 41 and only have bone loss long term side effect from the cancer treatments/radiation.i have nerve damage. now for your answer on the bag.. i got mine because i got tired of pooping on myself, my butthole got damaged from the tumors inside plus from the operations and they took out my rectum, had to get the bag and thank god i did its so much better than the awful pooping on yourself,, now i just poop and no one ever knows.. plus i play alot of jokes on my family with the ordor hahaha..... you can run a ant out a room in 1second thats how bad the bag ordor is..lol hahahaha..but if you think about your problem and see if its what you need then do it.. its a good thing if you take care of your self.. im on a site called mycrcconnections.com onlinecommunity. read my page for tammy sanders.. write me if needed.good luck

Kenny,take a look at what a bag looks like to see how it will
"fit" you. I use a two-piece,the wafer (flange) is about 3 1/2 inches square and the pouch about 10 inches long.You can call or email for free samples from both ConvaTec as well as Hollister manufacturers........My stoma location was based upon what surgeon ultimately found inside of me when he cut me open. I've learned to LIVE with it......steve