My husband stoma keeps prolapsing

[Jalexander]

Hi,
My husband was diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer 4 months ago. He is only 39, and was always active. He tries to move around but his stoma keeps prolapsing? He has gotten a second opinion, and they do not want to go in and move it until he is finish with Chemo. He is so down, he wears ace bandages all day, and he stays in bed. He stays in bed laying down because the stoma doesn’t come out when he is in that position. Does anyone have any remedies for keeping it in? Or any suggestions on how I could motivate him to get out of bed and move around?

[ot dave]

I'm sorry to hear about the prolapsing. It can be distressing for sure. I have a pretty significant parastomal hernia , so I wear an abdominal binder any time I am out of bed. It helps to keep everything in place. With his situation, it might be worth a try.... Also, since he is prolapsing when he is upright, I would suggest laying supine on the bed, place the binder underneath him, and then secure it in place. I usually get my binders on amazon. There are a multitude to choose from.
No, mine do not have a hole for the ostomy appliance. I irrigate every day, so I routinely go all day without any bowel movements, so it's not an issue. However, when I do have one, I know it has happened, and I just make sure to empty it as soon as I can to avoid leaks and pancaking.

Hope that helps some, and you can find a solution until he can get it corrected. You might also want to talk to his doctor about some treatments for depression. From what you are describing, he sounds like he might be suffering some depression, which is absolutely normal post ostomy surgery.

David

[Snowgoose]

My stoma acts like your husband's. I have tried all the belts and binders. They helped to retain the stoma but were a nuisance. I decided that it's the way it will be so live with it. I wear oversize shirts, not tucked in. Yes, it makes a buldge and I look overweight but it works for me. I am active and still do anuthing i want to do, no restrictions. There are times it's a bit embarrasing but I've learned to accept the way I am, as have all my family and friends.

I know how your husband feels as my first colostomy was at age 30. Hopefully your husband can overcome his dilemma.

[Stevenb]

My wife and I have been also trying to deal with a retracting prolapsed for the last few weeks, after it surfaced about two month following surgery in July. We got some help from a nurse practitioner who specializes in stoma care. (we found her through my insurance company, since my surgeon's hospital didn't have one. We don't have the answers yet, but we are trying a few things.

She showed me how to reliably make the stoma retract below the bag level, and I have on occasion worn a kind of girdle she gave me. I used it a few times while out for a short hike. It is about 12" inches high and wide enough to wrap 1 1/2 times around my waist. It closes with velcro. We also ordered a "stealth belt" designed to provide support. It is fitted over the base of the bag, but does not specifically provide support to the stoma.It is supposed to keep the giggling down.

We also tried a long and wide ace-bandage, which seemed to provide support after tucking in the stoma, while swimming. But the water caused the elastic of the bandage to break down.

[danilynn]

My stoma is very prolapsed and has been since I had my second child (he's 12 now). My surgeon told me that it's up to me as to whether or not I want him to correct it (unless it becomes problematic). It's annoying but I'd rather not have surgery unless I have no choice so I just live with it. I wear a 12" drainable pouch so it has room to hang down and that's about it.

[Snowgoose]

Danica,
Me too. I wear a Hollister 14" New Image High Output pouch for the same reason.

[nickolas]

Check out NuHope Support Belts. I believe they have a special "hernia belt" (s) that deal with prolapse issues. Check them out. It's called "prolapse overbelt = P" . Helps to minimize/support a telesoping stoma.

Good luck,

nickolas