UOAA Discussion Board

I have watched this site some and other sites a lot. Seems like surgeons are all over the board in what length of stoma they give us. None of have a clue about this when we went in for surgery. Flush with the stomach seems common but problematic for a good seal. Too long is problematic also. Does this group have an opinion this topic that affects us for life?
Loren Dake

THE DUDE only sticks out about 3/4 inch which I find is perfect. When he is ready to spit, he goes in on one side to about 1/4 inch to an 1/8 inch.

I think the reason length varies from person to person has to do with the fact that everyone's anatomy is different and that affects not just the length, but the best placement for the ostomy.

I personally have a flush/recessed stoma.. I joke that my Rosie is shy .., but very talkative! I know that the reason mine is the way it is happens to be a 2 fold problem... problem #1 my mesentary artery is shorter and therefore doesn't allow for much give... which leads to problem #2 my sugeon told me that they would have had to remove an additional foot of small bowel to give me a "better" stoma, but they didn't do that because they were trying to leave me with as much bowel as I need it... I have issues at both ends of my small bowel... so I've had a recessed stoma and now after having surgery to remove scar tissue that was choking my stoma off, she's flush to sometimes peek-a-booing... eep sorry I meant to keep my answer shorter... hope this helps explain things

my stoma is huge its like 48 by 30 it has been less than 3 months it was 77 by 55 when i first came home has anyone had a huge stoma like this

Good Morning Scared;

Let me suggest you repost this on the General Forum, you will get more traffic there.