UOAA Discussion Board

Have noticed a small amount of bloody stain on the tissue when changing pouch. Cause for concern?

Very normal, if this is the first time you ever saw it THAT would be abnormal. It sometimes only takes a tiny rub to get bleeding. Generally, it's only a little and quickly stops.

Hasting:
Texasgal is correct. A bit of bleeding is not concerning.

A stoma is bright cherry red owing to a vast supply of surface capillaries. The stoma tissue is similar to tissue that lines the inside of the mouth.

A stoma’s surface capillaries are particularly vulnerable to overly rough rubbing or gliding or sheering forces. A pouch rubbing against a stoma or the rubbing of clothing or a washcloth or an adaptic barrier ring that is not trimmed wide enough can each cause local irritation and slight bleeding.

Applying gentle pressure to the stoma should be enough to quell the bleeding. You may want to enlarge the opening of the wafer for the stoma for a day or two in case your stoma swells.

All should be well with your stoma. It’s good to be as attentive as you are to your stoma.
Karen

Interestingly spicy food and too much fruits and veggies turn my stoma dark red and bloody. If I avoid these and take a lot of charcoal to detox and degas my stoma pink and healthy.

Normal.
Just be super gentle around the stoma.
Lol. Abnormal if you don't see it. That's true.
It's the first thing I noticed and asked about when left on my own to change.
Now I'm careful around it and it's good to me. Qtips are a friend to it. To go around it gently. And dab under it to get the mucus off jst before applying the wafer.
As you all know it runs down when changing. Mine does constantly when the appliance is off. I just dab it with a qtip. Not hard. It will draw blood.
Richard.

I find 2 in X 2 in pure cotton wipes in the makeup section of local pharmacies, WalMart etc. Have really noticed an improvement in peristomal skin area since using them to clean up.

I experienced a sudden increase in bleeding from the stoma when I tried taking MegaRed omega vitamins.

Thank you all for your help and thoughts. Apparently I'm just being overly cautious.

When mine first bled I let my surgeon know. It bled bad. She said I was being overly aggressive with the wash cloth. Lol. I wasn't but thought that was funny. I'm just careful and try and keep it healthy all around.
Good luck.
Richard.

I have blood in stoma area when I play tennis, rake leaves, etc. Anybody have that issue? I am trying the Eakin skin seal or barrier for first time. Just hope I put it on correctly.

Cher:
A warm Welcome to our group !

The surface bleeding that you see on your stoma after an invigorating game of tennis or after raking leaves and yard debris is likely due to repeated forces of friction/sheer/rubbing of the inner lining of the pouch that is in contact with the stoma.

The stoma is similar to the epithelial tissue that lines the mouth. Small, surface capillaries. It is surface capillaries that give the stoma and lining of the mouth a bright red color. The capillaries carry oxygenated blood, hence the cherry red color.

Stomas do not like friction/rubbing, as these forces cause irritation and bleeding from damaged to the capillaries. You
Might try adding a few drops of a natural vegetable oil to your pouch. The intent is to coat the inside of the pouch with a lubricant.
Karen