--- In colostomy@yahoogroups.com, "ladycolpepper"
<carla_grooms2001@...> wrote:
>
> Hello, I am a 38 year old housewife. Been having troubles here with
> hubby. He has ended up with a colostomy the past month. I will tell you
> a little bit of what happened. On March 15, he had been inbed for 3
> days and sick, thought he was having kidney stone attack again from his
> gout. I called the life squad and after being at the hospital they did
> a scan and found that somethign had ruptured. Sent us to another
> hospital because we live in a small area. They did emerg surgery and
> found the large bowel and part of the large intestine had ruptured.
> Surgery was 5 hours. Came out with a colostomy. Then on t he 21st more
> of the bowel ruptured. Another 4 hour surgery then. Was in hospital 17
> days. Lost 40 lbs inthat time. After home 2 1/2 weeks the incision
> started opening up onits own and had another surgery last week to open
> it up again and put drain tubes in belly button. In hospital 5 more
> days. I have had nurses training when young but never took care of a
> colostomy. I am fine with it and packing the incision 6 times a day.
> But need tips to clean it easier and also take care of the opening
> under the colostomy bag. I am open to anything you can offer to do.
> Thanks for letting me join in here. This is supposed to be temporary
> for 5 or 6 months he has lost a total of 65 lbs in a month. Carla
>


Carla

You need to tell me where you are in the world.

Then maybe I can suggest a few things.

However, in the meantime, you have to keep this incision clean. Better
to have it sealed up, of course, but if I read you right, there is a
danger of the waste from the bag infecting the wound.

If the seal on the bag is above the wound, then it should be ok.

Packing, as we call it in the UK, is designed to make the skin grow
despite a wound. If you didn't pack, the wound would heal over and
leave a gaping hole, but sealed. If you do pack, and keep the wound
moist, then the skin will continue to grow until it's back to level.
The body is wonderful.

However, if you are packing right by the colostomy, then you have to
do this whenever you take the bag off. In this case, you need to get
to the wound more often.

There's a risk of infection, although you can't infect yourself. But
if you don't clean, then the infection is from outside.

Also, consider this. Your hubby has reduced his weight, and so is
better able to fight any infection. Keep him this way for now and feed
him good food to build up his resistance.

Good luck

Keith.