So, on Monday I met with a wound ostomy nurse to see how things were going. The location of the stoma is not where initially planned, but just to the right of my belly button. This makes it very difficult to wear anything except elastic waist pants! Also, because it's located right were my waist bends, I couldn't get a good seal which led to leaking. I can't tell you how gross that has been!
8/22 - (I talked to the surgeon about this and he chose to use an existing incision rather than make a new one since the ostomy bag is temporary. More inconvenience for me but one less incision to weaken my abdominal wall.)
This new wound ostomy nurse was great. I have a new set up with a more rigid skin barrier, plastic wings to adhere over my belly button and irritated skin and a belt to wear at all times to keep things in place. I remember in the '70s Helmut Newton did a series of fashion shoots with models wearing various medical devices. I couldn't find any of those images, but I did find this by an artist Olga Noronha.
Imagine what I'll look like when I start my chemo – wearing a bag, a belt, a port and a fanny pack with a pump! All I'll need is a pair of killer high heels!
The nurse thought I had a nice stoma - really? I've decided it's like the bubbling mud pots I've seen in Lassen National Park, at the end of Bumpass Hell trail (how could you not love that name!). Yep, my little stink pot.
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