Your stoma will change size for about 6-8 weeks after surgery. This is because the swelling from surgery is still going down.
Using a ring will protect your skin if the opening in the flange is larger than your stoma. You can measure your stoma every 7-10 days during the first 2 months.
Your stoma will change size if you change size. A change in body weight of 10 lbs or more (either gain or loss) will change the size of your stoma.
A hernia will change the size of your stoma.Your stoma is attached to your skin, and will stretch when your skin has to stretch to accommodate the bulge of the hernia.
Leakage is the most common sign you need a new size. You may experience leakage for a variety of reasons, but size is the first thing to check.
Leakage does not always mean your pouch has come off or stool has come out from under the flange (the piece that attaches to your skin).
- Decreases in the number of days of wear
- Itching or burning of your skin around your stoma
- Stool on your skin, or the back of the flange, when you take your pouching system off
- Find the measuring guide included with your flanges, or ask for one when you order supplies
- Remove your pouching system and clean your skin
- Pull the skin above your stoma taut and maintain this tension while measuring (see the basics of changing a pouching system for information on pulling skin taut)
- Place the opening of the measuring guide around your stoma
- Find the opening size that easily fits around your stoma and leaves 2mm or 1/8 inch between the paper guide and the edge of your stoma at the base (skin level). This is the size you should be ordering.
- Find the measuring guide included with your flanges, or ask for one when you order supplies
- Remove your pouching system and clean your skin
- Pull the skin above your stoma taut and maintain this tension while measuring (see the basics of changing a pouching system for information on pulling skin taut)
- Place the opening of the measuring guide around your stoma
- Find the opening size that easily fits around the widest part your stoma and leaves 2mm or 1/8 inch between the paper guide and the edge of your stoma at the base (skin level)
- Find the opening size that easily fits around the narrowest part your stoma and leaves 2mm or 1/8 inch between the paper guide and the edge of your stoma at the base (skin level).
