In the beginning they lasted a good few months, but each successive one seemed to need replacing sooner and sooner, (we believe the amount of scar tissue was building up and rejecting stitches altogether) the last one lasted just one week!]
We knew we wanted a stoma that needed no stitches: and wide flanges were the solution. We designed one based on the ones she had already been using, but increased the flanges so they would stay in and not need stitches.
Once the surgeons had approved the design, we had them manufactured, and booked her in to get one put in. They arrived just in time, her current stoma had already torn one stitch free and was working its way back into her windpipe again.
Its still early days, but this new stoma seems to tick all the boxes! Cleaning it is a simple wipe over job with a cotton disc, we can clean without fear of catching a stitch! And the outside flange keeps her excess of neck skin clear of the hole.
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| Stitch-free at last! |
Finally, we can now return all her confiscated soft toys!! (as before, she would play too rough, ragging them etc and damage her stitches). She is allowed to run about, and best of all, we can stop 'booting' her with baby socks so she couldn't scratch her stitches! She also sleeps better, as before she couldn't lay on her back, and often woke up short of breath having to lift her head to open up her stoma hole site when her neck skin would cover it.
We hope this will be the permanant solution we have been desperate for. xxx
