If you notice blood coming from your ostomy, it could be due to several reasons. Some potential causes include:
- Irritation or Injury: The stoma or the skin around it might be irritated or injured. This can happen from frequent appliance changes, a poorly fitting ostomy bag, or trauma from cleaning.
- Ulceration or Inflammation: The tissue around the stoma can sometimes become inflamed or develop ulcers. Conditions such as Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis, if they affect the remaining intestine, can cause inflammation and bleeding.
- Stomal Varices: In people with liver disease, varices (enlarged veins) can develop around the stoma and may bleed.
- Granulomas: These are small growths that can appear on the stoma, often caused by irritation or the body’s reaction to the stoma. They can bleed easily if touched or rubbed.
- Gastrointestinal bleed: A bleeding problem in your GI tract, such as a stomach ulcer, may present as blood coming out in your ostomy pouch.
- Infection: An infection around the stoma can cause inflammation and bleeding.
- Cancer: Though rare, bleeding could be a sign of a tumor in or near the stoma.
It’s essential to contact your healthcare provider or ostomy nurse as soon as possible if you notice blood coming from your ostomy. They can assess the situation, provide the appropriate care, and determine if further evaluation or treatment is needed. In the meantime, try to avoid any further irritation to the stoma area. If there is a large volume of blood or you feel lightheaded or dizzy, seek immediate medical attention via 911 or other means.