When should I seek medical assistance?

You should call the doctor or ostomy nurse when you have:

• severe cramps lasting more than two or three hours
• a deep cut in the stoma
• excessive bleeding from the stoma opening (or a moderate amount in the pouch at several emptyings)
• continuous bleeding at the junction between the stoma and skin
• severe skin irritation or deep ulcers
• unusual change in stoma size and appearance
• severe watery discharge lasting more than five or six hours
• continuous nausea and vomiting; or
• the ostomy does not have any output for four to six hours and is accompanied by cramping and nausea