You know your stoma is leaking if you find output on your skin or the backplate, smell foul odors (despite the filter), or notice the adhesive plate looks "melted," indicating output is getting underneath and potentially causing redness, soreness, or itching around the stoma, which requires immediate attention from a stoma care nurse.
Symptoms of ostomy leakage
Start by looking for any stoma output, either on your skin or on the back of the adhesive plate. Even if there is no direct visual sign of leakage, be aware of anything unusual, such as if the adhesive plate looks 'melted' (because the adhesive has reacted with the output).
Make sure your skin barrier fits properly.
One study found that 30% of ostomates experience stoma leakage. It's one of the most common stoma problems. However, it's not normal to experience stoma leakage very frequently.
When the skin becomes infected it can start to look inflamed and the infection tends to cause some swelling around your stoma. The skin colour often changes from a healthy pink/reddish colour, to pale, bluish purple or even black. If there is any discharge of blood or pus this is often a definitive sign of infection.
However, you may always seek advice from your Stoma Specialist Nurse. If you have an ileostomy and it stops working for more than 6 hours you could have a blockage, other symptoms include abdominal pain, abdominal distension or swelling and nausea and vomiting.
Signs and symptoms of an infection
Please contact your MD or WOC nurse for suggestions. Is the skin around the stoma healthy? If the skin is irritated or broken, not only can the leakage cause more damage, but the damage can make pouch adherence difficult. You can discuss products that can help with your WOC nurse or MD.
If the stool is loose and watery, it means that the bowel is moving too quickly. As a result, you will not be absorbing valuable nutrients from your food and may also become dehydrated. Loose stools may also increase the risk of leakage from the appliance which can lead to sore skin around the stoma.
Aim: Anecdotally, many ostomates believe that eating marshmallows can reduce ileostomy effluent. There is a plausible mechanism for this, as the gelatine contained in marshmallows may thicken small bowel fluid, but there is currently no evidence that this is effective.
Normal exposure to air or water will not harm the stoma, and water does not enter the opening.
The best ostomy bags include Coloplast SenSura Mio, Hollister New Image, ConvaTec ActiveLife and Natura Plus — offering odor control, skin protection and leak prevention for colostomy, ileostomy and urostomy users.
Some individuals prefer to wear belts during sleep because of frequent position changes and pouch movement. Not all pouching systems will accommodate a belt. If a belt is required for your care, it may limit the type of pouching system that you can use.
Change or empty your bag before bed
Always change or empty your bag before going to sleep. If your bag overfills at night you are at risk of a leak. Going to bed with an empty bag can reduce anxiety about leaks and significantly improve the quality of your sleep.
Dehydration. Having an ileostomy makes it harder to stay hydrated. If you notice signs of dehydration such as fatigue, dry mouth or lots of poo coming out of your stoma, speak to your stoma nurse or another healthcare professional to get advice.
Pancaking happens when there is a vacuum in the stoma bag and the bag sticks together. This stops the output from dropping to the bottom of the bag and can block the filter. There is then a risk that the pouch will be pushed off the abdomen and cause a leak.
How to reduce stoma output
Double-barreled wet colostomy represents simultaneous urinary and fecal surgical diversion performed most commonly after pelvic exenteration as a palliative procedure or after actinic damage.
The most common signs of a peristomal skin infection include:
If you keep having pain and cramping with no output from your stoma for more than 2 hours, and you can't reach your doctor or ostomy nurse, go to the emergency room.
What are the Most Common Stoma Complications?
Can a colostomy bag qualify for disability benefits? Yes. As a general rule, if you have a colostomy bag that makes it difficult to work, you'll qualify as disabled. If your colostomy bag is functioning well or if you expect to have it reversed within the year, you probably won't qualify.
Signs and symptoms of an infection
Symptoms of severe sepsis or septic shock
Symptoms of bacterial infections may include fever, fatigue and feeling generally unwell. Serious bacterial infections can be treated with antibiotics, but misuse can lead to antibiotic resistance. You can reduce your chance of bacterial infections by using handwashing and safe food practices.