Stoma surgery recovery typically takes 6 to 8 weeks to feel mostly recovered for daily activities, but full healing, especially for abdominal muscles, can take up to 3 months (12 weeks), requiring rest, avoiding heavy lifting (over a kettle), and gradual light activity like walking. Hospital stays vary (days to a week), but you'll learn self-care before discharge. Post-surgery, expect initial tiredness, then slowly build strength, with dietary adjustments (like low-fibre initially) and emotional adjustment also part of the healing process.
After the operation, you'll have a stoma bag attached to your tummy. Your tummy may feel bloated and sore. Ask for painkillers if you need them. You'll usually stay in hospital for around 2 to 7 days.
If you have a stoma, you might get extra money help. There are benefits like the Personal Independence Payment (PIP) for people whose stomas make life hard. You can also get a Blue Badge for parking if you have trouble moving around. Local councils might have more help if you need it.
A colostomy is major surgery and will require a hospital stay of at least several days and up to six weeks or more of recovery at home. Patients will receive instructions from the surgeon on how to prepare in the days leading up to surgery.
You may experience some pain and discomfort initially whilst recovering from your stoma surgery. This is a normal part of recovery and you may need to take regular pain relief. There is no need to suffer! Avoid tight fitting clothing during this period as your abdomen may be sore and swollen.
You may feel tired after surgery but you could try gentle exercise like a short walk when you feel ready. Avoid strenuous activities or heavy lifting for 8 weeks while your tummy muscles heal. Wait until you've recovered from your operation to drive.
There shouldn't be a noticeable smell if the stoma pouch is intact and sealed. Getting the right product is key in managing any odour. If there is a smell, this could be because the filter on the stoma is blocked, or the bag isn't stuck down properly. Ask your stoma nurse for help if this is an ongoing problem for you.
Like any major surgery, ostomy surgery may lead to complications, such as bleeding and infection. Some risks depend on the type of ostomy surgery you have and the reasons you need surgery. After ostomy surgery, talk with your ostomy nurse or doctor if you notice any unusual symptoms or problems.
Changing your stoma bag may seem daunting at first but you will soon get used to the routine of it and over time you will find that a bag change will only take you a few minutes to complete.
Pants with a stretchy waistband are comfortable and keep the pouch in place. A shirt with loose pleats will fall lightly over the pouch and camouflage it well. Wear a jacket if you think others will notice if your pouch is full. A patterned dress covers the pouch well.
If you have additional health issues or your personal circumstances dictate, you may qualify under one of these conditions, however a stoma alone would not normally entitle you to a blue badge.
Ostomy supply coverage
If you have Medicare Part B coverage, then your ostomy supplies are covered. (As noted above, Medicare pays 80% and you pay 20%.) You must have a prescription, signed and dated by your doctor, on file with your supplier.
Wait until you've recovered from the operation to drive again, usually at least 6 weeks. After that, having an ileostomy will not affect your driving.
If you are using a closed bag, you may be changing it 1-3 times a day, it varies from person to person. For those with a drainable bag, particularly with a urostomy or ileostomy, you may be changing it daily or even every other day.
Having diarrhoea will often mean that the stoma bag needs to be changed much more regularly than usual. This can mean that you go through supplies much quicker and also lead to irritation of the peristomal skin.
A colostomy is an operation where the large bowel (colon) is brought onto the surface of the abdomen to create an opening. The opening is also known as a stoma. You wear a colostomy bag that sticks onto the skin over the stoma to collect your poo.
Usual use: 1-3 bags per day. Bags are not drainable. Flushable bags only to be used on advice of bowel/stoma nurse. Colostomy bags (two piece systems) 30-90 bags + 8-30 flanges Bag – remove and discard after use.
The stoma has no pain nerves, so you do not feel pain from output passing into the bag. Any discomfort usually comes from healing tissues or skin irritation, not from the bag itself.
It is fine to have a bath or shower with your stoma bag on, if you prefer.
You may want to avoid certain foods that are difficult to digest and may cause blockages, such as nuts, fruit and vegetable skins and corn. Most people can return to their normal diet. If you have any concerns, speak with your doctor or stomal therapy nurse and they can refer you to a dietitian.
It's fairly major surgery that takes 1-4 hours so you can expect to be in hospital for up to two weeks after surgery. This kind of surgery can be performed either as laparoscopic (keyhole) or open surgery, but your surgeon will discuss this with you.
Certain foods may get stuck in the narrowed part of the colon or ileum and cause an obstruction (blockage). These same foods could also make the stoma swollen and irritated. An obstruction is more likely to happen with an ileostomy than with a colostomy. Drinking extra fluids can help prevent an obstruction.
Sleep on top of an incontinence sheet, puppy pad or dark towel. (Some people fold a puppy training pad and tuck it between their pants, ensuring that it covers the stoma bag – if you do have a leak, it then goes onto the pad, rather than your clothes.) Use a waterproof mattress cover.
Adele Roberts. A well-known BBC presenter and former star of Big Brother, Adele Roberts got a stoma bag after having surgery for bowel cancer.
Can you swim after stoma surgery? Yes you can! Stoma Bags are waterproof, and you do not need a special stoma bag to go swimming, but if the bag has a filter just pop a filter cover on before entering the water. Here are our top tips for ostomates about returning to the pool.