Your stoma may be swollen to begin with, but usually reduces in size over time. You shouldn't feel anything in the stoma, and it shouldn't be painful. Over time, bodily waste and gas will pass out through the stoma instead of your anus or urethra. Living with a stoma can seem daunting at first — but you're not alone.
Living with a stoma is a challenging situation for various reasons including uncontrolled gas passage through it, odor, diarrhea, and leakage around the stoma or appliance. It would take several months for the patients to adjust to this difficult time.
The possibility of unpleasant odour and noise means people with a stoma may face additional unique social anxieties following their surgery, with intimate relationships and body image particularly affected (Cardoso et al, 2015).
After a stoma, the bottom part of the bowel no longer has poo passing through it, but it still produces mucus. Dead cells from the lower bowel or rectum may be mixed in with the mucus. The mucus may leak out of the anus, or you may feel the urge to go to the toilet.
Many ostomates worry about odour. If the stoma bag fits well there should be no smell except when changing it. If you do notice a smell from your bag, you should check it as there may be a leak under the flange and the bag will need changing.
Just take it slow and don't expect to be able to go straight back into your normal routine. It takes around 8 weeks to feel fully recovered from stoma surgery. You may also feel quite emotional and maybe a little bit overwhelmed. Having stoma surgery is a big change physically and emotionally.
With an end colostomy, 1 end of the colon is pulled out through a cut in your tummy and stitched to the skin to create a stoma. An end colostomy is often permanent. Temporary end colostomies are sometimes used in emergencies.
If you allow it to get too full, the weight of the stool may pull the pouch away from the skin. A person with an ileostomy will need to empty the pouch about five or six times in a 24-hour period. If you have a colostomy, you will need to empty the pouch two or three times in a 24-hour period.
The best position to sleep in when you have a stoma is on your back, or on your side. If you prefer to sleep on your stomach, this will be fine at the beginning of the night but increases the chances of leaks as the night progresses and your bag fills.
Can you still poop with a colostomy bag? Pooping will be different with a colostomy bag. Immediately after your surgery, your anus may continue to expel poop and other fluids that were left inside. But new poop will now exit through your stoma.
Issues or problems with the skin around the stoma is probably the most common complication for ostomates. Not only is having sore skin extremely uncomfortable for the patient but it can also compromise the attachment of the bag to the skin causing leaks and leading to further skin damage.
It might feel odd or even scary at first. Those are completely normal feelings, says colorectal surgeon Amy Lightner, MD. But know that you can be active, wear fashionable clothes and live a happy, full life with a stoma bag.
A colostomy is an operation to create an opening (stoma) of the large bowel (colon) onto the surface of the tummy (abdomen). Your poo no longer passes out of your body through your back passage. Instead, it passes out through the stoma. You wear a bag that sticks onto the skin over the stoma to collect your poo.
After ileoanal pouch surgery is complete, the temporary stoma is closed. Stool and gas will leave your body through your anus, as they did before surgery. At first, you will have more frequent bowel movements, up to 15 per day. You may have mild bowel control problems and may need to wake up from sleep to pass stool.
You can normally start bathing or showering two to three days after your operation, but your Stoma Care Nurse or ward staff will give you more specific advice.
Once the endoscope has been inserted through your stoma, air will be passed through to distend the large bowel to give the endoscopist a good view of your bowel lining. This may give you a 'wind-like' pain, but it does not usually last long.
You must still include fibre in your diet. Choose some foods from the following list daily: Wholemeal bread. High fibre cereal e.g. Weetabix, porridge.
The stoma itself may feel a little swollen and you will feel tender from the sutures (stitches) used. As your recovery progresses, this discomfort will reduce and improve.
Colostomy irrigation
Irrigation is an alternative to wearing a colostomy appliance. It involves washing out your colon with water either every day or every other day.
Losing weight can be difficult when you have a stoma. Many people gain unwanted weight following stoma surgery due to changes made to their diet in an effort to control their output.
Most doctors will give you a lifting restriction of 10 pounds to avoid hernias around your ostomy. If you participate in a contact sport such as football, wresting, or karate let your Page 2 ostomy nurse or your doctor know. You may require a support binder with a cover for your stoma.
You may feel tired after the operation but you could try gentle exercise, such as a short walk, when you feel ready. 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.
There are specialist stoma underwear, swimwear and clothing companies that produce clothing for people with stomas but this is not necessary to purchase or wear – your usual clothing should be suitable.