Ostomy Surgery: Learn About Living with a Stool Bag

Perhaps you or someone you know has been told by a doctor about an ostomy. It's normal to feel a little scared, nervous, and even embarrassed when you hear about a bag being placed on the side of your abdomen to drain your stool or urine. But this can be life-saving, or it can make your life a lot easier. So let's talk about it in simple terms, shall we?

What exactly is an ostomy?

Simply put, an ostomy is a surgical procedure that creates an alternative route for waste (i.e., stool or urine) to pass out of your body when your normal way of eliminating waste (i.e., stool or urine) is no longer working. This surgery may be done if part of your digestive or urinary tract has been damaged, or if you need to give that part some time to heal.

In this operation, a surgeon creates a small opening in your abdomen. This is called a 'stoma' . Then, the healthy part of your digestive or urinary system that works is separated from the dysfunctional part and connected to the newly created stoma.

After this surgery, stool or urine will come out of your stoma. This waste will collect in a small bag attached to your stoma. We call this an ostomy bag . The way it is made is sometimes temporary, sometimes permanent.

• Temporary Ostomy: This is done to give your intestines or urinary tract a chance to heal after a medical condition or surgery. Once those parts are back to normal, it can be removed through another surgery.
• Permanent Ostomy: A permanent ostomy is needed if part of your digestive or urinary system is damaged beyond repair, or if that part has to be completely removed.

Why does someone need an ostomy?

There are several reasons why you might want to have an ostomy. This condition is more common than you might think. Let's take a closer look at the table below.

What are the main types of ostomies?

The type of ostomy depends on which part of your body is being bypassed. There are three main types.

• Colostomy: This involves connecting part of your large intestine (colon) to a stoma created in your abdomen. Stool comes out through this.
• Ileostomy: This involves connecting the end of your small intestine (ileum) to a stoma. This allows for the passage of stool.
• Urostomy: In this, your ureters, the tubes that carry urine, are connected directly to a stoma, bypassing the bladder. Urine comes out through this.

What are the benefits and possible risks of surgery?

If you need to remove part of your digestive or urinary tract, or if you need to stop using it, an ostomy can be a life-saving procedure. It can also greatly improve the quality of life for someone who is constantly in pain and in the toilet due to certain chronic conditions.

Here are some common complications that can occur:

• Skin Irritation: The skin around the stoma can become red and irritated due to stool or urine. This is a common problem. This can be largely prevented by tightening the bag properly and cleaning it regularly.
• Electrolyte Imbalances: Our large intestine is where water and nutrients are absorbed into the body. Since this part is bypassed in a colostomy or ileostomy, the body can become dehydrated or have electrolyte imbalances. Your doctor will explain how to prevent this.
• Obstruction: Sometimes the intestines can become temporarily blocked due to scar tissue that forms in the intestines after surgery or due to undigested food.
• Parastomal Hernia: If the abdominal wall around the stoma becomes weak, tissue inside the abdomen can push out, forming a hernia.
• Prolapsed Stoma: Sometimes a part of the intestine can protrude through the stoma. Most of the time, a doctor can put it back in, but rarely, surgery may be needed.

If you see something like this, the best thing to do is not to panic and talk to your doctor.

How do you care for and change your ostomy bag?

It can take up to 8 weeks for your wound to heal completely after surgery. During this time, a specially trained Wound Ostomy Continence Nurse (WOCN) will teach you how to change and clean your bag.

Most people need to change their bag every 3 to 7 days. Some people like to change it every day. Keep these things in mind when changing your bag.

• Wipe away any mucus on the stoma.
• Clean the skin around the stoma thoroughly using lukewarm water and a mild soap.
• Rinse thoroughly with water to remove any soap residue.
• Dry the area thoroughly.

When do you need to call the doctor urgently?

It can be difficult to know what symptoms you should talk to your doctor about after surgery. If you feel like something is wrong, don't hesitate to talk to your doctor. Especially if you have these symptoms, call your doctor right away.

• If there is a bad smell coming from the stoma
• If the stoma is bleeding excessively
• If you are showing signs of infection such as fever, nausea, vomiting
• If you have severe stomach pain that lasts more than three hours
• If there is inflammation, redness, or peeling of the skin
• If you have watery stools for more than six hours

Some frequently asked questions

Is this surgery reversible? (Is it reversible?)

Yes, sometimes it is possible. This depends on your overall health and how well the damaged part of your bowel or urinary system has healed. If those parts are fully functional again, you can talk to your surgeon about having surgery to reverse the ostomy.

How do you go to the toilet with an ostomy bag?

Even after an ostomy, you still need to use the toilet. But not for both bowel movements and urine. Imagine you have a urostomy. Then you urinate into a bag, but you go to the toilet to defecate. Someone with a colostomy or ileostomy will defecate into a bag, but go to the toilet to urinate. You also use the toilet to empty your ostomy bag.

Is it possible to live normally with an ostomy?

Absolutely yes. Having an ostomy does not affect your lifespan. Nor does it prevent you from living a full, active life. The medical condition that led to the need for an ostomy may affect your life, but the ostomy itself does not. In fact, sometimes an ostomy can extend your life.

Whether it's temporary or permanent, having an ostomy is a big change in your life. It's important to get support as you begin this journey. Talking to support groups with people who have gone through this experience can be a great source of strength.

Ostomy, Ostomy, Stoma, Ostomy bag, Colostomy, Ileostomy, Urostomy