Filters: Using a bag with a filter will reduce ballooning majorly. These filters not only eliminate the gas in the bag automatically, but also scentlessly. That is, the gas is removed without a smell, so no one around you knows it is happening.
Ballooning occurs when your stoma bag blows up with wind. This is usually due to the filter becoming wet or blocked from stoma output. This can cause the bag to come away from the body. Please note: Stoma ballooning can happen with a colostomy or occasionally with an ileostomy.
Air from the stoma causes the bag to expand and detach from the skin (ballooning) Ballooning occurs when air from the stoma inflates the bag and cannot escape through the filter. The resulting air pressure can cause the adhesive to detach from the skin.
If the stoma remains prolapsed for long periods of time then there is more risk that it will become swollen. This is because when the stoma hangs down, fluid pools at the tip of the stoma and causes it to become swollen.
The stoma will be swollen at first, but the swelling will go down in the weeks after surgery. You will be encouraged to begin looking after your stoma yourself as soon as possible – but don't worry, the Stoma Care Nurses and ward staff will help you to begin with.
Your stoma will go down in size quite considerably over the next 2-3 months. Straight after surgery you will most likely have a large, clear bag over your stoma.
Keeping hydrated with an ileostomy, colostomy and urostomy
You should try to drink 6-8 glasses of water each day along with any other drinks such as tea or coffee.
An overfilled or overweight pouch causes undue strain on the base plate attached to the skin, which could lead to leakage. Tips: Base your wear time on personal preference, your unique stoma, and your output. Change your pouch on a regular basis before it gets too full and leaks.
Omeprazole (especially in those with a net 'secretory' output) will reduce stomal output and if the dose is adequate will increase the stomal fluid pH to greater than 5. If dehydration persists, subcutaneous or parenteral saline with added magnesium may be given.
If your current stoma bag has a filter and you are still experiencing ballooning problems, it may be suffering from excess wind. Spicy foods, some particular vegetables (onions, cabbages, peas, and beans) and fizzy drinks have been known to increase wind, so we would recommend avoiding these in your diet.
Spontaneous stoma closure is a rare and interesting event. The exact etiology for spontaneous closure remains unknown, but it may be hypothesized to result from slow retraction of the stoma, added to the concept of a tendency towards spontaneous closure of enterocutaneous fistula.
Some common complications of stoma include poor siting, parastomal hernia (PH), prolapse, retraction, ischemia/necrosis, peristomal dermatologic problems, mucocutaneous separation, and pyoderma gangrenosum. Each will be discussed separately in further detail.
You can bathe or shower with or without wearing your pouching system. Normal exposure to air or water will not harm or enter your stoma. If you're showering without your pouch, remove the skin barrier too. Try to create a routine that coincides with when you're due for a pouch change.
Drink sports drinks (such as Gatorade or Powerade) and oral rehydration solutions (such as Pedialyte). These drinks will help replace your fluid loss quickly, especially if your ostomy output is high. A high output is more than 1000 milliliters (about 34 ounces) per day.
Smaller meals with frequent snacks and nourishing drinks between meals. Regular intake of food and fluids to help achieve optimal colostomy function. Minimise high intakes of caffeine from tea, coffee, and fizzy drinks, and alcohol.
A colostomy is an operation to divert 1 end of the colon (part of the bowel) through an opening in the tummy. The opening is called a stoma. A pouch can be placed over the stoma to collect your poo (stools). A colostomy can be permanent or temporary.
The recommended sleeping posture is either on your back or side. For side sleepers, resting on your ostomy side shouldn't be a problem. If you want to sleep on the opposite side, place your pouch on a pillow so the bag isn't weighed down and pulling away from your abdomen as it fills.
Use the palm of your hand to apply gentle pressure to the stoma, very gently pushing it back into its usual position. 2. Another alternative is to apply a cold compress to the stoma with your pouch on. Then try to reduce the stoma again using the palm of your hand.
If your stoma is swollen, you can apply a cold compress or sugar. For a cold compress, first put a stoma bag on your stoma. Then wrap ice in a towel and put it over your bagged stoma for no longer than five minutes.
Bending. It's near enough in possible to do gardening without having to bend down. This is fine, but you can bend down in a way that reduces the risk of injuring your stomach muscles and stoma area. For example, rather than bending over at your waist, try bending down slowly at your knees.