How long will I be in hospital for? This depends on what type of stoma operation you had but it will most likely vary anywhere between three and 10 days as long as there aren't any additional complications. You will not be able to leave hospital until your stoma has started working and they are happy with it.
Most people are well enough to leave hospital 3 to 10 days after having a colostomy. Once home, avoid strenuous activities that could place a strain on your abdomen, such as lifting heavy objects. Your stoma nurse will give you advice about how soon you can go back to normal activities.
The Colostomy Surgery Procedure
Colostomy surgery is a major operation 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.
The surgery will take about 2 to 4 hours. As you wake up in the recovery room, the nurse will check to be sure you are stable and comfortable. It is important for you to tell your doctor and nurse how you feel and ask questions about any concerns you may have.
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.
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.
You will be encouraged to at least sit out in your chair either the same day or the day after your surgery and start walking soon after. You may feel tired and a bit wobbly on your legs to begin with but regular walking will soon increase your strength.
How quickly you get better depends, in part, on whether you had a laparoscopic or open surgery. But you will probably need at least 6 weeks to get back to your normal routine. This care sheet gives you a general idea about how long it will take for you to recover.
The colostomy does not have any nerve endings therefore you should not feel pain from the stoma itself. However you can get discomfort from things such as trapped wind or if the skin surrounding the colostomy becomes sore.
How often it needs to be changed depends on which type of bag you use. Closed bags may need changing 1 to 3 times a day. There are also drainable bags that need to be replaced every 2 or 3 days. These may be suitable for people who have particularly loose poos.
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.
You will be offered up to 3 home visits (usually 1 per week) to help you to adjust with managing your stoma. The Stoma nurse will want to look at your stoma and surrounding skin to make sure that it is healing.
Your stoma will look moist and pinkish-red and will protrude slightly from a circular hole in your abdomen. 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.
In fact, 38% of colostomy patients prefer to shower bag-less every time, and 23% shower without the bag 3-4 days per week. However, it is recommended to leave the bag on in case of a fresh surgery, wounds, a quick shower, or high or uncontrolled output.
The BBC Radio 1 presenter had a stoma bag, which she refers to as Audrey, fitted last October after being diagnosed with bowel cancer. The operation diverts one end of the colon, which is part of the bowel, through an opening in the abdomen called a stoma.
You can change your stoma bag as often as you feel you need to. If you have a colostomy and wear a closed bag you will most likely change your pouch after every bowel movement – approximately between 1 to 3 times a day.
With the right ostomy supplies, you should only notice odors when changing out or draining your pouching system. However, if you're noticing some offensive smells more frequently, it's time to find the potential cause.
You can bathe and shower as normal with your stoma and, unless you have been specifically advised otherwise, you can do so with the stoma bag on or off. It won't fall off in the water if you choose to keep it on and if you bathe with the stoma bag off, soap rinsing over the stoma isn't a problem.
The best position to sleep in when you have a stoma is on your back, or on your side.
There are safety measures you may need to think about. For instance, many doctors recommend avoiding contact sports because of possible injury to the stoma from a severe blow. But special protection may be able to help prevent these problems. Talk to your health care team about any limitations you may have.
You can be screened without having to empty or expose the ostomy pouch during Advanced Imaging Technology (AIT), a walk-through metal detector (WTMD), or a pat-down screening. Please inform a TSA officer that you have an ostomy pouch before you enter the screening area.