Ballooning occurs when air from the stoma inflates the bag and it can't escape through the filter. The resulting air pressure can cause the adhesive to detach from the skin.
Ballooning occurs when gas expelled through the colon collects inside the bag causing it to inflate. Most bags have a filter which allows this gas to escape. Occasionally the filter will block and the bag needs to be changed. If this happens to you regularly, it may be worth trying a different bag.
Eat slowly and chew your food well, drinking plenty of water in between meals. There are also certain foods that are thought to reduce gas. These include buttermilk, cranberry juice, parsley and yoghurt. It also makes sense to always choose a stoma bag with a good filter.
Burping your ostomy pouch to let the gas out is one way to prevent ballooning. It's best done in the bathroom since the smell is more prominent. You can also use an ostomy deodorant or lubricator if you tend to burp your bag a lot, together with an odor-reducing spray.
Fizzy drinks and 'burping' your stoma bag
Quite aptly, the way to resolve this quickly is to 'burp' your bag. This can be done anywhere you wouldn't be embarrassed to pass wind but I normally try to do it in a bathroom.
Burping your stoma bag
“Burping” your bag can help let the gas out. This allows the gas smell to escape the bag and is best done in the bathroom. If you use a two-piece system, this can easily be done by gently lifting the edge of your pouch away the flange which can help let the gas escape.
Try lying down and lifting your knees to your chest, rolling gently from side to side. For people with a colostomy, your GP or stoma care nurse may prescribe some laxatives, use these as prescribed and don't forget to drink plenty of water with these as it will help them work better.
When the large bowel has been removed the small bowel must adapt to absorb more fluid, which it is not as effective at doing (this will improve over time). This means output from your stoma can increase.
We can answer the first part here. Aside from physical impact (a hard fall, etc.) your bag bursts because of excessive gas accumulation. Today, InnerGood is going to expand (no pun intended) on this subject to provide you with insight into preventive measures that you can take.
Foods that are reported to help thicken the stoma output include apple sauce, bananas, buttermilk, cheese, marshmallows, jelly babies, (boiled) milk, noodles, smooth creamy peanut butter, rice, tapioca pudding, toast, potatoes and yoghurt.
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.
A stoma (parastomal) hernia is a weakness or protrusion in the muscle wall of the abdomen which allows the abdominal contents to bulge out. The bulge often protrudes more when coughing or undertaking physical activity. A stoma hernia is one of the most common complications following stoma creation.
Depending on the severity of the prolapse, a referral can be made to the Surgeon for review, but is often not deemed as urgent, unless the prolapsed stoma changes to a very dark/dusky colour, stops functioning or causes pain. Pain may suggest bowel strangulation which is treated as an emergency.
If the stoma is swollen then the swelling can be reduced by using either a cold compress or sugar. The sugar works by drawing out fluid from the swollen stoma so helping to reduce the size. Be aware that as the sugar draws fluid out of the stoma you will end up with a syrupy fluid in the bag.
Skin Problems
If the skin around the stoma does not appear to be similar to the skin on rest of your abdomen, it is likely that you have a skin issue that needs to be addressed. The skin barrier should protect your skin. If the skin is irritated (red, moist, or sore to the touch), the pouch seal can fail and leakage.
Signs of Skin Problems Around a Stoma
The skin around the stoma appears infected and/or is red and "angry" in appearance. There is a pus-like discharge. The skin color suddenly changes. The skin is irritated by the stoma appliance, causing redness, chafing, or a raw or "burned" appearance.
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.
Keeping hydrated with an ileostomy, colostomy and urostomy
Keeping hydrated is an important aspect of living with a stoma. For many people it is just making sure you are drinking plenty throughout the day. You should try to drink 6-8 glasses of water each day along with any other drinks such as tea or coffee.
A colostomy bag is used to collect your poo. 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.
Stoma blockage
Some people develop a blockage in their stoma as the result of a build-up of food. Signs of a blockage include: not passing many poos, or passing watery poos. bloating and swelling in your tummy.
Adhesions are caused by internal scarring. They are bands of fibrous tissue that can form after a surgery, connecting abdominal tissues and/or organs so that they stick together. No matter the cause, stoma blockage can be a medical emergency.
Be alert to the early signs and symptoms of bowel obstruction. A partial blockage usually displays itself through cramping abdominal pain, watery output with a foul odour, and possible abdominal distension and swelling of the stoma followed by nausea and vomiting.