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.
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. Most people will be able to feel their bowels move and know when poop is about to come out. But you won't be able to control it anymore.
There are three main types of stoma related to the digestive and urinary system - these are: colostomy, ileostomy and urostomy.
Stomas are needed for a variety of reasons, including: trauma to the abdomen (for example, caused by a car accident or other major injury) surgery to remove bowel cancer or other cancers in your pelvic area. diseases such as Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis.
The studies revealed the average age of a person with a colostomy to be 70.6 years, an ileostomy 67.8 years, and a urostomy 66.6 years.
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.
Some people have a permanent colostomy or ileostomy. When you have a stoma, you need to wear a bag to collect your poo or urine.
Your stoma may either be permanent (if there's no longer enough bowel left to make a continuous pathway from the healthy bowel to the anus) or temporary. If you have a temporary stoma, you will usually have another operation to reverse it. Your healthcare team will tell you when this is likely to happen.
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.
What does a stoma look and feel like? A stoma is usually moist and pinkish-red, and will stick out slightly from your abdomen. The color is because it is a mucous membrane, just like the mucous membrane inside your mouth.
A stoma reversal can be done if there is a large enough section of healthy bowel left to be rejoined. A temporary ostomy may be used for certain health problems. These include problems such as bowel cancer, ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease, and bowel injuries.
Occasionally most people with a stoma will experience some minor issues which may cause discomfort such as leaks and sore skin, granulomas, retracted stomas, constipation, hernias, or prolapsed stomas.
You can swim or be in the water while wearing your pouching system. Remember, your pouching system is water-resistant and is designed not to leak with the proper seal. Water will not harm or enter your stoma. Prior to swimming, make sure your seal is secure.
The edges of the colon are then stitched to the skin of the abdominal wall to form an opening called a stoma. Stool drains from the stoma into a bag or pouch attached to the abdomen. In a temporary "loop colostomy," a hole is cut in the side of the colon and stitched to a corresponding hole in the abdominal wall.
About Your Wet Colostomy
After your surgery, your urine (pee) and stool (poop) will leave your body through your wet colostomy stoma. Your stoma will have 2 parts (see Figure 1): A urinary diversion. Your urine will flow from your kidneys, through your ureters, and out of your body through your urinary diversion.
The short answer is no, an ileostomy won't shorten your life.
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.
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.
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.
You'll need to remove the entire unit (pouch and wafer) and replace it, making sure that the wafer is securely attached to your peristomal skin before leaving the restroom. Regardless of if you're using a one-piece or a two-piece pouch, you'll need to put your used ostomy bag into something you can discard it in.
After a urostomy, you'll have to care for your stoma and the skin around it (called the peristomal skin). You must keep the stoma clean and protect the peristomal skin from moisture and urine. This will prevent skin problems and odor.
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.
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.