A colostomy may be required for people with colorectal cancer and some other bowel diseases. This is a procedure in which the passage of the body waste is altered. Feces exit the body through the hole created in the abdomen. This opening is termed a stoma. A pouch adheres outside the body for the collection of feces. You can empty and change the bag when needed. Living and adapting to a colostomy is very dramatic. Having the proper knowledge can help you in a better way.
What is meant by a colon?
The colon is the part of the large intestine from the small intestine to the rectum. The small intestine is the point for the entrance of the small intestine. The colon helps in the reabsorption of water and nutrients as food moves through it. The waste material is stored for some time in the rectum before leaving the body.
There are three main parts of a colon:
Ascending colon: It moves up to the right side of the abdomen. It is the portion where the food enters from the small intestine.
Transverse colon: It reaches the upper part of the belly.
Descending colon: This part moves down the left side of the abdomen to the sigmoid colon. The sigmoid colon is connected with the colon. It aids in the reabsorption of water and important nutrients and stool formation.
What is meant by Ostomy?
A surgical procedure in which a hole is created in the stomach; which allows the body waste to leave the body, without passing through the anus or urethra. There are three main types of Ostomy:
Colostomy: A part of the colon is used in stoma creation. The stool that is produced as a result is very firm.
Ileostomy: A part of the ileum is involved in Ostomy creation. It is made on the lower side of the abdomen. The feces are semi-soft and green in color.
Urostomy: It is done just for the drainage of urine, not feces from the body.
Ostomy is a procedure that enables the body to pass out waste through a newly made opening in the belly. An Ostomy may be permanent or temporary. You require wearing an Ostomy pouch outside the stoma for collecting waste material.
The type of feces that is produced as a result of colostomy depends on the location of the Ostomy. For Example:
Colostomy that is on the lower end helps in the reabsorption of more water and as a result, more solid feces are formed.
If a colostomy is near the rectum feces are completely formed.
Ostomy on the transverse and ascending colon, the stool produced as a result is looser and watery because less water is reabsorbed.
Stoma Surgery
In most cases, surgery is performed right after the diagnosis. These surgeries can be performed to remove colon cancer to a large extent. If the colon is very much affected then it needs to be removed completely. A colostomy can be permanent or temporary. You will have a meeting with your healthcare expert and surgeon before the surgery.
You need to clean the bowl thoroughly before the surgery.
Before surgery, you will be introduced to an enterostomal therapy (ET) nurse. He or she will help you to look after your stoma properly.
After the surgery, you need to take medicines and painkillers for healing. You need to stay in hospital for few days after the surgery. Your ET will absorb and check your stoma regularly. Your Ostomy nurse will answer all your questions.
Stoma Care
When you are allowed to leave the hospital and go home your nurse will visit you daily and help you to take care of your stoma. You need to follow the following things:
How to clean and take care of your parastomal skin
How to avoid infection
Observe changes in stoma
Which medicines to take and how to take them
How to change the flange?
You must dry and clean your stoma properly before attaching the flange or skin barrier. This is how a flange can adhere for a long time. You can use a hairdryer or wait until the skin dries completely. You may need to change the flange after the exercise or any physical activity.
Living with the pouch
Having an Ostomy is very depressing. It may be hard for some people to think about the Ostomy bag they need to carry with them all the time. But you need not worry. You can easily conceal your Ostomy bag. No one can guess that you are having an Ostomy until you decide to tell them. You can choose the people whom you want to tell about your condition. For instance, you need to inform at the workplace that you can’t lift heavyweights.
You can wear loss-fitting clothes that can help you to conceal the stoma in a better way. You should be always careful when children and pets are around so that they can't jump onto the sight of your bag.
You should always keep extra Ostomy supplies with you while traveling. Also, eat the food items carefully. Foods can cause gas and bloat.
You can control odor by using different solid and liquid products. Some products can be placed in the pouch and some can be eaten along with water.
Dietary changes
You should be careful while consuming food items. Some foods can cause odor and gas while some can change the consistency of stool and bowel movements. A mixture of carbon, methane, and hydrogen is the reason for causing gas in the abdomen. You can limit the foods that can cause gas. These food items are:
Bananas
Asparagus
Broccoli
Capsicum
Cabbage
Drinks (carbonated)
Carrots
Foods with lactose
Onions
Whole grains
Bran
Trailing your stool
The timing of stool can depend on the type of your colostomy. Constipation is one of the problems for patients with colostomy. Always keep a record of the stool. Check the consistency. You can use juices, fruits, and veggies for releasing constipation.
