Life with Stoma

In cases when a bowel needs to be rerouted through an artificial hole called the stoma, depends on two surgeries one being a colonstomy or an ileostomy. Both surgeries are due to a disease that has caused a bowel blockage and the body is in need of a way to release feces. A colonstomy is an operation that connects the colon to the abdominal wall, whereas an ileostomy connects the last part of the small intestine, aka the ileum, to the abdominal wall. The decision to have a stoma placed can either be temporary while the bowel recovers or more than likely permanent due to bowel cancer or a more serious injury. 

A few things to put into consideration before undergoing these surgeries are your own person medical history, allergies and any medications that you are currently taking whether that be over the counter or herbal supplements, potential risks and complications that could happen while in surgery, and any and all concerns that you have regarding how life will be after surgery, the hygiene that it may require and altogether how you could feel about your self esteem. Below are a few conditions that may require you to consider having these surgeries if and when needed: 

• Bowel Infections

• Bowel Inflammation

• Diverticultis

• Crohn's Disease

• Ulcerative Colitis 

• Blocked Bowels

• Bowel Cancer

• Familial adenomatous polyposis(precancerous condition)

• Serious injuries to the bowel

  
  
  

These procedures often share similar surgical characteristics due to the providing the same outcome but with different parts of the body. The procedure would begin by preparing the bowel with a liquid diet and taking special medicine that would clean and provide an antibiotic bowel cleanse. After safety precautions and approval, the person would then undergo general anaesthetic, one that had been previously discussed. The surgeon would then mark the body when they intend on placing the stoma and then proceed to open the body. The diseased portion of the bowel would then be removed, while pulling the healthy portion out by a small incision in the abdomen. Surgeons would then sew the healthy portion and attach a plastic bag over the stoma to collect any waste disposed by the body. The larger incision would then be closed with stitches and poof, the surgery is done. After surgery, your healthcare providers would proceed to informing you about aftercare and home care in order to make life a bit easier for you. Some of these aftercare suggestions include the proper way of cleaning the stoma, ways to reduce any excessive odors, any foods that should be prevented to decrease and maintain odors, and how to be comfortable in your skin with the newly placed stoma bag. These stoma bags come in different types along with skin sealants, skin barriers and potential powders that are safe to use. 

If the stoma surgery was temporary, you can expect that another operation will be dated in order to reattach the bowel so that you can dispose of feces the original way. However, if the stoma is permanent, you can expect to be checked no later than a month after in order to assure that the stoma has kept an appropriate diameter and is still intact. Stoma associates are available upon to request to help support a permanent stoma surgery mentally and emotionally.