Facing the news that you need to have an Ostomy (Colostomy, Ileostomy, or Urostomy) is never easy. Like most people in your situation, you most likely have fears about how your life is going to change. These feelings are normal. Fortunately, things are not as bad as they seem. Chances are your life is going to change, in fact, improve. Once you recover from surgery, you will find that you can do many of the things you may not have been able to do for quite some time before surgery.

Even though you may feel quite alone in this process, you should know that there are approximately one million people living in the United States with Ostomies. In fact, each year there are between 75,000 and 100,000 Ostomy operations performed.

There is plenty of support available to help you with all your questions. Often it begins before surgery then continues – if you choose – throughout your life with national organizations. Physicians can provide information on your surgery and Enterostomal Therapy Nurses (ET Nurses), who are nurses specializing in Ostomy care, can provide all kinds of support on how to care for your body. Additionally, an Ostomy Visitor is a person who, like you, had an Ostomy surgery and can answer questions about every day life. The United Ostomy Association (www.UOAA.org) is a national organization creating awareness, raising funds for research and providing support for Ostomates. Ostomy Visitor programs and support groups are sponsored by local chapters of the UOA.

While all this support is available, healthcare professionals point out that patients who achieve a high level of independent self-care usually make a fuller and quicker adjustment than those who remain dependent on others. Once you recover from surgery and learn how to manage your Ostomy, you can live as full a family, social, and work life as you did before your illness. Many people feel it actually improves the quality of their lives. Your attitude is key to your success.

There are basically three types of Ostomy surgery:

Colostomy – a surgically created opening in the colon (large intestine) to permit the elimination of body waste. The consistency and frequency of discharge from a colostomy will vary, depending on its location in the colon.

Ileostomy – created by bringing a portion of the ileum (small intestine) through an opening in the abdomen. Discharge is fairly constant and watery, and contains large amounts of salt and digestive enzymes.

Urostomy (or urinary diversion) – performed when urine must be diverted from its usual route to the surface of the abdomen. The urinary bladder is either bypassed or removed.

The Stoma

The surgically created opening in the abdomen for an Ostomy is called the stoma. Waste material from the gastrointestinal or urinary tract is discharged through it. The stoma itself is shiny, wet, and dark pink in color, much like the inside of your mouth. It usually has a round or oval shape, and may be as small as a dime or as large as a half dollar. The stoma usually shrinks after surgery, taking its permanent size a few months later.

Because stomas do not have nerve endings you won’t feel any pain from it. Stomas are, however, rich in blood vessels and may bleed if slightly irritated or rubbed. This is normal, but if the bleeding is prolonged, or if the discharge is bloody, contact your doctor or ET Nurse.

Stomas require little care. The skin surrounding the stoma, called peristomal skin, must be protected from direct contact with discharge. This discharge is potentially irritating. The peristomal skin should be gently cleansed with plain soap (without moisturizer) that leaves no residue, then rinsed with water after each change of your Ostomy pouching system. Water cannot enter the stoma because of its outward shape, so you won’t need to cover it during bathing or showering.

Considering Ostomy Systems

Unless your Ostomy is temporary you will be using some sort of Ostomy Supply system for the rest of your life. The systems collect the discharge from your stoma. The good news is that you have a wide variety of options. So it is important to learn as much as you can about the products available so you can find the right system for you.

Pouches come in different sizes and shapes to serve different functions. Today’s pouches are lightweight, odor proof, leak proof and undetectable under clothing. Many pouches have clear or opaque options. Pouches also can come with a filter if your output is solid, as the filter allows gas to escape – but not the odor. Filters also prevent gas from building up so the pouch does not inflate like a balloon.

There are basically two types of pouches:

Single Use – a closed-end pouch that you remove and dispose of one to three times a day. These closed-end pouches are a practical choice to use while traveling or for convenience at any time. These are ideal if you want greater freedom of movement or discretion.

Drainable – a pouch you empty from an opening on the bottom of the pouch. These pouches are best if you have discharge frequently throughout the day.  Ostomy systems are made up of a wafer (which attaches to your body) and a pouch (which attaches to the wafer). Because discharge from the stoma can irritate the skin around it, you need an Ostomy system that fits correctly so that it provides skin protection.

There are two Ostomy system options:

Two-piece – the pouch is separate from the skin barrier wafer and the pieces snap together with a flange. The flange is connected to the wafer and looks like a plastic ring. It is easy to unsnap the pouch and discard the pouch as often as you like. The flange ‘clicks’ into place similar to how a plastic ware top ‘clicks’ into place on a plastic ware container. With a two piece system you can use a stationary flange or a floating flange. A stationary flange is very flat, so you may want to try it if you want your pouching system flat against your skin. With a floating flange, you can put your fingertips under the flange for support while you attach the pouch to the barrier which is great for people with weaker dexterity.

One-piece – the pouch and the skin barrier wafer are directly connected as a single unit. This means the one-piece is easy to apply, you just peel off the backing on the wafer and stick to your abdomen. It stays on as long as it remains comfortable and secure.

Your pouching system should be secure, odor free and comfortable, no matter what type you select. The skin barrier should be changed regularly, once or twice a week.

After your surgery, your ET Nurse may fit you with an Ostomy system while you are still in the hospital. Your ET Nurse may even visit to help you at home. Once you had some time to get used to your Ostomy you may want to explore further all the Ostomy product options available to you.

Living an Improved Life

As you progress in your recovery you will have a number of questions. There can be no one right answer, only recommendations and ideas for you to try, as no two people are alike.

Eating

For most patients surgery will allow a normal diet for the first time in years. Foods act differently on different people, so go back to your normal diet and monitor the effects of each food on your body. Your doctor may advise that you follow a low-residue diet the first weeks after surgery, but will eventually become more normal. You will learn which foods produce gas or odor, which cause diarrhea and which produce constipation. With this knowledge you can regulate your body’s behavior to a large extent but, no matter what your plans are, always eat regularly.

Clothing

Today’s inconspicuous, low-profile Ostomy systems are pretty much undetectable, so you can wear whatever you want. The pressure of undergarments with elastic will not harm the stoma or prevent the function of the bowel.

Activities

For the most part you can live a normal active life. You should avoid heavy lifting as that could cause herniation around the stoma. You shouldn’t engage in rough contact sports such as boxing, wrestling, or football without special protection for your stoma – or without your doctor’s permission. Water does not harm the stoma. You can bathe or shower with or without an appliance over your stoma. Soap will not irritate it and water will not flow into a stoma. For sanitary reasons you should use a stick-on pouch (or stoma cap) when you go swimming in fresh water or in the ocean.

Travel

All methods of travel are open to you. Just be sure to bring adequate supplies.

Sexual Life

In most cases your capacity for ordinary sexual expression won’t be affected by surgery.
Daily life can be resumed once your health recovers because an Ostomy is not an impediment to most physical activity.

Product Innovation

Several companies make Ostomy products a major focus of their manufacturing process and invest much of their resources to continue making improvements on what they offer.

SGV Medical Supplies only sells Ostomy Supplies. Because Ostomy is our focus we know the latest innovations offered by manufacturers. The Ostomy appliance system has come a long way and continues to be improved. Stay in contact with us and we will let you know what improvements have been made, and what arrangement may be best for you.

Some innovations with wafers are as follows:

Stationary Flange - lower profile and more discreet

Floating Flange - easier to get your fingers underneath the flange to change out the pouch

Flexibility - some wafers are more flexible while others are stiffer for a tighter seal

Some innovations with pouches are as follows:

Coloration - not only do pouches come in clear, but also opaque

Filters - Bags which let the gas out, but not the odor and prevents the pouch from inflating like a balloon

Closed pouches - shorter wear time than drainable pouches, but ideal when you want greater freedom and discretion

Clamp-less, drainable pouch - there are various new pouching systems which no longer use a plastic clamp, some use Velcro while other manufacturers use new innovative clipping/sealing systems to close the drainable pouch Other products include paste to fill in gaps, strips to fill in uneven areas like scars, powder to help dry the skin, wipes to remove adhesive residue, and odor spray/drops.

Call us anytime to find out what other items are available.