Normally once you are able to manage your stoma bags you will be discharged from hospital. The Stoma Care Nurse will discuss with you the different ways in which you can obtain your supplies and will then forward your details to the appropriate service. You will normally be discharged home with 1 -2 weeks supply of appliances although this does vary depending on the hospital. During the first couple of weeks you will visited by the Stoma Care Nurse who will organise your prescription details in order to obtain your supplies. Initially your stoma will shrink but it normally settles within 8 weeks. Once your stoma has settled then the nurse will decide whether a pre-cut standard size is required or whether you will need your pouches customising. Customising merely means the cutting to your size of pouches or flanges by using a template provided to us by your Stoma Care Nurse. Stomas can change in shape so we will always use the most recent template provided either by you or your Stoma Care Nurse. Stomas A stoma is formed from a piece of bowel following surgery for common conditions such as colorectal cancer, Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, bladder cancer or due to a traumatic injury. Stoma just means an opening. After some operations a patient may need a temporary or a permanent stoma. A typical stoma is a 20 – 30 mm spout which looks like half a cherry tomato which is stitched onto the abdomen. It is over this small spout that a bag is placed to collect the waste: faecal matter or urine. If you have a colostomy this simply means that a stoma is formed from a piece of the large bowel (colon). Colostomists need to wear a closed pouch and may need to change the bag two to three times a day. An ileostomy is formed from a piece of the small bowel (ileum) and is managed by a drainable pouch which can be emptied as required. The content from an ileostomy is much more fluid than that from a colostomy and it is important to maintain a healthy fluid balance: approximately 1.5 litres per day. Both Colostomists and Ileostomists may choose to wear either a one piece bag or a two piece bag. Fluid balance is equally important for Urostomists who also wear a drainable pouch with a non return valve in it to prevent back flow of urine. A urostomy pouch can be connected to a night drainage bag which can hold up to 1 litre of fluid or to a leg bag during the day. A bit of dietary advice Many people are concerned about their diet post operatively but the normal advice would apply: eat a healthy balanced diet including fruit and vegetables, whole grain foods and limit the sugary, fatty foods on offer. Common Queries
Travel Advice
If you are travelling abroad it is always a good idea to carry enough pouches to get you through the first week of your holiday just in case you get separated from your hold luggage!
Odour
Due to the plastics used to manufacture modern stoma bags you should not experience odour problems unless you are changing the bag or draining it. Some people use deodorising drops or sprays in the bag and some just use a normal household room spray in the bathroom when they have finished changing. If you do experience odour problems it is worth checking that you don't have a crease in the flange as this can lead to leakage. Wind
Most modern pouches will have at least one filter and in some cases two! Urostomy pouches don't have a filter. If you do experience excess wind then if you use a two piece system you can unlock the pouch from the flange: if you use a drainable bag you can open the bottom of the bag and release the gas. However if you use a closed pouch the you may want to consider adding extra filters: these are available on prescription. Bleeding
Sometimes you may notice bleeding from the surface of your stoma and this can sometimes be due to over vigorous cleaning and should stop fairly quickly. Stomas are formed from the same kind of tissue as the inside of your mouth and they can bleed quite easily. Should the bleeding be profuse then contact your GP quickly. If the bleeding is coming from inside the stoma then you should seek urgent medical advice from your GP or stoma nurse.
Phantom rectum
If you still have your rectum following surgery some patients complain of a feeling that they want to go to the loo the normal way; this is entirely normal. Your rectum will still produce mucous and it will not harm you to sit on the loo as normal. However if you experience bleeding from the rectum you should seek medical advice. Disclaimer appears on contact page. |
