Ostomy is a surgery related to the abdomen where an artificial opening is created to remove urine or stool. Ostomy supplies are used to collect the waste out of the body. Several medical conditions require ostomy, such as any obstruction in the intestine, ulcers, colon, rectal, or bladder cancer. Depending on the type of ostomy, whether temporary or permanent, it is important to take care of it appropriately.
Small and large intestines perform different crucial functions in the body. This surgery makes it important for the individual to adopt new lifestyle changes to avoid other relevant health issues.
What is Stoma: It is an opening that permits the body waste to come out of the body instead of exiting from the urethra or anus. This surgery is performed when any part of the intestine must be removed or healed. A Urostomy flange and a bag are then attached to the skin around the stoma to collect body waste.
A stoma is a part of an intestine that is pulled out to the skin surface and sewn to the opening in the abdomen. It is 1-2 inches in size and is round with a red-colored appearance.
Different Types of Ostomies: Based on the part of the intestine that is needed to be healed to be removed, there are three types of ostomies.
Urostomy
An ostomy bag with a urostomy flange is attached to the ureters that divert the urine flow outside of the body in an ostomy bag rather than passing out through the bladder. This type of ostomy is needed when the bladder is damaged.
- Colostomy
For colostomy, a stoma is created from the colon part of the large intestine. A colostomy is the best option for patients with some blockage in the colon or who have colon or rectal cancer. It bypasses the rectum or certain affected parts of the colon to remove feces from the body.
- Ileostomy
This is considered the most common type of temporary ostomy, but it can be permanent. People with bowel cancer, Crohn’s disease, and ulcerative colitis usually undergo Ileostomy. A stoma is created in the small intestine to remove the waste bypassing the colon and rectum and draining into colostomy supplies.
Ostomy Supply:
Patients who have ostomies should be able to manage their supplies and ostomy accessories. It consists of a one-piece pouch system or a two-piece pouch system. The prior one has a skin barrier attached permanently with an ostomy bag. While for the two-piece design, an ostomy bag can be detached from the ostomy flange.
Physicians recommend the type of bag by assessing the patient's health requirements and daily routine activities. In case of skin irritation or redness around the stoma or any other alarming symptom, it is necessary to consult a healthcare professional.
Ways to Care for Ostomy: Patients with an ostomy have to make considerable adjustments in their life. There are so many things to learn when it comes to ostomy care. It might seem daunting at first, but the process becomes easy with adequate patient and caregiver education.
To avoid colostomy supplies interruptions, be prepared before returning home. Nurses and other health care professionals help prepare a guideline for the patient to know about the collections which fit their needs.
Diet Choices: Colostomy or ileostomy surgeries will require you to adjust your diet since the intestine plays a major role in digesting food. After recovery, the patient must avoid eating certain foods such as nuts, popcorn, mushrooms, raw vegetables, and seeds.
When healing from surgery, the patient can eat most of the food like before, but it is advised to start with small, simple meals. Also, avoid high-fiber food if the patient has Ileostomy and colostomy.
Lifestyle Tips: Daily routine activities become different after an ostomy. But the patient can participate freely in sports or other activities such as swimming, when following certain directions. Consult the doctor if the patient sweats a lot with physical activity, as it can affect the adherence of the urostomy flange.
Do not use strong perfumes and products as these can irritate the sensitive skin of stoma. Moisturizers, oil-based products, lotions, and similar products are prohibited. These make the skin greasy and keep it away from adhering to the barrier.
Cleaning of Stoma: To prevent skin irritation, complications, and infection, keeping the skin of stoma clean is imperative. The patient should clean the skin each time when changing the pouch. As the skin of a stoma has various blood capillaries, it is fine to bleed a little and be gentle when cleaning.
First, remove the colostomy supply from the adhesive side using warm water. Use any soft cloth or specially formulated wipes for stoma cleaning. After cleaning the site, pat it, dries completely, and fix the skin barrier.
Care for Irritated Skin Around the Stoma
If the patient takes care of the stoma cleaning, there is still a chance that the skin around the stoma will get irritated. There are several reasons why it irritates the skin around the stoma. This includes frequent or forceful removal of the skin barrier, adhesive reaction, stool contact, or fungal infection.
If you feel any irritation, gently apply a skin barrier protectant or ostomy powder to the affected skin after cleaning the area. Then remove the extra powder and let it dry completely before applying the urostomy flange.
Medications
After an ostomy, the patient’s body reacts differently to medications. Therefore, the patient must change the dose, dosage form, and drug class. For example, liquid medicines work better for one with a colostomy. The physician advises not to take enteric-coated, long-acting, and sustained released medication for Ileostomy patients.
When purchasing medicines and over-the-counter medicines, inform healthcare professionals about ostomies so that they will provide the ones which are safe for patients.
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