What You Should Know About Stoma Before Your Surgical Procedure

By Karyn Shields


Special openings may need to be created in the body for waste collection due to surgery or illness. These are called stoma. People can have these on a short-term basis or they may be permanent.

Doctors can create one of three types of openings. Among these are ileostomies, urostomies and colostomies. Your illness and the way that this affects your digestive processes will determine which procedure is best suited to your needs. Whether your digestive waste will be rerouted in a permanent or temporary fashion is also a deciding factor.

After having completed your incision, your doctor will fit you with special equipment that is capable of collecting the waste that your body produced. Your collection unit will be discreet and relatively small in most instance. When you fill it, there will be an interior liner that you can take out to empty the waste and then you can replace this liner. Your device could be capable of holding both liquids and solids and it will also keep unpleasant odors contained.

You will probably be able to continue wearing the same clothes that you currently own. The nature of your unit and the way that it is positioned, however, could necessitate the need for a larger or more flexible waistline. This is often essential when seeking continued comfort and lots of convenience.

Once an incision area has been created, you will find that the opening looks similar to the inside of your mouth as it will be soft and pink or red. There will likely be some soreness, which is not uncommon. Should you experience any inflammation or swelling and if the area becomes hot, you should notify your provider right away as this likely indicates infection.

There are a number of questions that people often have about these procedures, especially as they pertain to their ability to continue living normal lives. One of the greatest concerns is whether or not collection bags will smell. It is important to note that these products are designed with the specific intention of containing or minimizing foul odors.

Once these incisions are complete and the bag is installed, there is usually no good reason for making major alterations to your diet. It is not necessary to remove any special foods from your typical meal plan due to this change. You may, however, be required by your doctor to make changes to your diet if these are a necessary part of a treatment plan for an existing ailment.

People can also continue working out after having had one of these procedures performed. It is important to talk with your doctor about your plans to exercise. Your unit will be watertight and this means that you can still go swimming. Cycling, running and many other activities will be fine for you to engage in as well.

It is always a good idea to give yourself sufficient time to heal from a procedure such as this one, as opposed to aggressively pursuing challenging activities. You want to allow your body to regain its strength in a gradual fashion. With plenty of time to recuperate, it should not be problematic to take part in any of the sports and recreational activities that you have long enjoyed.




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