As you settle in at home
After your ostomy surgery, your healthcare providers will explain how to change your ostomy pouch and adequately care for your stoma and the surrounding skin. You will be given much new information to absorb, and it’s expected to have many unanswered questions, even after you leave the hospital. To help you adjust as you settle in at home, here are 10 of the most frequently asked questions from new ostomy patients, along with some helpful answers.
1. What should my stoma look like?
Like every person’s belly button is distinct, your stoma shape is unique. Part of getting the best fit for your ostomy pouch – and preventing leaks – is carefully monitoring your stoma for changes. A healthy stoma will appear red and moist – it looks a lot like the lining of the inside of your mouth. The stoma will be circular or oval in shape. Typically, the stoma will jut out about 1” from your abdomen.
In the weeks after your ostomy surgery, the stoma will be swollen. To protect the skin around your stoma, you’ll need to measure your stoma size and then cut the skin barrier to fit. Generally, you want to cut the shape to be no more than 1/8” larger than the stoma for the best fit.
Your stoma shape may change over time. A weight gain of over 10 pounds may cause the stoma to flush with the skin instead of sticking out. If you’re experiencing leaks, you may need to switch the kind of pouching system you use.
Some people with ostomies may have stomas that are flush with the skin or retract into the skin. A convex pouching system may help the pouching system fit better.
2. What can I eat?
Depending on your healthcare professional’s advice, you can resume your regular diet anywhere from a few weeks to several months after surgery. You may be on a bland diet while your body heals. It’s important to chew foods very thoroughly and stay hydrated. You may want to avoid some foods to lessen odor and gas. Click here for more information.
3. What should I wear?
Your pre-surgery wardrobe will be refined, with minor adjustments to undergarments with unique features and fabrics. These will minimize bulk from your ostomy bag. Here are a variety of undergarments from which to choose. Swimwear to help fit your stoma can include higher waists or tighter or draped fronts. Wearing a patterned bathing suit will help camouflage your pouch when swimming. Several companies offer specially made swimsuits for those with an ostomy.
4. Can I travel?
Traveling should be no problem if you pack extra ostomy supplies. Put together a supply pack to keep in your carry-on. Emptying your pouch before starting your trip will also allow you to travel longer without changing or opening your pouch.
5. Can I play sports and exercise?
Talk to your healthcare professional about when you can return to physical activities. Most physicians advise against contact sports to protect the stoma. Wearing snug, “biking style” shorts during vigorous activity can help hold your pouching system in place.
6. When should I call my doctor?
As swelling decreases, your stoma will likely change size and shape. If you have excessive bleeding, especially between the stoma and skin, or if you see cuts in the stoma, severe skin irritation, or ulcers in the stoma, it’s time to call your doctor. Other symptoms to look for are painful cramps lasting more than two or three hours, continuous nausea and vomiting, or severe watery discharge lasting more than five or six hours.
7. How do I choose supplies?
Just as each person is unique and different, so is the fit of their ostomy pouching system. When you wake up from surgery, you will have a pouch attached. You can continue with that style or pouch, or you might want to try other pouching systems. The kind of ostomy pouch that works best for you will depend on your type of ostomy surgery, your preferences, and your day-to-day activities. One-piece or two-piece systems closed or drainable pouches and a variety of ostomy accessories are available. Some people find it helpful to have different ostomy pouches to meet their changing needs. Talk to your WOC (Wound, Ostomy, and Continence) nurse to determine which products might be right for you. This article will explain the different types of pouching systems and the advantages of each. Edgepark has ostomy experts who can also answer your questions and recommend products for your unique situation.
8. How do I prevent odor?
A well-fitting ostomy pouching system should not have any odor while wearing it. If you’re noticing odor, check that there are no leaks in your pouching system. Odor can occur when gas is released from the pouch (for those with colostomies and ileostomies) or the output when changing your pouch. A combination of diet and unique products can help you reduce ostomy odor.
9. Who do I tell?
Deciding who to talk to about your ostomy and how much you want to say involves careful consideration. Practicing what you’re going to say beforehand can help. You may also want to come up with a quick reply for when people ask why you’ve been gone. You can decide what and how much you wish to say about your ostomy. Practicing this answer with a close friend or family can make answering more comfortable and accessible.
10. Who can I talk to?
Your first source for ostomy information is your healthcare provider and WOCN. If you need emotional support, many local and national groups with online chats and local meetings allow you to talk to others living with an ostomy. The United Ostomy Associations of America can help you find a group in your area.
Sources:
Opens – average of 70 per month
Click throughs – average of 50%
Kathleen Walder Portfolio 