Ostomy: Adapting to life after colostomy, ileostomy or urostomy

It takes time to become comfortable with an ostomy — a surgically created opening in your abdomen that allows waste or urine to leave your body.

Many questions may run through your mind as you practice good ostomy care and live your life. It can help to talk to others who have been there. Perhaps you'd like to ask others questions like: What can I eat? What about leaks? Can I go back to work after colostomy? Can I ride a bike with an ileostomy? Will everyone figure out I've had urostomy surgery just by looking at me? What about intimacy?

Welcome ostomates. Let's talk frankly about living with an ostomy. Why not start by introducing yourself? What type of ostomy do you have? How's it going?

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Ostomy Support Group.

@mlmcg

When I saw colostomy, ileostomy, urostomy on Mayo Clinic Digestive Health I was so happy. I have so much I need to know and I can share some things. I then had this feeling that I was needed in the bathroom. I am not sure what can be worst than a full bag/pouch/appliance of liquid and air. I had to clean the front of toilet, the floor, the clamp, my hands, and change my clothes. At least I did not hit my shoes. I know we are to empty our bags when it is a third full, but I have not figured out when the bag is 1/3 full, when I have diarrhea my bag goes from empty to full in a matter of minutes.

My ostomy is the results of radiation I had on my lower abdomen over 30 years ago. It took that long for my sigmoid to die. I now have an ostomy, for life, and a third of my GI track is gone. I have not found anyone, yet, who has had lymphoma, with their sigmoid killed from radiation wearing a bag over their stoma.

Learning to clean and replace your bag, once you get home from the hospital, can be an experience, and one not for sissies. Poop is your friend. It is the food you put in your mouth that the body could not use. When we forget it is food we may become fearful of poop and do not want to look at it or willing to have it get on our hands.

What to eat and what not to eat is my biggest problem. With a third of my GI track gone I have to take lots of meds to make up for what my body cannot get out of the food I eat. I do eat a balanced diet and try new things. The diarrhea I am having now could be a reaction to a new med I am taking, but it could be from the new food I am trying out. I eat mostly veggies. I do have some chicken because I am unable to eat beans. Plain Greek Yogurt is my go-to food. Cheese is one of my other go-to. Ice cream is my only bad food, it takes a month for me to go through a quart. Canned fruit with yogurt is much better than fruit in your yogurt. I live by myself so I do not have to cook meals, any suggestions in what to eat would be helpful.

mlmcg

Jump to this post

I have had problems with diarrhea (Siibo) at first doxycycline helped but I worried about decreasing the efficacy af that drug. So I am trying Probiotics. And so fat they are helping . I have also severely limited my sugar intake and increased brown rice and cheese.

REPLY

Hello, my name is Dave, I have had a colostomy since 2000, I am a quadriplegic and it was one of the best things that I could have ever done. I am no longer tied to the toilet every 2-3 days, it has given me a new sense of freedom. Now with your concerns about diarrhea, yes continue to add rice and cheese to your diet, this is a very good natural way of controlling your consistency! Pepto Bismo, Maylox, or Imodium will also be beneficial to slow and or stop the looseness of your stool. Just a suggestion! Dave

REPLY
@pmodahl

Hi to the group! We’ve been dealing with my son’s UC since 2012. All meds such as Remicade, Humira and Entivio have failed to reduce his symptoms long term. As a result he has been on prednisone ALOT. Now the Drs recommend his large intestine be removed. My son is only 16. Can anyone give us some advice about what to expect, how to handle the ileostomy bag, etc.?

Jump to this post

Hi @pmodahl,

I wanted to follow up and ask after your son; how is he doing? Is he managing well with the ileostomy bag?

REPLY

What I would like to know is why do some Surgeon re-attach the colon immediately without the need for a temporary bag after surgery & others prefer to have a temporary bag & do a second surgery to remove the bag & re-attach the colon? I have at least 3 members of my family who have lived at least 15 years with bags & they all had good & active lives so although I am certain that it must require quite an adaptation at first do not despair if you are faced with this situation

REPLY

I have a yeast infection around my stoma and surrounding skin. My Ostomy nurse and doctor prescribed the following treatment:
1. Rx for Fluconazole 100 mg Tablet – 1 tablet per day for 7 days.
2. Antifungal Powder with Miconazole Nitrate 2% - rub all over infected area twice a day and when changing appliance. Use barrier spray over powder.
This treatment hasn't worked very well. Has anyone experienced this problem and successfully treated the symptoms? Thank you.

REPLY
@mlmcg

When I saw colostomy, ileostomy, urostomy on Mayo Clinic Digestive Health I was so happy. I have so much I need to know and I can share some things. I then had this feeling that I was needed in the bathroom. I am not sure what can be worst than a full bag/pouch/appliance of liquid and air. I had to clean the front of toilet, the floor, the clamp, my hands, and change my clothes. At least I did not hit my shoes. I know we are to empty our bags when it is a third full, but I have not figured out when the bag is 1/3 full, when I have diarrhea my bag goes from empty to full in a matter of minutes.

My ostomy is the results of radiation I had on my lower abdomen over 30 years ago. It took that long for my sigmoid to die. I now have an ostomy, for life, and a third of my GI track is gone. I have not found anyone, yet, who has had lymphoma, with their sigmoid killed from radiation wearing a bag over their stoma.

Learning to clean and replace your bag, once you get home from the hospital, can be an experience, and one not for sissies. Poop is your friend. It is the food you put in your mouth that the body could not use. When we forget it is food we may become fearful of poop and do not want to look at it or willing to have it get on our hands.

What to eat and what not to eat is my biggest problem. With a third of my GI track gone I have to take lots of meds to make up for what my body cannot get out of the food I eat. I do eat a balanced diet and try new things. The diarrhea I am having now could be a reaction to a new med I am taking, but it could be from the new food I am trying out. I eat mostly veggies. I do have some chicken because I am unable to eat beans. Plain Greek Yogurt is my go-to food. Cheese is one of my other go-to. Ice cream is my only bad food, it takes a month for me to go through a quart. Canned fruit with yogurt is much better than fruit in your yogurt. I live by myself so I do not have to cook meals, any suggestions in what to eat would be helpful.

mlmcg

Jump to this post

You might want to try a fairly new product —-cold pressed bottled organic drinks that are capable of supplying numerous minerals and vitamins. They come in a variety of combinations (some multiple) like kale,cucumber,broccoli , ginger,mint tea ,etc. Right now I shop for them in a refrigerated part of my organic store. They do help provide vitamins, minerals and some energy. The other thing to think about is probiotics. Found in the same store .

REPLY
@hanseron

I have a yeast infection around my stoma and surrounding skin. My Ostomy nurse and doctor prescribed the following treatment:
1. Rx for Fluconazole 100 mg Tablet – 1 tablet per day for 7 days.
2. Antifungal Powder with Miconazole Nitrate 2% - rub all over infected area twice a day and when changing appliance. Use barrier spray over powder.
This treatment hasn't worked very well. Has anyone experienced this problem and successfully treated the symptoms? Thank you.

Jump to this post

I have and used both meds. I find the best is showering as much as possible and using a sealant that comes in a green packet. Other than that as few products as possible .

REPLY
@hanseron

I have a yeast infection around my stoma and surrounding skin. My Ostomy nurse and doctor prescribed the following treatment:
1. Rx for Fluconazole 100 mg Tablet – 1 tablet per day for 7 days.
2. Antifungal Powder with Miconazole Nitrate 2% - rub all over infected area twice a day and when changing appliance. Use barrier spray over powder.
This treatment hasn't worked very well. Has anyone experienced this problem and successfully treated the symptoms? Thank you.

Jump to this post

@hanseron Sounds like your doctor has a good plan. Be sure the site is dry all the time. Yeast loves damp, dark places! What has your doctor said about the lack of improvement?

REPLY

PCP just said to check back with Ostomy Wound Care nurse. I'm just looking for any other treatment suggestions. Thanks.

REPLY
Please sign in or register to post a reply.