Colleen Young, Connect Director
@colleenyoung
@colleenyoung
Posts: 8674
Joined: Jul 23, 2014
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?
engelee
@engelee
@engelee
Posts: 59
Joined: Oct 06, 2011
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
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 .
engelee
@engelee
@engelee
Posts: 59
Joined: Oct 06, 2011
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.
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 .
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Becky, Volunteer Mentor
@becsbuddy
@becsbuddy
Posts: 1149
Joined: Nov 10, 2018
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.
@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?
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Ron Hansen
@hanseron
@hanseron
Posts: 7
Joined: May 18, 2017
PCP just said to check back with Ostomy Wound Care nurse. I'm just looking for any other treatment suggestions. Thanks.
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Becky, Volunteer Mentor
@becsbuddy
@becsbuddy
Posts: 1149
Joined: Nov 10, 2018
PCP just said to check back with Ostomy Wound Care nurse. I'm just looking for any other treatment suggestions. Thanks.
@hanseron Have you spoken with the Ostomy Wound Nurse? The clinic where the nurse probably has someone on call on the weekend, so call! What did he/she suggest? I think the fluconazole and antifungal powder is still your best bet. Make sure everything is clean and free of yeast. Use new appliances, gloves, etc. Be sure to let me know!
TERESA LOGAN
@quiteachiver75
@quiteachiver75
Posts: 115
Joined: Mar 29, 2018
I see that this group isn’t very active, currently. I had my ileostomy at Mayo in January 2013. I am very happy with it. I haven’t read all the posts above yet, but maybe they’ll be something new for me to learn or contribute. Fingers crossed this thread becomes more active… I will definitely participate. I’d really like to help people not be scared.
THANK YOU FOR OFFERING TO HELP. ITS A SCARY DIFFICULT TIME. MY MIND GOES ROUND & ROUND. I DONT HAVE A BAG NOW BUT THAT COULD CHANGE. IT WILL DEPEND HOW I AM. TAKE CARE
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Becky, Volunteer Mentor
@becsbuddy
@becsbuddy
Posts: 1149
Joined: Nov 10, 2018
THANK YOU FOR OFFERING TO HELP. ITS A SCARY DIFFICULT TIME. MY MIND GOES ROUND & ROUND. I DONT HAVE A BAG NOW BUT THAT COULD CHANGE. IT WILL DEPEND HOW I AM. TAKE CARE
Hello @quiteachiver75 I know times are scary now in Australia because of the fires. Are you also referring to your own health? Is there something that’s bothering you right now?
TERESA LOGAN
@quiteachiver75
@quiteachiver75
Posts: 115
Joined: Mar 29, 2018
YES THINGS ARE VERY DIFFICULT HEAR IN AUSTRALIA. MY HEART AND LOVE GOES OUT TO THOSE CAUGHT UP IN THE FIRES.
MY GUT AND THOSE PARTS INVOLVED IN THIS AREA CAUSE ME A LOT OF STRESS. I GUESS ITS THE UNKNOWN THINGS THAT COULD GIVE ME MORE PROBLEMS. READING THE POSTS DOES HELP. I HAVE BLADDER INFECTIONS AND GRAVES DISEASE WHICH ALL CONNECT IN MY HEALTH PROBLEMS WITH THE GUT. THANK YOU
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Colleen Young, Connect Director
@colleenyoung
@colleenyoung
Posts: 8674
Joined: Jul 23, 2014
YES THINGS ARE VERY DIFFICULT HEAR IN AUSTRALIA. MY HEART AND LOVE GOES OUT TO THOSE CAUGHT UP IN THE FIRES.
MY GUT AND THOSE PARTS INVOLVED IN THIS AREA CAUSE ME A LOT OF STRESS. I GUESS ITS THE UNKNOWN THINGS THAT COULD GIVE ME MORE PROBLEMS. READING THE POSTS DOES HELP. I HAVE BLADDER INFECTIONS AND GRAVES DISEASE WHICH ALL CONNECT IN MY HEALTH PROBLEMS WITH THE GUT. THANK YOU
@quiteachiver75 so sorry to hear about the fires in Australia and the stress it is causing you.
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Hello, @rdmishio here I’m new to the site. I’m 45 male and had a sigmoid colon resection done about 4 1/2 weeks ago. On a low residual diet, having off and on diarrhea. Having hard time eating much, down 15 lbs. About how long on average does it take for your digestive system to get back to normalcy if there is one? Thanks again.
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Colleen Young, Connect Director
@colleenyoung
@colleenyoung
Posts: 8674
Joined: Jul 23, 2014
Hello, @rdmishio here I’m new to the site. I’m 45 male and had a sigmoid colon resection done about 4 1/2 weeks ago. On a low residual diet, having off and on diarrhea. Having hard time eating much, down 15 lbs. About how long on average does it take for your digestive system to get back to normalcy if there is one? Thanks again.
Hi @rdmishio, welcome to Connect. I think you might be interested in this discussion started by @virgo1952
– Sigmoid colon resection: What to expect for recovery? https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/sigmoid-colon-resection-10282019/
Do you also have a colostomy?
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virgo1952
@virgo1952
@virgo1952
Posts: 74
Joined: Dec 01, 2019
Hello, @rdmishio here I’m new to the site. I’m 45 male and had a sigmoid colon resection done about 4 1/2 weeks ago. On a low residual diet, having off and on diarrhea. Having hard time eating much, down 15 lbs. About how long on average does it take for your digestive system to get back to normalcy if there is one? Thanks again.
Hi it’s virgo1952. I went through all of the above. I was experiencing some of your symptoms starting January 2020. At that point, I contacted the surgeon and he did a c-diff test for secondary bacteria. Was positive and I’m just finishing ten days of antibiotics. Bear that in mind for future reference if you are struggling more instead getting better. It’s a bacterial infection that you can contract in a hospital setting. I was in the age group 65+ and so I was a more likely patient to get it than you in your age of 45. This set me back, but even so, I started noticing my appetite coming back, less nausea and being able to eat foods that I found irritating and caused me discomfort (excessive gas) the first two months. Lost weight put some came back on but not all. Not the greatest diet plan, huh? I think drinking keifer helped or any probiotic. Other than that. You should start seeing some change in your stool towards becoming more solid. I started drinking citracil to help with that. It’s a process and I am just getting back to doing pre-surgery daily activities. Wishing you a speedy recovery. If something doesn’t seem right with you, make some noise.
Hi @rdmishio, welcome to Connect. I think you might be interested in this discussion started by @virgo1952
– Sigmoid colon resection: What to expect for recovery? https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/sigmoid-colon-resection-10282019/
Do you also have a colostomy?
No I don’t, it was elective procedure because of the many painful reoccurring attacks. Took out approximately 5-6” of the sigmoid colon. Thanks for the link.
Hi it’s virgo1952. I went through all of the above. I was experiencing some of your symptoms starting January 2020. At that point, I contacted the surgeon and he did a c-diff test for secondary bacteria. Was positive and I’m just finishing ten days of antibiotics. Bear that in mind for future reference if you are struggling more instead getting better. It’s a bacterial infection that you can contract in a hospital setting. I was in the age group 65+ and so I was a more likely patient to get it than you in your age of 45. This set me back, but even so, I started noticing my appetite coming back, less nausea and being able to eat foods that I found irritating and caused me discomfort (excessive gas) the first two months. Lost weight put some came back on but not all. Not the greatest diet plan, huh? I think drinking keifer helped or any probiotic. Other than that. You should start seeing some change in your stool towards becoming more solid. I started drinking citracil to help with that. It’s a process and I am just getting back to doing pre-surgery daily activities. Wishing you a speedy recovery. If something doesn’t seem right with you, make some noise.
Thanks for the advice, no I don’t have any infections. I believe I am improving, I was just wondering about the diet and bowel movements and when things get back to normal. I thought two weeks and good to go but realized it is going to take a little while longer to heal up. Thanks again.
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@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.
Liked by Becky, Volunteer Mentor