Tips for Adjusting to Life After Ostomy Surgery

Discovering that you need ostomy surgery can be frightening and stressful. Having some research under your belt and having the right ostomy supplies for your stoma type and lifestyle can make a significant difference in the quality of your life. We’ve made it easy for you by providing helpful information, product recommendations, and tips to help navigate your journey with an ostomy. Ostomies are lifesavers, so we hope we can be a part of helping you live your best life.

Why Ostomy Surgery May Be Needed

When the urinary or digestive system is malfunctioning, a temporary or permanent ostomy may be needed to allow urine or stool to exit the body through an alternate route. The surgeon will take a piece of either the ureter, small intestine (ilea), or large intestine (colon) and form a new opening on the abdomen (stoma), diverting urine or feces into an ostomy pouch.

There are various medical conditions such as bladder cancer, inflammatory bowel disease, and urinary or stool incontinence, to name a few, that may result in ostomy surgery. There are three types of ostomy surgeries. Some of the different causes for the type of ostomy surgery needed are:

Causes for a colostomy

  • Rectal or colon cancer
  • Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), including Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis
  • Stool incontinence
  • After an operation to allow the large intestine to heal (temporary)

Causes for an ileostomy

  • Chrohn’s disease
  • Diverticulitis
  • Ulcerative Colitis
  • When the large intestine is damaged or removed due to cancer or injury
  • After an operation to allow the large intestine to heal (temporary)

Causes for a urostomy

  • Bladder removal due to injury or bladder cancer
  • Severe kidney disease
  • Urinary incontinence
  • Surgical complications from abdominal or pelvic surgery

Ostomy Supplies Needed After Ostomy Surgery

Depending on the type of ostomy surgery you have, there are a wide variety of supplies that you will need to keep your perineal skin healthy and remain comfortable. Aside from the ostomy pouching system consisting of a pouch and skin barrier, other ostomy supplies can make life with an ostomy more manageable.

Know that you have choices when it comes to your ostomy supplies. You may have been sent home with a specific style of pouching system, but you are not bound to those ostomy products. Ostomy pouches and supplies have come a long way from the 1920s. Your stoma size and shape will change over time, and that means you will require different ostomy supplies.

collage of ostomy supplies

What to Eat and Drink After Ostomy Surgery

Discuss food preferences and dietary restrictions with your surgeon before discharge from the hospital after ostomy surgery. It may take some time to regain your appetite after ostomy surgery since your gut will need to recover from the trauma. Some foods and beverages may affect your digestive tract differently than before, causing you to produce excess gas, diarrhea, urine odor, or constipation. It may be helpful to introduce foods and beverages slowly to determine how they will affect you.

Tips for reintroducing foods and beverages after ostomy surgery:

  • Eat small meals throughout the day
  • Chewing all foods thoroughly and slowly will aid digestion
  • Drink plenty of water
  • Limit bowel stimulants for a bit, including coffee, fruit, cereals, and alcohol
  • Avoid fizzy drinks that may cause diarrhea and gas

Once your appetite has returned and your stoma output has become more regular, introducing more vegetables, fruits, proteins, dairy, and grains will help with a balanced diet.

When to Resume Activities After Ostomy Surgery

Once you’ve healed from ostomy surgery, your healthcare professional will let you know if you’re ready to start getting active again. Even when living with an ostomy, you can still participate in many sports, including swimming. Many water-resistant ostomy supplies such as Convatec ease strips can help keep the skin barrier in place for added security.

Again, check with your doctor before attempting to resume physical activity, especially sports or strenuous activities like lifting weights. However, once you’ve healed and gotten clearance from your healthcare professional, an ostomy accessory such as an abdominal ostomy support belt may be recommended to help keep your ostomy pouch secure.

Contact sports such as wrestling, boxing, and football should be avoided because of possible injury to the stoma. Make sure to check with your doctor or nurse before attempting these activities.

What about being intimate?

Ostomy surgery changes your body and may affect how sensitive you might feel about being intimate with your partner. Just because you have an ostomy, it doesn’t mean that your sex life has to come to an end. Maintaining meaningful and fulfilling intimate encounters can still be part of you and your life.

Ostomy supplies such as a stoma cap allow for a more discreet feel that is also less prone to getting in the way or caught on fabric. Convatec has provided some helpful intimacy tips for those with an ostomy here.

Traveling After Ostomy Surgery

You can most definitely travel after healing from your ostomy surgery. The key is to prepare yourself with enough ostomy supplies. If you are traveling by car, plan your route ahead of time, so you know where there are accessible restrooms along the way. If you travel by air, try seating yourself in an exit aisle and close to the bathroom. You will avoid having to maneuver around other passengers and gain access to the facilities quicker.

various products recommended to keep as an ostomy emergency kitMake sure to pack these suggested ostomy supplies when traveling:

It would be wise to double up on everything in the event you get caught in traffic, or your flight is delayed. When traveling by plane, remember to take all of your ostomy supplies with you in your carry-on bag. You will then have full access when you need them most.

Where to Purchase Ostomy Supplies

With the right ostomy supplies and products, you can get back to living the life you enjoy. At Personally Delivered, we offer high-quality, affordable ostomy supplies from respected and trustworthy manufacturers like Convatec, Coloplast, Hollister, and more. With guidance from our knowledgeable and compassionate team of Product Advisors, you will be adjusting to life with an ostomy in no time.

We are available Monday through Friday from 9:00 am to 5:30 pm EST at 800-777-1111, or you can email us at CustomerService@PersonallyDelivered.com any time.

Top-Rated Ostomy Products & Accessories

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Caring for Peristomal Skin

Are you or someone you care for living with an ostomy and experiencing problems with the skin around the stoma? For those with an ostomy, peristomal skin damage is fairly common. However, it doesn’t have to become normal for you. First, you may want to identify the potential cause of the issue, which is an important part of figuring out how to treat your skin irritation. Next, consider taking several measures to avoid future damage to this sensitive area.

Causes Related to Peristomal Skin Damage

Incorrect Size or Shape of Skin Barrier

Getting the right skin barrier for your unique body may help reduce the risk of leakage and skin damage from stomal output. For example, skin folds or creases can make it difficult for the ostomy skin barrier to securely stick to the abdomen. An improper skin barrier fit can result in leakage, which may cause the skin to become irritated and begin breaking down. If your stoma is retracted or flush with your skin, you may want to consider a convex skin barrier.

ConvaTec’s SUR-FIT Natura Moldable Skin Barrier provides a personalized, custom fit around the stoma to help protect the peristomal skin. They are available in both flat and convex options.

Sure-Fit Natura moldable skin barrierIn addition to skin folds and stoma protection, the size of the stoma is an important factor in getting the right fit for your ostomy skin barrier. Ensuring that the barrier is the proper size may help prevent leakage. 1-2mm larger than the stoma is suggested for a close fit. The ConvaTec Natura Durahesive Accordion Trim-to-Fit Skin Barrier with Convexity features an easy cut-to-fit option for those needing a skin barrier with convexity and for use for those with a retracted stoma.

Frequent Applications and Removals

Continuous application and removal of skin barriers can really irritate the peristomal skin causing it to become extra-sensitive. The top layers of the skin can be stripped away, which can result in weepy, sore skin around your stoma. In order to address issues like this, ConvaTec created the Sensi-Care line of peristomal skin care products. These products work to protect skin from damage caused by adhesives and are great for using every day with no residue build-up or bonding to skin folds.

ostomy beltToo Much Pressure Around the Stoma

When there is constant pressure at the stoma site, the skin may react unfavorably. Certain types of clothing or an ostomy belt that is too tight can irritate the peristomal skin by putting too much pressure on the site. Choosing the right ostomy appliance belt can provide an added sense of security when stabilizing an ostomy pouch. You want it to fit securely, of course, but make sure it is soft and comfortably adjusted as to not put too much pressure at the site.

Questions to Ask Yourself

Woman applying cream on legs and feet in bed

Peristomal skin should look similar to the rest of the skin on the body. Slight redness in this area is normal due to the adhesive used on the barrier. However, any type of discomfort experienced could be a sign that the peristomal skin may be unhealthy. Asking yourself a few questions may help determine if there is more than meets the eye.

  1. Is the skin around your stoma itchy?
  2. Is the skin around your stoma blistered or inflamed?
  3. Does the skin around your stoma feel or appear as though it is wet?

Ask yourself these questions and then consult with your doctor or a WOCN (Wound, Ostomy, & Incontinence Nurse) about steps you can take to manage your peristomal skin issue.

Preventive Steps to Take

Sensi-Care sting-free skin barrier wipesBy maintaining a good skin care routine, you can help prevent peristomal skin irritations from forming. These are some simple steps you can take:

  • Routinely change your pouch.
  • Use an adhesive remover to gently remove your skin barrier and any additional adhesive residues left behind.
  • Use oil-free and alcohol-free products to reduce irritation when cleaning the skin around the stoma.
  • Make sure your skin is completely dry before applying the next ostomy bag.
  • Look closely at your peristomal skin each time you change out the barrier.
  • Use a barrier foam or spray to protect the skin.
  • Make sure the hole cut in the barrier is the correct size for your stoma.
  • Ensure the barrier is secure with no gaps or folds to prevent leakage.

Peristomal skin should be healthy skin. Even the mildest irritation should be taken seriously and is worth getting advice from your doctor. Most of the time, solving the skin issue can be as simple as changing to a different product, altering your routine, or taking additional steps to rectify the problem.

For any questions about the products we carry or if you need help choosing the right barrier, belt, or bag, we are just a phone call away. Our Personally Delivered Product Experts will be happy to help you find exactly what you need.

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Diet Tips After Ostomy Surgery

Are you nervous about what you can eat after having ostomy surgery? Are you wondering if there are certain foods you should avoid? Are there any dietary restrictions that you should follow? We have a few diet tips and suggestions for you here to help clear up any worries.

Diet Tips for the 3 Types of Stomas

A stoma is an opening on the abdomen that is attached to your urinary or digestive tract to allow waste to be redirected out of the body. There are 3 main types of stomas: colostomy, ileostomy, and urostomy. Here are a few suggestions about your diet after each type of ostomy surgery.

Colostomy Diet Tips

When part of the colon is affected by a disease or if it is not working properly, a colostomy may be performed. The large intestine is disconnected from the rectum and rerouted to the abdominal wall as a new opening, called a stoma. A colostomy pouch is then attached to the stoma and is used to collect output which is then disposed of. A colostomy can be temporary to give the colon rest after surgery or it can be permanent if the person suffers from a disease such as cancer.

After a colostomy, a person may be more likely to become constipated. It is important to drink plenty of fluids such as water throughout the day to avoid constipation. Eating slowly and thoroughly chewing food will help with digestion and exercising regularly may keep you on a regular schedule. With a colostomy, there aren’t any dietary restrictions, but you may be more sensitive to foods right after surgery. It is recommended to try new foods in small portions to see if they affect you. Keeping a food journal will help you find if anythng doesn’t agree with you. Maintaining a healthy diet is always a good habit.

Ileostomy Diet Tips

person pouring water into a glass from a stainless steel pitcherWhen an ileostomy is performed, the lowest part of the small intestine is disconnected from the large intestine and rerouted to the abdominal wall to form a stoma. This procedure can also be temporary when surgery was performed on part of the large intestine and this allows it to rest for a bit. An ileostomy may be permanent if the large intestine and rectum have been removed due to disease.

With an ileostomy, intake of more fluids than normal is very important. Normally, the stool thickens as it passes through the large intestine since this is where fiber is digested. In this case, the small intestine is doing all the work, so the output will be less solid. It is also important to limit foods high in fiber to avoid blockage since the large intestine is missing from the digestive process. Chewing your food well and sticking to small frequent meals throughout the day can also help to regulate the function of your stoma and result in less frequent changes of your ileostomy pouch.

Urostomy Diet Tips

cranberry juice sitting in a bed of cranberries in a wooden boxWhen a person has bladder cancer, a birth defect, or a serious spinal cord injury, a urostomy may be necessary due to the bladder either not functioning normally or having to be removed. The ureters are detached from the bladder and then reattached to a small piece of the bowel that has been removed. That piece of the bowel is then attached to the abdominal wall that redirects urine from the kidneys and into a bag.

As with the other 2 types of ostomy surgeries, it is important to get the necessary fluids to avoid the risk of a urinary tract or kidney infection. Continuously flushing the urinary system by taking in enough water, eating foods high in Vitamin C, and drinking cranberry juice can help. Studies have shown that cranberry juice works to fight against bacterial growth and has been effective in preventing urinary tract infections.

As you can see, after ostomy surgery there really aren’t that many specific changes you’ll need to make. To sum it up, the main suggestions that are common for all types of stoma surgeries are:

  1. Intake plenty of fluids.
  2. Chew your food well.
  3. Eat smaller, more frequent meals throughout the day.

Keep an eye on certain foods and beverages that may produce changes to the output or health of your stoma and always consult your doctor about any concerns.

For any questions about the ostomy products we carry for these types of ostomy surgeries, please give us a call and one of our Product Experts will be happy to discuss the options we offer.

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