Stoma Care Corner

You get different ostomies depending on the type of condition that you have, all with their own unique benefits and other considerations to it. It can be life-saving, but you may wonder how it works. There are tons of different procedures to help with this, and it can actually benefit the lifestyle that you have. 

In general, the process involves creating openings called stomas. The stomas then flush out the bodily waste that’s there, such as urine and fecal residue, out through the body, collected in a bad. If you wear this, you will be able to do a lot of the same things that you did before without being in pain. 

Conventional Ostomies 

This is a typical ostomy that drains out the urine, fecal matter, and sometimes both. A stoma is usually the opening of the digestive tract out, and usually, it also is before the area that’s been removed or closed. 

The reason you may get an ostomy can include anything from cancer to incontinence, to even conditions that make it hard to fully eliminate bodily waste. Usually, it’s conventional because usually it’s the typical place, and it’s also usually related to where the body part is. For example, a colostomy may be done near the colon, usually your large intestine. A urostomy is near the bladder, which is done to get rid of urine as well. 

No matter where this is, usually it’s made to drain and help the body get rid of waste through an ostomy pouch, which is a plastic reservoir that’s attached to your stoma. Technology these days makes these easy to use, and they usually are odorless and can be hidden under clothing, unless you need to drain the bag.  This is all of course, discussed with you by the doctor whenever you come in to get one of these. 

J Pouch 

A J pouch is not a conventional ostomy. This is where they create a cavity using the ileum in your body, instead of the outside pouch. Usually, it’s a part of the small intestine that’s there.  For a bit though, you will need n ostomy pouch as that heals up. There is also a chance for bigger risks, especially inflammation with this. But if you want normal bodily function and getting rid of waste through this, then you’ll be able to do this. 

Continent Ostomy 

These are another option for not needing an ostomy pouch. A BCIUR or a Kock ostomy usually are the types of ostomies that this falls under. Just like with J pouches, they pretty much create a new pouch for you to put waste inside, and this is usually done with the large intestine or the small intestine. It can be a bit more complex though since it involves you draining the current contents through what they call a drainage tube, which can sometimes be a bit of a pain to work with. 

But overall, there are a lot of people getting a lot of these surgeries. And for a good reason too. With almost a million Americans with one kind of an ostomy or another, this is something that shouldn’t be alarming. It can help someone continue with their daily life, which lets them be who they wanted to be prior to the operation. It can be a lifesaving surgery for you right now, and also as a result of this help you make sure that down the line into the future you get the help that you absolutely need with this, so that you can get the help that you need today. 

If there is one thing that people hate to have happen with an ostomy, it’s that it can break sometimes. It’s really embarrassing, and while a lot of ostomates notice that routines are better for leaking, the problem is not everyone manages that, and usually, after you get a surgery, your stoma will changes a bit over time. 

You should figure out the exact issue of what’s going on that causes the leaks, whether it’s bodily creases if the stool is being pushed from the belly, or maybe there is stool that’s being pushed underneath the exact spot.  A lot of ostomates deal with this, and it can be a bit embarrassing, but by properly understanding and utilizing this, you’ll be able to prevent this from getting worse as well. 

First, check the Wafer 

If you’re curious about what the problem is, you may want to first check to ensure that you’re using the right wafer based on the stoma and even your body. At first, you may use a flat wafer, and that may work for a bit, but as the stoma changes after surgery, it can start to come off, and that’s where the leakage and problem arises. 

In that case, try convex wafers, and see if that’ll work for you. It may not be the same for you as it is for other ostomates, so understand that it can be a bit trial-and-error and a little frustrating, but it can be good as well if you’re curious about what exactly the problem is. 

Check the Opening Type 

You need a wafter that fits the stoma opening as well. If the wafer is too tight near your stoma area, the stool can get caught under, and then it causes the leaks.  Too small of wafers are also dangerous because there is a chance that it may “strangle” the stoma too. 

Now, if the hole is a bit too large, this can actually affect your skin, since it’s then in contact with the stool and excrement itself. Some people may choose to cut their own wafers, or they can get pre-cut ones that fit the stoma.  This is best done if you already have healed from your stoma surgery. 

Skin Issues 

Another big thing is to check the skin integrity too. Good skin integrity improves the seal, and if you notice that there is a leak, check the skin right away, and clean it immediately. Some people may push it and ignore it because they’re busy and don’t have time to deal with this. 

But if you notice that your skin is affected by this, follow this and ensure that there are proper changes. You also check as well to ensure that you’re not wearing the barrier for too long, since it can be a big problem as well. 

If you notice that there is problems with the skin health too, monitor it. Don’t rip off the appliance or anything, but instead gently remove, using remover wipes as you need it, and make sure it’s cleaned with soap and water afterwards. 

Empty it Enough 

Finally, a good way to ensure that you don’t have leaks is to empty the bag before you feel it getting too full. About 2/3 full is the best time to change it, and if you notice that there is still leaks going on, consider using barrier strips for this, and from there hold it in place together that’ll help you with properly holding it in place, so that it doesn’t get peeled off, and it stays.