If you’ve just had an ileostomy, you’re getting used to a new way of dealing with waste. But with the correct care, you may live a full, active life. If you have surgeries because of Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, or another digestive problem, understanding how to care for your stoma is crucial to keeping comfortable and healthy.
Let’s go over all you need to know about taking care of your stoma, from everyday tasks to knowing when to call your doctor.
What Is a Stoma?
Your stoma is an opening in your belly that was made by surgery. It lets waste leave your body and go into an ostomy pouch. Here are some things you should know:
- Looks: Pink or crimson, wet, and a little sparkly, like the inside of your cheek.
- Shape: Most of the time, it’s round or oval.
- Sensitivity: Very fragile—be careful with it!
- Positioning: Most stomas stick out a little, but some may be flat against the skin.
- Mucus and small amounts of blood are typical, especially while washing.
It’s important to take good care of the stoma since waste from it can irritate the skin and cause problems.
Important Stoma Care Tips
Your stoma may be large just after surgery, but it will go smaller over the next few weeks. It’s very important to keep the skin around it healthy. Here’s how:
1. Picking the Best Ostomy Supplies
- Two-piece system: Has a baseplate (wafer) that attaches to your skin and a pouch that you may take off.
- One-piece system: Puts the wafer and pouch together into one unit.
- Changing frequency: The wafer lasts between 3 and 7 days, however the pouch may need to be emptied several times a day.
2. Taking Care of Your Skin
- Before putting on the pouch, wash your skin with warm water and wipe it dry.
- Stay away from harsh products: Don’t use cleansers that contain alcohol (they dry up skin) or lotions that are greasy (they make things less sticky).
- If hair gets in the way of the pouch sticking, carefully trim or shave the region (but don’t use straight razors!).
3. Fixing Common Problems
- Are there leaks? Check the seal: the opening of your pouch should fit tightly around the stoma.
- Is your skin irritated? Your ostomy nurse can tell you which barrier creams or powders to use.
- Stoma for a long time? A cold compress, such as ice wrapped in a towel, may assist if it stands out more than usual.
- Don’t put anything in your stoma unless your doctor tells you to!
When to Call Your Doctor
Some changes are normal, while others need to be looked at by a doctor. If you notice any of the following, call your doctor:
Changes to the Stoma
- The swelling goes up by more than half an inch (1 cm).
- The stoma pulls back or changes colour to purple, black, or white.
- Too much bleeding or discharge that smells bad.
- Diarrhoea that won’t go away or indicators of dehydration, like a dry mouth, dizziness, or less urine.
Issues with the Skin
- Redness, rashes, sores, or lumps with pus in them.
- Pain, burning, or itching that doesn’t go away around the stoma.
- Bumps or swelling that aren’t normal near hair follicles.
Concerns About General Health
- Fever or soreness in the stomach.
- A sudden drop in the amount of garbage.
- Any worries about how your stoma works or feels.
In the End, You Can Do This!
It takes time to become used to life with an ileostomy, but with the correct care, you can stay active and feel better. If you’re ever not sure about changes in your stoma or skin, don’t be afraid to call your ostomy nurse or doctor. The sooner you get help, the less likely you are to have bigger problems.
Do you have any questions or advice? Please tell us about your experiences in the comments below! 💬
Read more:
- “The United Ostomy Associations of America (UOAA) offers detailed illustrations of stoma types and positioning.”
🔗 United Ostomy Associations of America - “The Wound, Ostomy, and Continence Nurses Society (WOCN) provides updated guidelines on choosing between one-piece and two-piece systems.”
🔗 WOCN Society
