Colostomy

A surgical process aimed at bringing a part of the large intestine out through the abdominal wall is known as a colostomy. Your surgeon will give you a colostomy after removing or resting a part of the colon. Depending on your condition, a colostomy can be permanent or temporary.

During surgery, the surgeon makes an incision in the abdomen. He sews the outer part of the intestine to the edges of that incision. This way, the passage of wastes reroutes to the newly formed opening.

To manage stool evacuations, you have to wear an ostomy bag over the stoma. The baseplate or flange of the ostomy bag adheres to the skin around the stoma. A hole in that flange allows the stoma to open into the ostomy bag.

Surgery

Since a part of the colon is removed or rested during colostomy surgery, the stool no longer passes out through the anus. There are two ways of performing colostomy surgery: laparoscopic and open surgery. Using the laparoscopic option, the surgeon makes several small incisions in the belly to insert a maneuverable camera and surgical tools to operate. The surgical team handles the surgical procedure by viewing everything on the screen. This surgery leaves scars, but they fade with time.

Open surgery, on the other hand, involves one big incision that exposes the inside of the abdomen. The surgeon operates and closes the incision through stitches.

After colostomy surgery

You will feel better with every passing day after surgery. That is because your GI tract is in a pretty vulnerable state after surgery. It allows you to engage in all of your routine activities once it heals completely. It usually takes six weeks for the bowel to recover fully after surgery. You may have to take pain medication for a month or two. The stoma will also have swelling after surgery. This swelling goes away with time.

Colostomy self-care

The best approach is to avoid any activity that can be tiresome. Make sure to walk around a bit every day to prevent complications in your bowel. You will have to avoid strenuous activities like weight lifting, jogging, and aerobic exercises until your doctor allows you.

Your bowels will keep recovering for at least six weeks after surgery. During this time, you will have to avoid any activity that can make you strain. You may even have to wait a bit before you can drive.

During the recovery phase, you may have to avoid foods that can prove problematic for your bowel and stoma. It is necessary to stay on a low-fiber diet for the first few weeks after surgery. You will be able to eat anything you like eventually. You may have to remain committed to a diet plan for the rest of your life, depending on your digestive health. As a rule of thumb, you will have to drink plenty of fluids.

If you have been on medication before surgery, you may have to stop it until your doctor says it is ok. Be sure to keep in touch with the doctor.

You will learn everything from your ostomy care nurse regarding how to take care of your stoma. You will learn about skin complications and other factors in detail.