Physical Activities With A Stoma

Physical activities to some degree every day can help you fight a lot of health conditions. There is no restriction on what physical activity you should engage in. It is all up to your preferences whether you want to play golf and tennis or engage in other physical activities to keep your body energized. The good news is that you can continue with your preferred physical activity regimen with a stoma.

Under your healthcare provider’s supervision, you can return to sports or physical activities you used to enjoy before surgery. However, you may have to avoid any sports or workouts that might be detrimental to your stoma. Such high-risk sports are boxing, wrestling, heavy-lifting, and other contact sports.

Having a stoma doesn’t stop you from becoming a runner, swimmer, athlete, or skier, and that too on a competitive level. If you didn’t exercise before surgery, it is probably high time to start.

Now, we will discuss some tips to help you resume exercises and other physical activities.

• Start slowly after your doctor’s approval. Your abdominal muscles will need some time to recover from the impact of surgery. Keep in touch with your healthcare provider.
• Start with the physical activity of your choice. Perform it at least three times a week. Every session of this activity should be 30-60 minutes long.
• Make sure to empty your stomach before starting exercising. Your baseplate should be on for at least an hour before you begin to sweat.
• Make sure that your stoma pouch has adhered to your abdominal skin properly. Most modern ostomy pouches made today are water-resistant, which means you can keep wearing them while swimming.
• Before swimming, cover the deodorizing filter vent with a cover to prevent water from entering the ostomy pouch. You can remove this cover once your pouch is completely dry.
• If you want to relax in a sauna or a hot tub, secure your ostomy pouch barrier with water-resistant tape to protect the flange’s adhesive. You may also need to check the seal of the flange periodically.

Having a stoma might mean a lifetime commitment if your ostomy is permanent. You have to bring a change in your lifestyle to remain worry-free during your daily activities. The good thing is that it is not that hard to accomplish. Learning to live with a stoma is not a hard undertaking. All you have to do is to stay motivated and remain adherent to stoma care rules.

The best way to stay motivated is to keep in touch with your ostomy care nurse or healthcare professional. If possible, join an ostomy support group to listen to other people with stomas and share your concerns and experiences. That will help you learn a lot regarding how to live better with a stoma.

Most importantly, stay focused on living a healthy life. It includes eating healthy foods and remaining physically active. Take care of your stoma to prevent any complications; otherwise, you will have a stressful time. Be sure to discuss everything with your healthcare provider.

Finding Your Team after an Ostomy.

When it comes to adjusting to life with a stoma and ostomy pouch, it’s not always easy. First you have to make peace with the realization that the surgery is needed and that it will forever alter your life. Then once that happens or sometimes before, you have to go through the actual surgery. Which to be honest, is the easy part. The hardest part comes after, and I’m not just talking about the weeks long recovery from having your intestines (or bladder) cut and rearranged. I’m talking about mentally, when you no longer feel like a normal person. Certain things you used to do, and I think you know what I speak of, you can no longer do how you used too. Instead, you have to remind yourself to empty pouches, filled with not so nice things, and you have to take extra care to make sure certain odors aren’t floating around you. You also have to readjust your activities. While nothing is necessarily off the table, you do have to, in some ways, relearn how to do the things you love. And none of this comes easily. In fact, in can be one of the hardest things you have to do. So that’s why, as someone who’s been where you’ve been, can tell you one of the most important things you can do is to surround yourself with people who love you. 

 

Trying to get through a mountain like this on your own can you lead you down some really dark roads. But, if you’re willing to ask for help, it won’t necessarily make it easier, but it can help you endure. And that’s what the recovery process is all about. It’s about learning how to endure what’s been given to you and come out even better and stronger on the other side. But that doesn’t happen an isolation. That can only happen when you reach out to those around you. 

 

And trust me, I know sometimes it can be hard to try to talk to someone about how you feel who knows absolutely nothing about what it is you’re going through. That’s why I also would highly recommend you join a support group. Whether there is a physical one locally (although with COVID they may not be meeting right now), or you turn to a community online of people who knows exactly what it means to be where you are. I can stress enough the importance of having those connections during this time. I know for me, having had that community while going through surgery and the past year of COVID and 2020, I can say with 100% certainty that it helped me from falling into a depression I don’t know if I could have come out of. 

 

Living life after an ostomy isn’t always easy. But having those people around you who love and support you, can and will make all the difference. And I promise, in time, as you recover and get used to the new normal, things will start to look up again. Life will become enjoyable again, and then you will be able to reach out your hand into that very same community who held you up, and you’ll be able to lift up the next person who is where you are now. And I can say, it is one of the most rewarding feelings in the world. 

Things To Know About Closure Of A Loop Ileostomy

In this article, we will discuss the procedure of closure of a loop ileostomy. If you have concerns that you are unable to find answers for from this post, you should consult your healthcare professional.

What is the closure of a loop ileostomy?

A loop ileostomy is a type of bowel ostomy created on your small intestine. It is made with two ends of the small bowel. The reason your surgeon gave you a loop ileostomy is that he wanted to make it a temporary bowel diversion, meaning that it ultimately needs to be put back together.

After the reversal procedure, you will be able to move your bowel naturally.

The benefits of a reversal procedure

The top benefit of a reversal procedure is that it allows you to live the way you want. You will not have to worry about the underlying condition that necessitated you to undergo ostomy surgery. You will be able to open your bowels like everyone else. And more importantly, you will not have to wear an ostomy bag the entire time to manage your stool evacuations.

The ileostomy reversal operation

Your surgeon will administer general anesthesia before starting the operation. It may take an hour for the procedure to complete.

During the operation, the surgeon will make an incision on your abdomen around the ileostomy. The purpose of this incision will be to free up the loop formed during surgery to create the ileostomy. The surgeon will then join the two ends of the bowel and place it back inside your abdomen.

Complications

Complications of the reversal procedure can range from mild to severe. Some of these complications may even be life-threatening.

The general complications of any operation include the following.

• Bleeding
• Pain
• Infection on the site of surgery
• Development of a hernia in the scar
• Chest infection
• Scarring of the skin
• Formation of blood clots in your lung
• Formation of blood clots in your leg
• Difficulty urinating

Some specific complications of this surgical procedure may include the following.

• Bowel obstruction
• Anastomotic leak
• Diarrhea
• Bowel paralysis
• Formation of a fistula between your bowel and the skin

How soon you will recover?

After surgery, you may need to remain hospitalized for one to three days. After you move back home, you may need to take complete bed rest for a few days or weeks. It generally takes a few weeks for you to become strong and healthy enough to perform your daily activities. You can also engage in physical activities and recommended exercises to speed up the process of recovery. Nonetheless, it is best to discuss with your healthcare physician before you start exercising.

If you follow up with your doctor regularly and do exactly what they say, you will be able to make a good recovery undoubtedly.

Once you are fully recovered, you will be able to move your bowels naturally. Things will not be the same during the first few days, but you should be able to regain your health over time.

Does Stoma Change Shape With Time? Is This Normal?

 Ostomy patients have several questions and doubts about stoma, its care, and its appearance. They also feel changes in the opening with the time. The changed look of the stoma can daunt the ostomates. The fluctuation in the size and shape of the opening can occur in the new fabricated and old stoma. The reasons for these alterations are multiple. Therefore, we shall discuss a few of them to give you some knowledge about the change in the stoma.

Alteration in New Stoma

During the postoperative period, a stoma adopts changes in the size and shapes. It happens because of the edematous, swelling, and healing process. The swelling of the opening gets receded gradually. The abatement of edematous will take six to seven weeks. However, this is not the exact duration of recovery from the swelling. It may take a long or short time, depending on the other factors, like the age of the patient and type of ostomy. However, the ET nurse will measure the size of the stoma regularly. You will have to go for your post-operative sessions and discuss every single detail about your stoma. Moreover, the measurement of opening will help you in choosing and wear the right size of ostomy appliances. You should wear a larger flange, approximately three to four millimeters bigger than your opening's size. The accurate size of the stoma pouching system will impede irritation, bleeding, and blockage. Moreover, it will protect the skin around the hole of the abdomen.

Alteration in Established Stoma

In an established stoma, the primary cause of fluctuation in the shape and size is weight gain. Many ostomates do not perform any physical activity and sit idle all day, this makes them lazy and chubby. Due to the obtaining weight, the stoma expands and looks larger than before. Moreover, it can also contour the skin around the stoma. A roughly 10 pounds of weight gain can disturb the original size of your stoma. Moreover, constant weight loss or gain can alter the original appearance of the opening. Therefore, an ostomate who is realizing bulkiness in the body should go to the ET nurse for a re-evaluation of the exact size of the stoma. Moreover, it will also help you in choosing the new pouching system with an exact size and shape. 

Change of Stoma in Pregnant Women

The pregnant ladies also feel an alteration in the shape and size of the stoma. It is because of the weight gain. Thus, they also need a regular re-evaluation of the opening to know the accurate size and appropriate pouching system. After the second and third trimesters, a woman can see the visible changes in the appearance of the stoma. Therefore, you must be in regular contact with your ET nurse for a regular checkup and evaluation of the correct size.

The fluctuation of Stoma Due to Hernia

Many ostomates develop hernia around the stoma, especially in the case of colostomy. This makes the opening to become bigger. Until you do not treat the hernia, you realize the significant alteration in the size stoma. This also demands regular sessions with your ET nurse. It will help you to assess your hernia stage and condition, and re-evaluation of the size of the stoma and its pouching system.

Aging can Make Alteration in the Stoma

Aging is another significant factor that can cause alteration in the size and shape of the stoma. Due to the age, the body muscles lose strength, shape, and tone; therefore, it re-contour the stoma and the skin around it. This can prolapse and retract the opening. The fluctuations will be sheerly visible. It also requires regular sessions with the ET nurse. 

What Are Different Stoma Complications

The number of people with permanent or temporary stomas has hit the one million mark in the US. A stoma is a surgically created opening in the abdomen to allow fecal materials or urine to leave the body, bypassing the diseased section of the tract.

There is no sensory nerve in the stoma, meaning that you are not going to feel any pain in it. Yet complications can arise in it. A stoma will remain delicate as long as you have it, so you will need to follow necessary measures to ensure prevention against complications and infections that can arise in the stoma and the skin around it.

A healthy stoma is generally pink and moist. Immediately after surgery, the stoma will have swelling, which will subside in the next few weeks. Your nurse will teach you how to take care of your stoma and the skin around it. He or she will also tell you about the right pouching system that you may use.

In this article, we will discuss several stoma complications and the ways you can prevent those.

Parastomal hernia

This hernia occurs in the area around the stoma, usually in the peristomal skin. It happens due to the weakness of muscle tissues under the abdominal skin. The bowel or intestines push through the muscle tissues, forming a noticeable bulge in the peristomal skin area. It can surround the stoma from all sides, forming a circumferential hernia, or it might appear only in a particular area.

In many cases, the hernia is painful, and it might compromise the seal between the ostomy appliance’s skin barrier and the peristomal skin. In some cases, it may not cause any issue. Your doctor may recommend conservative therapy to treat the problem. An adjustment to the pouching system may also be beneficial.

You may want to use a hernia support belt to prevent parastomal hernia. Avoid using convex skin barriers if you have this hernia. If you irrigate your ostomy, you may want to discontinue it until you get rid of your hernia.

Trauma

Trauma in the stoma may occur due to an injury. Most typically, the cause of this trauma is a laceration. Lacerations can occur as a result of the use of clothes and appliances that interfere with the stoma. A too-small or misaligned opening in the flange can result in a laceration on the surface of the stoma.

Signs of trauma on the stoma include bleeding, stoma discoloration, and a visible cut. This complication resolves without any intervention, provided that you eliminate the root cause. For instance, you may need to be careful while creating an opening in the flange if the trauma is due to a wrongly configured skin barrier.

Stoma prolapse

The displacement of the stoma from its proper position can result in the stoma prolapse. It happens due to the intussusception of the proximal segment of the bowel, resulting in it sliding through the stoma’s orifice.

The most common reason for stoma prolapsing is the intra-abdominal pressure. A conservative approach to resolving this issue would be the healthcare provider’s priority. If that doesn’t work, the doctor may have to refer the case to the surgeon.

Ostomy - Colostomy and Ileostomy

Ostomy is a surgical round opening in the abdomen of a patient who suffers from an infection, injury, blockage, cancer, inflammatory bowel disease, or any other chronic disease in the rectum, bladder, colon, or ileum (small intestine and large intestine). The opening works as a new organ in the belly of the person and excretes the waste material of the body, urine, formed stool, semi-formed, stool, and liquid stool (depends on the type of disease and ostomy). For every disease in a specific part of the intestine, there is a different kind of ostomy, like ileostomy is for the treatment of the ileum or small intestine, a colostomy is for the treatment of the colon or large intestine, and urostomy refers to the bladder. 

What is Colostomy?

A colostomy is the treatment of any infection, injury, blockage, or cancer in the colon, a part of the large intestine. The stoma or opening appears as a result of the colon or large intestine operation, called a colostomy. In this surgery, surgeons remove the infected or injured part of the colon, bring the end of the large intestine to the opening (stoma or a hole made in the abdomen of the patient), to collect the solid or formed stool in a pouch, stoma or ostomy pouch. 

Sometimes, the colostomy is reversible. It means doctors halt the anus to discharge the feces temporarily. After the healing of the disease or infection, they bring the colon back to their natural location, and the patient can eject the stool through the organic passage, anus. However, in some acute diseases like inflammatory bowel disease or colon cancer, it is permanent. A patient cannot exit the formed form of stool through their anal path. They can only use the stoma for the excretion purpose. 

What is Ileostomy?

This is the surgery of an infection, injury, blockage, cancer, bowel disorder, or any other chronic illness in the ileum, a part of the small intestine. Surgeons remove the infected section of the small intestine and bring a healthy portion to the abdomen. In the belly wall, doctors fabricate a round pit, called a stoma. The opening in the abdomen aims to collect the liquid stool or semi-formed stool in a bag called a stoma or ostomy pouch. It requires an entire system for the hole in the body. In this incision, surgeons do not remove the colon. The incision happens to give some rest to the large intestine and time for healing. Therefore, an ileostomy is usually a temporary procedure. After the recovering of the infected intestines, doctors close the stoma and bring the ileum back to the organic track. 

The stoma of the ileostomy discharges the liquid form of stool. Therefore, the patients feel comfortable with the drainable pouches. These are the stoma bags you can drain, empty, clean, and wear them back. You do not need to change a drainable pouch again and again. The movement of the bowel becomes unpredictable after the ileostomy; thus, wearing this pouching system provides coziness and convenience. You can empty it when you feel the discharge and change the entire pouching system twice a week. 

WOC Nurse

Every ostomate needs the assistance of a special stoma nurse, WOC, or ET nurse. They are professionals and experienced in the ostomy fields. They know every single information about stoma, care, and surgery. After the operation, a person goes through multiple changes in life, emotional, physical, and mental. Thus, they need appropriate guidance and support. Apart from families of the ostomates, a nurse plays a vital role in the recovery of the patient. Moreover, a WOC or ET nurse will guide you about the care of the opening. He/she will be your therapist, caretaker, dietician, guidance, and support.

In the hospital, you will find a nurse for you; however, once you go away from the clinic, you can find a nurse for you through hospitals, WOC clinics, and ostomy foundations.