Pros And Cons Of An Ostomy
While most ostomates have to live with an ostomy only temporarily, a significant number of people have to consider an ostomy bag as a permanent part of their outfit. More specifically, people with Crohn’s disease may have to live with an ostomy forever. But that doesn’t they should say goodbye to their routine activities and favorite foods.
When do patients with Crohn’s disease need an ostomy?
Crohn’s disease patients usually have to undergo a surgical procedure that involves the removal of the colon. Some of them get a J-pouch, which allows them to get rid of feces through the anus instead of the stoma.
People who cannot get a j-pouch have to live with an ostomy bag for the rest of their lives. While ostomies come in different shapes, sizes, and placements, all of them have the same purpose.
What is an ostomy?
The literal meaning of an ostomy is that of an opening in the body. It is generally used to denote an opening on an excretory tract. A lot of people with Crohn’s disease have an ostomy as they are resting their colon or allowing it to heal between surgeries.
Ostomy surgery results in the creation of a stoma, which is the end of the small or large bowel sticking out on the abdomen. It serves as an excretory point to expel body wastes and you will need convaTec OstoMy supplies.
What is it like to have an ostomy?
Interestingly, you can multitask when you have an ostomy. Or instance, you can use the bathroom while being busy with your routine tasks. An ostomy bag will collect your bodily wastes the entire time. Nonetheless, it is crucial to empty or replace this bag when it gets one-third to half full. While it is weird to discuss the benefits, having an ostomy allows you to avoid sitting on your toilet for several minutes.
Negatives of an ostomy
Having to use an ostomy bag necessitates changing its skin barrier regularly. A skin barrier adheres to the skin around the stoma with the help of an adhesive. While removing this skin barrier, you have to remove the adhesive first, which requires you to be careful with the process. The likelihood of the peristomal skin getting damaged is pretty higher if you pull the skin barrier quickly accidentally.
Another pitfall of having a stoma is that you lose control over when to move your bowels. The wastes will pass out of your stoma, and you will have no voluntary control over this stool evacuation.
You will have to be very careful with your peristomal skin as it is always susceptible to get in contact with the stomal output in case of the skin barrier’s compromised seal. This contact can cause irritation or other complications in this part of the skin. That is why it is crucial to take measures to prevent the stomal output from getting in contact with the peristomal skin.
To know more about preventing complications related to your stoma, be sure to get in touch with an Ostomy care nurse.
