Life with a stoma bag is not easy but adaptable. Colostomy bag allows you to eat what you want so you should live with it confidently. Read more at Meri Sehat.

Living with a stoma bag

Living With A Stoma Bag

Introduction

Undergoing a colostomy is a big decision. This is not only because a colostomy is a major surgery but also because the surgery comes with some drastic changes in your life, including having to live with a stoma bag attached to your body.&nbsp;

For many people having a stoma pouch attached to their bodies is an emotional rollercoaster. It may feel scary at first but with time it will be completely normal to adjust with. It is also possible to live a happy life even with a stoma bag.&nbsp;

A prospective study conducted at a tertiary care hospital in Pakistan concluded that almost half the patients were satisfied with their stoma bags, while the remaining half required <a href="https://www.merisehat.pk/article/im-not-crazy-the-taboo-of-seeking-psychological-help">psychological help</a>, financial, and emotional support<a href="#accordion">[1]</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp; 
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Understanding The Challenges Of Living With A Stoma Bag

Some illnesses may require the removal of a section of your bowel or bladder. In this procedure, the surgeon will form a hole in your abdomen, which is called a stoma. It is sometimes also referred to as an &lsquo;ostomy&rsquo;. The function of the stoma is to remove bodily waste, feces, and urine in a small collection bag. The stoma is moist and pinkish-red and will protrude from a hole in your abdomen. In the beginning, the stoma may be swollen but usually reduces in size over time. The stoma shouldn&rsquo;t be painful nor should it feel like anything. Over time, bodily waste and gas will pass out through the stoma, instead of the anus or urethra.&nbsp;

While living with a stoma may sound like a daunting experience, each year several patients undergo the procedure in Pakistan<a href="#accordion">[1]</a>. A stoma can affect all aspects of a person&rsquo;s life, but with the right help and support, many maintain a normal quality of life.

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Stomas are needed for people of all ages, from newborns to older people for a variety of reasons:&nbsp;

<ul>
	<li>Trauma to the abdomen caused by a road traffic accident or other major injuries</li>
	<li>Surgery to remove bowel cancer and other cancers in the pelvic area&nbsp;</li>
	<li>Crohn&rsquo;s disease or ulcerative colitis&nbsp;</li>
	<li>Congenital birth defects&nbsp;</li>
	<li>Rare genetic disorders&nbsp;</li>
	<li>Neurological disorders that make going to the toilet difficult&nbsp;</li>
	<li>Following radiotherapy in the pelvic area&nbsp;</li>
	<li>To change the bowel&rsquo;s blood supply in premature babies and older adults</li>
</ul>

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Stomas can be created anywhere along the digestive tract. The different types of stomas include:&nbsp;

<ul>
	<li>Colostomy &ndash; In the colon or large intestine&nbsp;</li>
	<li>Ileostomy &ndash; In the small intestine or ileum&nbsp;</li>
	<li>Urostomy &ndash; To divert urine from the bladder&nbsp;</li>
</ul>

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In many cases, the stomas are temporary and can be reversed with surgery. However, in some cases where the bowel cannot be reconnected with surgery, or if the anus is removed because of a tumor, the stoma is permanent.&nbsp;

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It takes time to adapt to a stoma. Many questions may run through your mind after the procedure. For example, can you go back to work after the procedure? Will you be able to ride your bike after? The answer to your questions is, yes! You can do many of the same activities that you enjoyed before the stoma. You can go back to work, you can wear whatever you want, you can eat whatever you want, and you can go wherever you want to.&nbsp;

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<ul>
	<li>
	<h5>Go Back To Work&nbsp;</h5>
	</li>
</ul>

You will need to take some time off to heal after surgery, but once you&rsquo;ve fully recovered, you can return to work. If your line of work is physically straining, your doctor may recommend wearing protective gear on the job. Returning to work can make you feel good about yourself and is a great way to transition back to normal life.&nbsp;

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<ul>
	<li>
	<h5>Eat Whatever You Want&nbsp;</h5>
	</li>
</ul>

Once you&rsquo;ve been given a heads-up from your doctor to resume a regular diet, you can eat whatever you like. However, there are some ground rules. Some foods may affect your digestive tract differently. For example, the foods that triggered gas before the procedure will very likely have the same effect now as well. But this doesn&rsquo;t mean you should never eat gas-causing foods. You can eat the foods sparingly when you are at home, so it doesn&rsquo;t make you self-conscious.&nbsp;

Some foods are more likely to cause gas, constipation, and diarrhea. If you are unsure of how you will react to different foods after the procedure, reintroduce foods one at a time. Knowing how your digestive system will react to each food will keep you from worrying about the food&rsquo;s effects when in public. Chewing your food thoroughly and drinking plenty of water should help.&nbsp;

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<ul>
	<li>
	<h5>Go Sporty&nbsp;&nbsp;</h5>
	</li>
</ul>

You can go back to enjoying sports you like, after healing from the surgery. However, if your favorite sports are contact sports that have a potential for injury, there are risks of injuring the stoma. So, contact sports may be out. But you can always speak with your doctor about precautionary products that you can use to prevent injuring your stoma.&nbsp;

Also, check with your doctor before starting high-intensity workouts or lifting heavy weights at the gym, as you may need to wait for the surgical site to heal. You may also need to invest in a device that will support your abdomen while lifting weights. Your doctor may also recommend a special belt or binder to hold your stoma while swimming or doing other sports activities that may cause the stoma to loosen and leak.&nbsp;

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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.2px; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, &quot;Segoe UI&quot;, Roboto, &quot;Helvetica Neue&quot;, Arial, sans-serif, &quot;Apple Color Emoji&quot;, &quot;Segoe UI Emoji&quot;, &quot;Segoe UI Symbol&quot;;">Most people won’t notice the bag unless you tell them about it. You might look in the mirror and feel that the stoma is showing under your clothes, or feel like the gurgle or noise coming from your bag is obvious and can be heard by everyone in the room.&nbsp;<span style="letter-spacing: 0.2px; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, &quot;Segoe UI&quot;, Roboto, &quot;Helvetica Neue&quot;, Arial, sans-serif, &quot;Apple Color Emoji&quot;, &quot;Segoe UI Emoji&quot;, &quot;Segoe UI Symbol&quot;;">This might make you self-conscious; however it is important to remember that these are completely normal feelings.&nbsp;Here are some ways to avoid these situations that may be embarrassing for you, but are otherwise completely normal; everyone pees, poops and farts, the only difference is you’re doing it in a bag.&nbsp;<ul><li>Empty the bag when it is one-third full, so it does not bulge under your clothes.&nbsp;</li><li>Find a stoma that works best for you.&nbsp;</li><li>If you are worried about odor, invest in pouch deodorants or air sprays to mask the smell.&nbsp;</li></ul>

Conclusion

You can always ask a close friend or family whether your stoma bag is visible under your clothes. Or, if it&rsquo;s as noisy as you think it is. While these scenarios may be embarrassing for you, don&rsquo;t let them get the best of you and ruin your day. Know that you can be active, do things that you love, wear fashionable clothes, and live a happy, fulfilling life with a stoma bag. Remember, you&rsquo;re not alone in this!&nbsp;

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[1] Irshad, A., Ahsan, M.F., Khan, M.A., Rasheed, I. and Asif, M., 2021. Quality of Life in Patients with Stoma. Annals of PIMS-Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto Medical University, 17(3), pp.255-259.

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