The surgical procedure to bring one end of the large intestine out through an incision in the belly is known as colostomy surgery. The end of the colon sticks out on the abdominal wall, forming a stoma. This bowel diversion necessitates you to use an ostomy bag, as a stoma doesn’t have any sphincters to allow you to control when to evacuate bodily wastes.
Depending on the underlying reason, a colostomy can be permanent or temporary.
Why may you need a colostomy?
Your surgeon may want to give you a colostomy if your colon doesn’t function well or is too diseased. The colostomy aims at diverting digestive wastes away from the diseased section and rerouting those to an opening in the belly to allow the diseased part of the bowel to heal.
In some cases, the surgeon may opt to remove the diseased part once and for all, because there was no chance for that part to heal in the future. The colostomy created as a result is the permanent one.
You may need a colostomy for any of the following reasons.
- Crohn’s disease
- Bowel cancer
- Diverticulitis
- Anal cancer – It is most likely the permanent colostomy because the surgeon may have to remove the anal tissues.
- Bowel incontinence – A colostomy may become crucial if all other treatments fail.
- Injury – An injury to the bowel may also necessitate you to undergo colostomy surgery. The colostomy, in this case, is typically temporary.
Types of colostomy
Mainly, there are two types of colostomy.
- The colostomy procedure that involves pulling out of a loop of the colon through an incision in the belly and opening the top of the loop is known as a loop colostomy. This colostomy is most commonly temporary.
- The colostomy procedure that involves diverting an end of the colon from the removed or rested part of the bowel is known as the end colostomy. This colostomy can be permanent or temporary, depending on the underlying reason.
After the operation, you may need to stay in the hospital for 3-10 days. During this time, the surgical staff and your doctor will examine how well your body copes with the postoperative alterations.
An alternative to a colostomy is an ileostomy, which involves the removal or bypassing of the entire colon. The surgeon diverts the end of the small intestine to create an ileostomy.
Living with a colostomy
A colostomy results in a major body function change, so it is natural to be concerned about living with a colostomy. One of the most significant worries for a patient with a colostomy is the chance of other people noticing that he or she is wearing a colostomy bag.
Nevertheless, ostomy supplies manufacturers have been doing well by developing more discreet supplies that remain hidden under the clothes. Unless you want to tell someone yourself, nobody will know that you are wearing a colostomy bag.
Your body’s vulnerability after surgery will last only until your bowel recovers. During this recovery phase, you may have to pay attention to your diet and avoid engaging in any intense physical activity. When the recovery completes, you may eat what you like and engage in physical workouts. You may have to avoid lifting too heavy objects, though.
The best approach is to remain in contact with your doctor and ostomy care nurse. Discuss with them any lifestyle change that you are considering.
