Intimacy
It is normal to be sensitive about the way Stoma changes your body.
Meaningful and satisfying contacts can still be part of your life.
Stoma surgery, like every other surgery, can affect your body, making you feel insecure about your appearance. Maybe you need some time to get used to the changes which can make you feel less attractive. Although it may be difficult, it is very important to embrace your body as part of yourself.
Sexual relationships
You can continue to enjoy your private moments and your sexual relations even after the ostomy operation. How and when depends on the type of surgery you had. However, in cases where the anus or the blabber have been removed (including women) sexual dysfunction and/or discomfort during intercourse may occur.
It is normal to feel awkward and to need to take your time and discus it with your partner only when you feel comfortable enough. It is also important to discuss it with your Healthcare Professional as they are familiar with the issues you might experience and can help you in many ways.
Can I have kids?
Of course, you can. Stoma does not prevent a woman from conceiving a child and having a normal birth. As your belly grows, Stomia will just follow your body’s changes. In the more advanced stages of pregnancy you may need to use a mirror to change the bag. Labor usually comes naturally.
Nutrition
Eating healthy is an important part of living on your own terms. Good news is that Stoma cannot prevent you from enjoying food.
You do not have to follow a special diet but sometimes you may come across some foods that cause gas.
If you think a certain food is causing you a problem, try to avoid it for a period and reintroduce it to your diet after a while. If you try this three times for every suspicious food, you will know for sure which one is causing you a problem.
It is important to chew your food well before swallowing, as this aids digestion. You can also get activated charcoal tablets and mint or fennel tea from the pharmacy as well as yogurt and yogurt drinks which can help with reduced gas production.
Foods that cause gas include: broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, spinach, legumes, beans (green beans or dry beans), onions, garlic, Brussels sprouts, cucumber, corn, peas, asparagus, egg and chocolate.
Drinks
Just like before the surgery, the amount of fluids you consume affects the shape of your stool. Make sure you drink 1,5 liters (8-10 glasses) of water every day unless your doctor advises you to limit your fluid intake. Many believe that soft drinks and beer tend to cause gas, but this may vary for each person. Water and fruit juices are preferred instead of tea and coffee that cause dehydration. As for alcohol, you can still have a drink as long as it does not interact with any medication you’re taking.
If you have any doubts, discuss it with your Healthcare Professional.
Physical Activities
Do you enjoy playing tennis or golf? Is there nothing better for you than a little jogging, yoga or swimming? Perfect!
Exercise
Exercise is good for everyone. Swimming and walking are two nice forms of exercise that will keep you in shape and keep your energy levels high, without putting too much strain on your body. Just remember that your return to sports must be gradual. Talk to your Health Professional to give you the necessary advice to reduce the risk of developing an hernia.
Swimwear Tips
Try it before you buy it.
For women
A one-piece swimsuit with details or various patterns will cover the ostomy bag.
A padded swimsuit in the abdominal area will give you extra support.
The paréo is a great accessory to cover up at the beach.
For men
You can wear a pair of lycra swim shorts under your bathing suit to help keep the ostomy bag in place.
Sunbathing
When you are sunbathing, only apply sunscreen after you have put your bag on, as creams and oils can affect the adhesiveness of the self-adhesive bag or base.
Trips
Being organized in advance and understanding the safety rules and your right to privacy will help you avoid problems on your commute.
Holidays and Trips
Stoma should not prevent you from travelling. However, it may take some time to adjust and be ready to travel. Start by taking short trips.
Whether you are travelling by car, ship, train or airplane, it is important to be well prepared. Prepare a travel pack with your changing supplies, plenty of extra bags and any other supplies you may need for the days you are gone.
Travelling by plane
If you are going to travel by plane, make sure you take a lot of supplies with you for the flight and the time you will be gone, plus extra supplies for unexpected situations. Separate your supplies into different bags in case your luggage gets lost, or your flight is delayed. Do not forget that it is not allowed to bring scissors with you in your luggage so make sure you have cut all your adhesive bags or bases to the desired size before your travel.
Do not worry if your bag swells due to the change in cabin pressure. Ostomy bags are designed and tested so that they withstand when pressure changes.
Travelling abroad
Before you travel abroad check your insurance policy for any changes that may occur that have to do with your condition while you are abroad.
In places with warm climate, you may need to change your bag more often because you may sweat more. Always make sure your skin is completely dry before you apply a new bag to ensure a good and safe fit. If necessary, use a hair dryer to dry the skin but be careful not to set the temperature too high.
There might also be a higher chance of diarrhea or dehydration. In any case,make sure you drink plenty of water and always carry with you medicine for diarrhea.
While on vacation you can relax, have fun and remember that you can still do the same activities you did before.
Tips for holidays
Store your Ostomy bags in a cool place.
Use bottled water during your Ostomy bag change while you are outside.
Apply sunscreen after you put on your Ostomy bag as creams can affect the adhesive. Empty the used bags and throw them in the trash.
If you feel uncomfortable throwing your Ostomy bags in the trash bin of your hotel room, throw them in public trash bins.
Before you leave for vacation find out where you can find professional health care in case you need something there.
Stoma management
Not all Stoma are the same. Understand your Stoma better.
Just like each one of you, Stoma is unique. Stomas vary in size and can be round, oval or irregular in shape. They may protrude or lie flat against your skin.
However, Stomas have some similarities. All Stomas should shine, be wet and red, just like inside our mouth. Stoma doesn’t have nerve endings and that is why it doesn’t transfer the feeling of pain or other sensations. However, it has many blood vessels and can bleed slightly if irritated or rubbed. This is normal, but if the bleeding continues or if your Stoma is bleeding, contact your health care professional.
Choosing the best collection system depends on the type of your Stoma and its particular physical characteristics. With only a few clicks, our search engine can help you find the products that match your unique Stoma and lifestyle.
Caring for a child with a stoma
Daily care and establishing a routine helps you and your child too.
Although, it is often a life-saving procedure, it is very difficult to watch your child undergo an ostomy operation. The hardest part for most parents is being scared and worried about their child’s needs after surgery.
We are here to help. With the right support – and a little patience and practice – soon you will feel comfortable enough to take care of the needs of your child with Stoma. Even though every child is different you can start learning the information you need from the Frequently Asked Questions about caring for a child with Ostomy. And of course, we encourage you to ask your child’s pediatrician or Stoma nurse any medical questions.
Skin care
Keep the skin around your stoma healthy.
Peristomal (around the stoma) skin complication is one of the most common reasons people living with Stoma seek medical care. Urine and feces can irritate the skin. That’s why you need a protective base or adhesive to prevent peristomal damage to your skin.
Click below to learn how to keep peristomal skin healthy. If you think you have a peristomal skin complication, contact your healthcare professional as soon as possible.
Common issues
Useful aids to live your life better.
Pouch Leakage
Pouch Leakage is one of the most common concerns that patients with stomas have, alongside noise, odor and visibility of appliance. Adapting to life with an ostomy depends highly on the health of the peristomal skin. Skin irritation is reduced if the pouching system is fitted well, and leakages are not occurring on a regular basis. Many people living with a stoma frequently have leakage problems and do not seek clinical support from an ostomy nurse.1 For more information on pouch leakage, please speak to your stoma nurse or speak to our me+ support advisors.
Pancaking
Pancaking occurs when the stool accumulates at the top of the appliance around the stoma and does not fall into the appliance. This is believed, by many ostomy nurses, to be due to a vacuum in the pouch. This subsequently results in the adherent seal of the appliance being compromised, resulting in leakage. Pancaking is recognized as troublesome within stoma care, leaving many people with ostomies feeling exasperated in trying to deal with this difficult problem. Ostomy nurses offer strategies to help alleviate pancaking. When strategies fail and appliances continue to leak – or require pouch changes due to risk of leaking, individuals often feel helpless, demoralized and quality of life can be damaged.
Nearly all closed pouches now have an integrated filter, the position of which varies from being somewhere across the top of the pouch to a third of the way down the pouch. Using a filter cover is another option that people with colostomies are often advised to try as another way of eliminating pancaking. Nearly all the commercially available appliances are supplied with small bits of sticky material that can be placed over the filter, either intermittently or all the time. This enables the person with the ostomy to control when the filter is effective2. Please seek advice from your ostomy nurse if you have any issues with pancaking or speak to a me+ support advisor.
Ballooning
Ballooning occurs when air from the digestive system is trapped in the ostomy bag causing it to inflate. This has been shown to negatively impact user quality of life due to discomfort/sleep problems. Please seek advice from your ostomy nurse or speak to one of our me+ support advisors if you experience ballooning.
Skin Health
Skin health is one of the most common challenges following ostomy surgery, with over 30% of patients exhibiting peristomal skin complications within 90 days of surgery. The barrier adhesive is the foundation needed to maintain healthy skin. Our range of hydrocolloid adhesive technologies are proven to perform and designed to protect the skin around the stoma.
Skin protection is the most important factor in our adhesive and skin barrier technology. Our hydrocolloid adhesives are designed for use in high-moisture environments and have decades of proven product performance.
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