Ostomy care

When a part of your intestine doesn't work as it should, a doctor can do surgery to make an opening in your belly and bring a part of your intestine to the surface of your skin. This opening is called an ostomy. There are two types. A colostomy is an ostomy of the colon. An ileostomy is an ostomy of the small intestine.

With an ostomy, waste no longer leaves your body from your anus. It leaves your body through the part of your intestine at the ostomy opening. This part of the intestine is called the stoma.

There's no muscle around the stoma. So you can't control when waste or gas leaves your body. Now your waste automatically goes from the stoma into a plastic bag (pouch) around the stoma. This pouch will block the smell of the waste. It can't be seen when you are wearing clothes.

You can learn to take care of your ostomy. Good care can make living with a stoma easier. It can help keep a good seal between the skin and the pouch. This can prevent your skin from getting irritated.

• If the skin under your pouch is red, irritated, or itchy, you need to treat your skin. Follow these steps:
  • Gently remove the pouch.
  • Clean the skin under the pouch with water.
  • Dry the skin.
  • Sprinkle ostomy powder on the skin. Then gently wipe off the extra powder.
  • Reattach or replace the pouch.
• If you continue to have skin irritation, talk to your ostomy nurse.
• Follow all instructions from your ostomy nurse.
• Empty and replace your ostomy pouch as often as your nurse recommends.
• Be safe with medicines. Take your medicines exactly as prescribed. Call your doctor if you think you are having a problem with your medicine. You will get more details on the specific medicines your doctor prescribes.

Caring for your ostomy is an important part of maintaining your quality of life. You will need to:

• Empty your pouch as needed. Some pouches can be drained and reused. Other pouches are closed and must be thrown away after each use.
• Replace your pouching system as needed (usually every 3 to 7 days). This may include measuring your stoma (the exposed section of intestine) and cutting a barrier to fit around it.
• Care for your skin and stoma, and watch for skin irritation.
• Know what to watch for. Your doctor or nurse can help you with this.

Wound, ostomy, and continence nurses (WOCNs) are available in some medical centers to help you learn how to care for your ostomy.

Irrigating your colostomy

If you have a colostomy, you may be able to irrigate it. A colostomy is an ostomy of the colon. Irrigation is a procedure in which you stimulate and flush the intestines at a regular time. It is typically done at the same time every day or every other day.

Irrigation helps you control when you get rid of solid wastes. If you irrigate, you may need only a cover or pad over your stoma and may not need an ostomy pouch.

Irrigation requires your doctor's approval and guidance. Only a colostomy can be irrigated. You cannot irrigate an ileostomy.

Caring for a child's ostomy

If you are caring for an infant or child with an ostomy, the same information and procedures generally apply. But a child's ostomy pouch will be smaller and will most likely need to be replaced more often. Different adhesives may be used to attach the pouch because a child's skin is more sensitive than an adult's skin. Your nurse will help you learn how to care for your child with an ostomy. Irrigation is not appropriate for children.