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Important Facts To Know About Stoma Before Your Surgical Procedure

By Karyn Shields


Certain illnesses and surgeries require doctors to create surgical openings for rerouting digestive waste as part of their treatments. These openings are commonly known as stoma. They can be both temporary or permanent.

Doctors can create one of three types of openings. Among these are ileostomies, urostomies and colostomies. Your illness and the way that this affects your digestive processes will determine which procedure is best suited to your needs. Whether your digestive waste will be rerouted in a permanent or temporary fashion is also a deciding factor.

Once this incision is complete, you will be fitted with innovative equipment for the collection and monitoring of waste. This typically comes in the form of a small, discreet pouch. Once the pouch is filled, an interior liner can be removed and replaced so that the waste can be discarded. These units are very efficient at containing liquids, solids and odors.

Your selection in clothing can also remain the same. Depending upon the size and positioning of the device, however, it may be necessary to look for clothes that are more flexible at the waist. This will ensure optimal levels of comfort and convenience.

The site of this incision will probably look very much like the soft tissues at the interior of your mouth. There may be some redness and soreness, as is common to most surgical sites. If there is swelling or if the region is hot or sensitive to the touch, however, this is a sign of infection and should be reported to your doctor right away.

People often have lots of questions before their surgeries given that they are eager to continue living their lives in a normal fashion. For instance, many people want to know if their bags will produce or emit unpleasant odors. Collection bags can be very effective at restricting unpleasant smells so that these are not noticeable.

Many people are able to continue maintaining normal diets after these procedures have been performed. There are rarely foods that you will have to eliminate from your diet as the result of this transition. There could be, however, dietary changes that must be made for your overall wellness or that reflect the needs that have arisen due to a chronic illness.

Exercising is also possible after these procedures. You will need to pursue physical activities after having received clearance from your doctor. Given that the collection units are air and watertight, it will still be possible for you to swim. Walking, running, cycling and other activities are things that you can still engage in.

It is always a good idea to give yourself sufficient time to heal from a procedure such as this one, as opposed to aggressively pursuing challenging activities. You want to allow your body to regain its strength in a gradual fashion. With plenty of time to recuperate, it should not be problematic to take part in any of the sports and recreational activities that you have long enjoyed.




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