Adjusting To Life After Ostomy Surgery

An ostomy surgery is a serious undertaking that comes with major changes in the patient’s life. There can be all manner of feelings about the change of lifestyle that can be hard to come to terms with. Adjusting to life after ostomy surgery can be done by being prepared, keeping an open mind and managing your expectations. 

Preemptive Care

Certain feelings like anxiety, denial and depression can creep in if the patient is not careful and it is important to remember that maintaining good mental health is a vital part of recovering and adjusting to an ostomy. 

The effectiveness of after care and the maintenance of the ostomy procedure is hard to do with depression or feelings of hopelessness. The patient must be tolerant and learn how their body is adapting to the new big change and keep in constant communication with their doctor to report any adverse experiences or effects. 

People Who Understand 

Having people around in the form of family, friends or a loving partner can assuage many of the adverse mental effects of living with an ostomy pouch. Join a support group if possible to meet and talk to people who have similar struggles or regularly socialize with understanding friends and family members. The more the surgery and its implications are spoken about, the less they will damage mental health and the easier it will be to adjust to a new life. 

Establish a schedule for visits to your healthcare professional and maintain contact with them or with the nurse assigned to your case so you can anticipate problems or receive medical guidance as necessary. Doctors will usually offer advice on the activities you should pursue and the ones you are better off avoiding and most medical professionals will tell you to create a kit to carry wherever you go with extra pouches, disinfectant and also Hydrofera blue dressing in case of leakage or bleeding.

Creative Pursuits

Living with an ostomy pouch can preoccupy the patient’s mind all the time so engaging in creative pursuits like painting, writing, singing and so forth can take the edge off and lead to a healthier life. Patients can take classes or allot an hour or two every day to pursue a particular passion to bring joy back into their life. Contrary to popular opinion, mild sports are possible with an ostomy bag as long as some precautions are practiced and the patient is well-versed in how to manage a leakage if it occurs. 

Read And Research 

Becoming more educated about your condition and the ostomy surgery along with its after-care is key to living a successful life with an ostomy pouch. Your nurse and healthcare provider will provide you with reading material after your surgery to help you adjust and the internet is an invaluable resource for gaining knowledge. Understanding even the inner workings of your surgery can help you manage your health for the long-term. Learn as much as you can about the type of pouch you have been prescribed as that determines its longevity and also how often it should be changed out to maintain optimal hygiene. 

Manage Expectations 

If you are someone who enjoys sports or plenty of physical activity then life will change and while it is possible to keep some physical exertion going, contact sports like football should be avoided. Any activity or sport that can risk causing a rupture to the stoma should generally be avoided. Managing expectations is one of the factors in achieving contentment in your new life after the ostomy. 

Leakages And Spillages

A concern that most patients have is whether or not the pouch will leak as they are going about their daily tasks. In general the ostomy pouches are made with a special kind of film that has a certain longevity but due to friction, leaks are a possibility so carrying a changing kit is a good idea. Learning the proper way to attach the pouch after changing it makes a world of a difference as do barrier rings that can ensure a more secure fitting on uneven wounds and skin. 

Odor Management 

Due to the nature of the ostomy procedure, odor can be a recurrent problem faced by most patients. To this effect your doctor may recommend a certain type of diet that enables easy digestion. Furthermore ostomy pouches themselves are meant to be odor-resistant and charcoal filter ones are even more effective in preventing the release of gases and odor. Use a deodorizing product and carry it in your kit to use if you feel that needless odor has been created. Changing the pouch up to three times a week can help with maintaining better hygiene and preventing odor. 

Choosing Clothing

Clothing is one of the parts of a patient’s life that inevitably change after an ostomy procedure. Most patients benefit from choosing clothes that are one to two sizes larger so that it is easier to accommodate the ostomy pouch and reduce needless friction. Wearing heavy or tight belts or pants should be avoided in favor of looser pants or pajamas that are made from softer materials. 

Special underwear is sold for ostomy patients and that is a good choice compared with regular shapewear or briefs that may be tighter and therefore detrimental to comfort with an ostomy pouch. It is perfectly possible to swim after an ostomy surgery when a few months have passed due to the waterproof nature of the pouch. The patient should check for leaks beforehand or do a changing beforehand on an empty stomach. 

Chlorine doesn’t affect the longevity of the pouch and appropriate swimwear that offers support can make swimming comfortable and pleasurable and is an excellent form of exercise to adopt. Boxer type of swimwear is ideal for men and one-piece swimsuits are great for women but they should be bought in a size or two larger to accommodate the pouch. If possible the pouch should either be emptied in full or changed beforehand so there is less chance of a leak.




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