It may seem difficult to adjust a life after ostomy surgery, but it is not impossible. It is indeed a significant life change that can result in short-term anxiety, but a little practice and patience will help you adjust to living with an ostomy bag. You will be able to lead an active and healthy life without having to worry about your stoma the moment managing your colostomy bag becomes your second nature.
Read the following tips to have an idea regarding how to live with a colostomy.
Show anticipation to the healing process
You have this ostomy, which is a result of a surgical procedure. Every surgical procedure weakens the body and makes the person unfit for routine activities. With a newly created colostomy, you can expect your bowel to lose tolerance, at least for the postoperative recovery period. You will need to remain calm and allow your bowel to recover. If you have any concerns, you should discuss them with your doctor or ostomy care nurse.
Change in the bowel functions and habits
With a colostomy, your bowel may develop new habits to continue functioning. For instance, the consistency of your stool will not be as hard it was before surgery. You may also have frequent bowel movements. You will need to adapt to these changes to manage your bowel movements in a more effective manner. Your ostomy bag will be of significant help because it will take care of the bowel movements until becoming full.
Go for a healthy and balanced diet
Although your colostomy will not restrict you to a specific diet plan for a lifetime, you will need to follow a stricter diet plan until your bowel recovers. Furthermore, your bowel habits will change permanently after surgery, so you will need to be mindful of your eating habits. You do not want to have an odor or gas problem with your colostomy. You will also need to avoid blockages. As far as the gas and odor are concerned, you will have to limit the consumption of foods that cause these problems. Blockage generally occurs due to high-fiber intake, but it doesn’t mean that you should avoid eating fibrous foods entirely. You may want to eat in small amounts throughout the day to give your bowel some time to process what you eat. It will not take long for you to configure your food intake routine right according to your body requirements.
Pay attention to the impact of medications
Some of the medications that you have been taking before surgery might prove to be problematic for your digestive tract after surgery. Some medicines may cause constipation, while some might result in diarrhea. You will want to avoid both these problems to prevent any discomfort. Discuss your medication with your doctor to find more suitable alternatives.
Use an appropriate ostomy pouch
You will need to use a pouching system that works well with your ostomy. For this purpose, you will have to take into consideration the type and consistency of the stomal output. You may want to discuss pouching systems with your ostomy care nurse.
