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Ileostomy - what to ask your doctor

Definition

You have had an operation to create an ileostomy or colostomy. Your ileostomy or colostomy changes the way your body gets rid of waste (stool, feces, or "poop").

You now have an opening in your belly called a stoma. Waste will pass through the stoma into a pouch that collects it. You will need to take care of your stoma and empty the pouch.

Below are some questions you may want to ask your health care provider to help you take care of your ileostomy or colostomy.

Alternative Names

Ostomy - what to ask your doctor; What to ask your doctor about ileostomy or colostomy; Colostomy - what to ask your doctor

Questions

Will I be able to wear the same clothes as before?

What will the stool look like that comes from the ileostomy or colostomy? How many times a day will I need to empty it? Should I expect an odor or smell?

Will I be able to travel?

How do I change the pouch?

  • How often do I need to change the pouch?
  • What supplies do I need, and where can I get them? How much do they cost?
  • What is the best way to empty the pouch?
  • How do I clean the bag afterward?

Can I take showers? Can I take a bath? Do I need to wear the pouch when I bathe?

Can I still play sports? Can I go back to work?

Do I need to change the medicines I am taking? Will birth control pills still work?

What changes do I need to make in my diet?

What can I do if my stools are too loose? Are there foods that will make my stools more firm?

What can I do if my stools are too hard? Are there foods that will make my stools looser or more watery? Do I need to drink more liquids?

What should I do if nothing is coming out of the stoma into the pouch?

  • How long is too long?
  • Are there foods that may cause blockage of the stoma or opening?
  • How can I change my diet to prevent this problem?

What should my stoma look like when it is healthy?

  • How should I care for the stoma every day? How often should I clean it? What types of tape, creams, or paste can I use on the stoma?
  • Does insurance cover the cost of ostomy supplies?
  • What should I do if there is bleeding from the stoma, if it appears red or swollen, or if there is a sore on the stoma?

When should I call the provider?

Gallery

Colonoscopy
There are 3 basic tests for colon cancer; a stool test (to check for blood), sigmoidoscopy (inspection of the lower colon), and colonoscopy (inspection of the entire colon). All 3 are effective in catching cancers in the early stages, when treatment is most beneficial.
Ileostomy - stoma and pouch
An ileostomy is used to move waste out of the body through a surgically-created opening called a stoma. This surgery is done when the colon or rectum is not working properly. The word “ileostomy” comes from the words “ileum”, which is the lowest part of the small intestine, and “stoma”, which means opening. To make an ileostomy, the surgeon makes an opening in the belly wall and brings the end of the ileum through the opening. The ileum is then attached to the skin. The stoma is connected to a pouch, which needs to be emptied several times a day and changed periodically.

References

American Cancer Society website. Ileostomy guide. www.cancer.org/treatment/treatments-and-side-effects/physical-side-effects/ostomies/ileostomy.html. Updated October 16, 2019. Accessed February 10, 2023.

Raza A, Araghizadeh F. Ileostomy, colostomy, and pouches. In: Feldman M, Friedman LS, Brandt LJ, eds. Sleisenger and Fordtran's Gastrointestinal and Liver Disease. 11th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2021:chap 117.

Last reviewed January 31, 2023 by Michael M. Phillips, MD, Emeritus Professor of Medicine, The George Washington University School of Medicine, Washington, DC. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team..