Fascinating facts about stomas - Trio Healthcare

On the 1st of October 2022 we will all come together to celebrate #WorldOstomyDay. It’s a chance for ostomates, carers, friends, families and healthcare professionals to raise awareness of what it’s like living with a stoma. We thought it was a great chance to share some quick stoma facts to help people understand more about what a stoma is, the reasons someone might have one and other useful information that helps to bust some myths. Let’s get sharing!

 

  1. There are now estimated to be 200,000 people with a stoma in the UK, approximately one in every 335 people (Colostomy UK 2022)
  2. Peole living with a stoma are called ostomates.
  3. A stoma is a surgical opening in your stomach which brings a part of the intestines out through the surface of the skin to eliminate waste. Find out more about stomas in the ostomate section of our site
  4. People of all ages have stoma surgery, including babies.
  5. A stoma looks like a pink or red rosebud. It has no nerve endings and doesn’t hurt to touch.
  6. A person with a stoma will excrete either urine or faeces via their stoma into a bag which is attached to the skin by a sticky disc called a flange, wafer or baseplate.
  7. There are three types of stomas: ileostomy (small intestine), colostomy (large intestine) and urostomy (bladder).
  8. A stoma can be permanent or temporary, except for urostomies which are always for life.
  9. People can have stoma surgery for many reasons: bowel diseases such as Crohn’s Disease or Ulcerative Colitis, bowel or bladder cancer and autoimmune diseases. It can also be the result of infection or trauma, such as a car accident.
  10. Some people will need to change their stoma bag several times a day, for others it might be a few times per week.
  11. It is fine to bath or shower as normal with a stoma, and you can go swimming!
  12. All medical supplies, such as stoma bags, are available on prescription in the UK.
  13. No food is off limits with a stoma, but some people find certain things may produce more gas or blockages.
  14. Having a stoma doesn’t stop you from exercising, although it is recommended to wait 12 weeks after surgery before doing anything too strenuous.
  15. It is very important to stay hydrated with a stoma because there is less time for the body to absorb fluid and salt before eliminating waste.
  16. A stoma can change in size and shape during your lifetime.
  17. While some lifestyle adjustments are necessary, most people with a stoma lead full and active lives.

We hope you’ve found this article interesting and informative. If you have any interesting facts or top tips, why not become one of our guest bloggers and share your experience with other ostomates this #WorldOstomyDay.      

 


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