Facts about living with an ostomy

There are three main types of ostomy: Colostomy, Ileostomy and Urostomy and they are quite different.

• A colostomy is a stoma in the large intestine and the output is quite firm and has a limited volume. People with a colostomy typically use closed bags that cannot be drained.
• An Ileostomy is a stoma in the small intestine and the output volume is likely quite high and liquid with lumps. People with an ileostomy typically use bags that can be drained. 
• Urostomies are constructed to drain urine when there is a malfunction of the urinary tract. As the output is urine, people with a urostomy use bags with a tap used for drainage.

See our products available for each type of stoma here.

Odour, or the fear of odour from the ostomy bag is a natural concern to the majority of people who have a stoma. The reality is though that most ostomy bags are made from materials that prevent any odour from escaping, and most have a filter that removes the odour from intestinal gas. However, if the bag is not changed often enough, the filter can block with faeces, which may lead to a smell. 

If you use a drainable bag and you do not clean the outlet properly after drainage, odour can easily escape. To avoid this, make sure you take care to clean the outlet properly after each drainage.

See our SenSura® Mio range here.

You may feel that your ostomy bag is visible through your clothing, although this is not usually the case. This perception is often a result of heightened awareness of the bag and the fact that you view it from above where it may seem more prominent. Trousers with pleats in the waistband hide the stoma bag better than trousers with a flat front. The bag is less visible if it is worn inside the underpants, which should ideally be of an elastic material like Lycra. 

If wearing bathers, a swimsuit, or bikini it may be better to use a small bag, such as a minicap, which takes up as little space as possible. 

The SenSura® Mio is constructed with an all-textile material that makes it seem less like a medical appliance and more like a clothing item or accessory. The specially chosen neutral grey colour is designed to stay unnoticed under all clothing colours. 

View our SenSura^® Mio products here.

Skin disorders are unfortunately common among people with a stoma but this does not mean that they should be accepted.

A British study* has shown that as many as 45% of people with an ostomy suffered from skin disorders around the stoma. 62% of these people did not even consider it a skin disorder, but accepted it as part of having a stoma. Often skin disorders are caused by output from the stoma leaking under the adhesive. By preventing such leakage, skin disorders can likely be solved and even avoided. Always make sure the hole in the adhesive is not bigger or smaller than the stoma at skin level. Another way to avoid skin disorders is to ensure you remove the adhesive correctly and to use supporting products for skin care if needed.

Try BodyCheck here - a tool to understand your body profile. This is the first step towards a better fit.

It is important to understand that you don't need to accept leakage from your ostomy appliance. Reducing leakage is a matter of using the most appropriate appliance for your individual body profile, using it correctly and removing it in due time. Our online tool BodyCheck can help you identify the most appropriate ostomy appliance for your individual body profile. Finally, there are supporting products that can help to ensure a tight seal. Make it part of your routine to have a look at your skin and the backside of the adhesive each time you change your baseplate. Are there any signs of leakage? If so you may be using the wrong appliance.

You should be able to dress as you did before your surgery. The most important thing is that the clothing does not prevent the output from the stoma moving unobstructed into the bag.

The stoma should be positioned so that it does not get in the way of the type of clothing you usually wear. In the majority of cases this will mean that it needs to be positioned below the waistline where it would otherwise be exposed to friction from your waistband or belt. Tight waistbands should be avoided over the stoma since they can press against the bag and cause it to leak or may even prevent the output from leaving the stoma. 

For men, it may be more practical to wear braces instead of a belt, however some may prefer to wear braces only when wearing a jacket or another item of clothing on top. 

There are companies that have designed clothes and particularly underwear for people with a stoma.

The reason behind your stoma operation might influence your chances of getting pregnant, but having the stoma itself should not prevent you from carrying a pregnancy to term and having a normal delivery. However, in addition to regular obstetric examinations, women who have had or currently have an ostomy should also see a physician with ostomy expertise. 

As the belly grows, the stoma will typically grow and change shape and the bag may be increasingly difficult to change because it will be located on the underside of the belly. Many women in the later stages of pregnancy use a mirror when changing the bag.

Approximately 10% of pregnant women experience prolapse of the stoma in the third trimester, but few require surgery. When the abdominal wall is stretched, the hole through which the stoma protrudes may be widened. Because of the increased pressure caused by the child’s growth, 3% of women develop a stoma hernia during pregnancy. There is a 50% chance of the hernia disappearing after the child is born. If not, surgery will need to be performed after delivery. 

Delivery will usually proceed normally. 

Learn more about fertility and pregnancy here.