Perhaps you may be facing or have just undergone surgery that requires you to have a colostomy , ileostomy or urostomy. Every year, thousands of people have their stool (faeces) or urine surgically diverted to drain into an external pouch or bag which adheres to the abdomen. For some, the surgery is a life saving procedure, for others the surgery relieves years of suffering from bowel disease or bladder problems. In certain cases, the surgery is the result of an accident or to correct a birth defect. Whatever the medical reason, anyone who is going to have or has just had surgery has many questions and concerns.

Our association is here to assist you.

Things you need to know

Before surgery, your surgeon or urologist may call in a stomaltherapist who will….

• explain the surgery and answer all your questions
  
• site the stoma in the most suitable place on your abdomen for ease of
  management. The site chosen is marked with a waterproof marking pen.
  

After surgery, the stomaltherapist will visit you in hospital, check the stoma and teach you, your spouse, partner or care giver how to manage your stoma and the pouch. She will arrange for you to have pouches to take home. You will be advised on where your nearest stoma clinic is situated.

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What is a stoma
A stoma or ostomy is an opening through which the stool or urine will pass and drain into a pouch or bag.

There are three specific types of ostomies

Colostomy
This is a surgically created opening in the colon (also called the large bowel or large intestine). The purpose of a colostomy is to allow stool to bypass a diseased or damaged part of the colon or to allow a surgical repair of the colon to heal. A colostomy may be temporary or permanent.

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Ileostomy
An ileostomy is a surgically created opening in the small bowel (also called the small intestine).
The purpose of an ileostomy is to allow stool to drain after the removal of the colon or to divert stool following a restorative surgical procedure.
An ileostomy may be permanent or temporary.

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Urostomy
A urostomy is a surgically created opening that allows urine to flow out of the body and drain into a pouch or bag. A urostomy is also known as a urinary diversion. Urine may drain through an ileal conduit or vesicostomy or ureterostomy. A urostomy is usually permanent, but may be temporary.

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Early warning signs - Colorectal Cancer

• Change in bowel habits
• Blood in the stool or toilet
• Increase of mucous in the stool
• Narrow or "pencil-like" stools
• Incomplete voiding - you need to go to the toilet 2/3 before you feel that you have emptied your bowel.
• Increase in flatus/gas/wind
• Unexplained weight loss
• Abdominal discomfort - feeling bloated. In severe cases, nausea and vomiting may occur
• Abdominal cramps
• Anaemia - may cause tiredness and loss of energy
• Unexplained lower back pain
  

Cancer of the colon when diagnosed early, is more easily treated.

Early warning signs - Bladder Cancer

• Blood in the urine
• Frequent need to urinate
• Unpleasant odour when urinating
• Poor, interrupted stream
• Persistent backache
• Frequent urinary tract infections