Colostomy creation is a part of the surgical treatment aimed at removing diseased parts of the colon. During surgery, the surgeon will bring a part of the colon to the surface of the belly to create an opening called a stoma. The stoma allows the bowel movements to pass out without proceeding to the rectum and anus.

The postoperative situation can be a bit hard, so you have to take a few measures to ensure a smooth adaptation to this situation. The postoperative recovery lasts about six months. During this phase, the gastrointestinal tract gains strength to be fully fit again. You will have to remain careful and extra vigilant in this duration to avoid any complications that might result in larger problems.

When to seek immediate care

• You are not urinating well.
• There is no bowel movement.
• There is foul-smelling drainage from the surgery site.
• There is excessive bleeding from the stoma.
• Your abdomen feels hard.
• The stoma has turned gray or black.

Postoperative self-care

• Make sure that you are not lifting anything weighing more than ten pounds for the first four weeks.
• Walk around in your house to prevent pneumonia and blood clots.
• Check the stoma and the skin around it for irritation, infections, and other complications.

Stay in touch with an ostomy specialist

You can get information regarding how to care for your colostomy from an ostomy specialist. That individual will help you select an ostomy pouch that is right according to your requirements. An expert will also suggest you the products that you can use during your ostomy care regimen.

Caring for stoma and the skin around it

You should inspect your stoma and the skin around it every time you change your pouch. The stoma should be red and moist. You may notice a small amount of bleeding while cleaning the stoma, but it is not something worrisome. The stoma will be large due to swelling after surgery, but this swelling will subside during the recovery phase. It will settle down to a permanent shape and size after six weeks.

A crucial part of stoma care is to make sure that the skin barrier of the ostomy appliance you use fits around your stoma well. It means that you need to create an opening that is right according to the shape and size of your stoma. You may not need to use a cut-to-fit skin barrier if your stoma does will with precut skin barriers.

You will need to protect your skin around the stoma from irritation and other complications at all costs. The best way is to change the skin barrier every 3-5 days. You may also have to look at other reasons if this part of the skin develops irritation.

Your doctor or ostomy care nurse should be the first point of contact in case you notice any complication or problem. They will suggest to you what you need to do in any particular situation.