What is a stoma?
A stoma is an artificial opening created in the body to allow the passage of urine or feces. These can be permanent or temporary, depending on the reason for their creation. Currently, in Spain, there are more than 200,000 ostomy patients.1 Thanks to ostomy, the death of patients with 31 different pathologies is avoided, including cancers, inflammatory bowel diseases, Crohn's disease, ulcerative or indeterminate colitis, and abdominal trauma.
Main types of stoma2
- Ileostomy: the last part of the small intestine is connected to the stoma, bypassing the colon, rectum, and anus.
- Colostomy: the colon is connected to the stoma, bypassing the rectum and anus.
- Urostomy: the tubes that carry urine to the bladder (ureters) are connected to the stoma, bypassing the bladder.
How to live with a stoma?
Life with a stoma is uncomfortable and full of uncertainties. Changing bags and potential complications can be difficult to manage, which affects the quality of life of patients with stomas.
It is important for these patients to have the support of specialized nurses who can teach them how to care for their stomas, answer all their questions, and teach them how to live with a stoma and avoid potential complications.
General guidelines:
- Drink 2 to 3 liters of fluid per day (water, juices, infusions, or broths) to prevent urinary tract infections.
- Maintain acidic urine to control bacterial growth and inhibit crystallization, thereby preventing possible infections. This can be achieved with the food supplement Lit-Control® pH Down and by consuming plenty of fruits and vegetables rich in vitamin C.
- Consume foods rich in carotenes: leafy green vegetables, carrots, parsley, spinach, peaches, apricots, persimmons, etc. These are antioxidants and anti-inflammatory.
- Keep the stoma area clean and disinfected. This can be done with specific gels such as Urogelus®.
- Change the wafer first thing in the morning (before breakfast), as there will be less urine, making it easier to change the bag.
- When leaving home, always remember to carry a spare bag and wafer in case of a leak and you need to change it.
- If traveling, it is important to remember to carry spare wafers and bags with you.
Sources:
*1 https://www.fapoe.com/fapoe
