Stoma and ostomy surgery are not painless. Apart from the
pain, patients have to face some complications. These can right after the
surgery or a few days later. Well, the relaxing part is that these are not
serious or problematic. You can resolve these by following some precautions or
adjusting your routine on a new pattern. Moreover, your hygiene habits and
routine can solve your stoma related complications. Well, your diet can help
you in fixing the stoma and peristomal skin issues.
The following are some complications a stoma patient
could face:
Peristomal
Issues
Having irritation, redness, or itching in the skin around
the stoma is one of the most problematic things. A patient feels uneasiness and
discomfort when he/she has itchy peristomal. It can create a problem for the
stomal bag attachment, adhesive adjustment, leakage, and additional skin
damage.
Unhealthy peristomal skin has various reasons that have
given below:
Contact
of Solid Waste Discharge with the Skin
Sometimes, the feces stick to the top of the ostomy
pouch, it can create a problem for the skin. This can lead to the redness and
itching on the peristomal. Therefore, an ostomate should clean and wash the bag
when it gets half full. Moreover, the thick discharge can
be a problematic thing; thus, diet can play an important role in the thickness
and looseness of the solid matter. As a patient, make sure that feces do not
touch your skin.
Ill-Fitted
Stoma Pouch
The fitting of the ostomy pouch around the stoma is an
essential point. If your bag is loose or not in the right location, then it can
create complications for the skin and stoma.
Therefore, before buying the stoma appliances, you should
measure the size of your stoma hole. You should buy the ostomy pouch that can
fit on it. Moreover, the adhesive and gluing method is also necessary for the
appropriate fitting of the tools. With time, the size of the stoma opening will
change. If you gain weight, it will become bigger and vice versa. However, you
should check the measurement from time to time. Thus, you have to change the
fitting size of the ostomy appliances according to the new measurement.
Skin
Allergies from the Stoma Products or Appliances
There would be a few specific products or tools that are
allergic to your skin. Therefore, avoid such things. Sometimes, you use a
medicated soap or deodorant, and that is a problem for your skin. Thus, you
should give up on the specific product immediately. The same is the case with
the stoma appliances. Sometimes, an adhesive or wafer causes a reaction on your
peristomal skin. However, you need to identify such items and do not use them
again.
Leakage
of the Discharge
An ostomate has to face leakage of the discharge when the
stoma pouch is not fixed/fitted. The loose appliance can leak the waste matter
in the form of liquid. It could be loose motion or urine. Well, this is a
primary issue of the irritated and itchy skin. Thus, the correct fitting of the
ostomy bag/pouch is necessary for ostomates.
Bleeding
from the Stoma
Some ostomates face stoma bleeding. It does not happen to
every patient, but some of them have severe bleeding problems from the stoma.
Sometimes, blood comes from the sides of the stoma, but sometimes, you feel
bleeding from the opening of the hole. When you see blood coming from the ditch
of the stoma, then it is a problematic thing. However, bleeding from the around
of the stoma is not a big deal. An ostomate faces such issues because of the
fitting of the appliances or unsuitable products. Thus, in case of severe
bleeding, consult your doctor or nurse.
