What are the Stoma Complications a Patient Could Face?

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.