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An ileostomy brings with it the need for a significant adjustment in the lifestyle. It takes a few weeks for a person with an ileostomy to get used to managing an ostomy bag after surgery, and those first few weeks may be the hardest. Being persistent with the routine and a will to adapt to the new change help a person begin living a healthy and active life.
Once caring for your ileostomy becomes a part of your daily routine, you will be able to live like you don’t have an ileostomy.
Here are a few tips that may help you to live an active life with an ileostomy.
Here are a few tips that may help you to live an active life with an ileostomy.
Keep it clean
You can bathe with an ileostomy in the same way you did before surgery. Make sure that you are cleaning the skin around the stoma. The best way is to clean this area with water only. If you must use soap, use one that doesn’t contain oils and perfumes. Typical bath soaps contain oils and perfumes that result in a residue left on the skin while bathing. That residue can prevent the skin barrier of an ostomy pouch from forming a seal with the peristomal skin.
You can bathe with an ileostomy in the same way you did before surgery. Make sure that you are cleaning the skin around the stoma. The best way is to clean this area with water only. If you must use soap, use one that doesn’t contain oils and perfumes. Typical bath soaps contain oils and perfumes that result in a residue left on the skin while bathing. That residue can prevent the skin barrier of an ostomy pouch from forming a seal with the peristomal skin.
Use razor
If your peristomal skin has a lot of hair, you will find it very hard to get the skin barrier to stick with your skin. It will also make removing the skin barrier painful. You may want to shave the hair around the stoma. You can use stoma powder, which can aid the shaving of the hair. After shaving, rinse the area and dry it before putting on a new ostomy pouch.
If your peristomal skin has a lot of hair, you will find it very hard to get the skin barrier to stick with your skin. It will also make removing the skin barrier painful. You may want to shave the hair around the stoma. You can use stoma powder, which can aid the shaving of the hair. After shaving, rinse the area and dry it before putting on a new ostomy pouch.
Avoid gas buildup
Gas is one of the top concerns for people with an ileostomy. It can cause the ostomy pouch to balloon, which can lead to the pouch losing hold of the peristomal skin. The best thing that you can do in this regard is to avoid eating any foods that can result in the formation of gas in your gut. Instead of eating fewer big meals during the day, eat several smaller meals.
Another way to deal with the gas is to use an ostomy pouch with a gas filter. That filter will allow the gas to release, while odor will not escape the pouch.
Gas is one of the top concerns for people with an ileostomy. It can cause the ostomy pouch to balloon, which can lead to the pouch losing hold of the peristomal skin. The best thing that you can do in this regard is to avoid eating any foods that can result in the formation of gas in your gut. Instead of eating fewer big meals during the day, eat several smaller meals.
Another way to deal with the gas is to use an ostomy pouch with a gas filter. That filter will allow the gas to release, while odor will not escape the pouch.
Stay active
If you have been a runner before ileostomy surgery, keep running after surgery. Your ileostomy should not stop you from continuing your fitness regimen. You can also pick new fitness activities.
You will, however, need to stay away from contact sports or any such activities that may result in your ostomy pouch coming off. You can hit the gym, but make sure that you are not lifting too heavy objects as it can be harmful to your stoma.
If you have been a runner before ileostomy surgery, keep running after surgery. Your ileostomy should not stop you from continuing your fitness regimen. You can also pick new fitness activities.
You will, however, need to stay away from contact sports or any such activities that may result in your ostomy pouch coming off. You can hit the gym, but make sure that you are not lifting too heavy objects as it can be harmful to your stoma.