It depends what sort of feedback you want. Obviously I can only tell you my
experience of an ileostomy, and of the small amount of knowledge I have
regarding differences between colostomies and ileostomies.
Firstly, and the most major difference is the fact that because the
ileostomy is made from the end of the small intestine (the ileum), you
will
lose the functions of the colon, which are mainly absorption of water and
salts. This means you will need to up your intake of both to counter for
the fact that your body won't be absorbing as much, but that is done
easily
by drinking plenty of clear fluids throughout the day and normally I find
just by eating a bag of crisps a day will solve the salt problem too. The
only time I really tend to suffer with it is when it's extremely hot
weather, I literally have to pour some salt onto a spoon or something and
eat it, sounds gross I know, but I use sea salt, which firstly is better
for
you that table salt and I actually like the flavour of sea salt anyway so
it's not too bad ;). The size (diameter) of the stoma will generally be
smaller with an ileostomy, given that it's being made from the small
intestine, obviously you will get variations, but mine is I think classed
as
just below average at 20mm in diameter.
As far as the day to day stuff with an ileostomy. In my case, I have
quite
a high output so I actually take Immodium (Loperamide) each day to slow my
output down and thicken it up, so that I actually only empty my bag on
average 4 times a day, depending on individuals, that can obviously be
more
or less, from what I gather average is 4-6 times a day. As far as the bags
go, I use a 2 piece and keep the base plate on between 2-3 weeks, and
change
the bag itself 2-3 times a week. The main and worst problem about
ileostomy
bags compared to colostomy bags are the filter. Because output from an
ileostomy is more loose compared to the colostomy, manufacturers still
haven't been able to prefect a filter that will not get clogged within a
day
or 2, hence why I now prefer to wear 2 piece.
Hope this helps a bit. I don't know how this fits it with what you've
already been told about ileostomies, yeah sure there are horror stories,
but
to be honest, I've heard horror stories about colostomies too. It's only
really what you get used to. When you think about it we all spent X
amount
of years going to the toilet in one way, the traditional (boring lol) way
of
using our backsides, and the thought of having a stoma, any stoma,
probably
horrified most of us, but then you get used to it after a while.
Anyway, if there's anything specific you want to know, by all means ask
and
I'll do my best to help out.
Michele
ileo May 2002 due to Crohn's dx'd in 1996
--
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Please remove the .nospam. to reply
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"4myson" <Islanders2269@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote in message
news:1168479653.840225.11460@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
>
> David Richards wrote:
>> "M" <m.nospam.pereira@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote in message
>> news:95cph.54596$Kh7.43559@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
>> >I know people who have had to have their ileostomy moved from the
right
>> >side to the left because of hernias etc, but haven't heard of the
other
>> >way round, doesn't mean it can't necessarily be done though, I think
>> >the best person to speak to would be your surgeon.
>> >
>>
>> I agree about speaking with the surgeon, but it is always better to
have
>> a few details to hand before doing so.
>> The small intestine is four times the length of the colon, and seems to
>> cross the abdomen conveniently, so I suppose there is a lot more scope
>> to switch over an ileostomy by shortening the small intestine a few
>> inches.
>
>
> Thank all of you for your feedback. I will talk to the surgeon, I was
> just curious if there was anyone out there who had to have their's
> moved. By the way, Michele if you read this, what is your feedback
> regarding an eliostomy?
>
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