Crohn’s disease, in its severe form, can lead to a patient needing ostomy surgery. After surgery, that patient will need to wear a stoma bag to manage stool evacuations. You might have a lot of questions related to stoma bags.
In this article, we will discuss a bit about stoma bags. The purpose of this discussion is to clear any confusion related to these bags.
What are stoma bags? Who needs these bags?
The good thing is that many cases of Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis can be managed through medication and therapies. These treatments work best for patients who get them during the early stages of inflammatory bowel diseases. However, going for a diagnosis when a significant amount of damage has already been done may lead your doctor to opt for more aggressive treatment options.
The doctor will see if there is an increased risk of perforation in the lower part of the GI tract. In some cases, the initial diagnosis suggests the presence of such perforations. Surgery becomes unavoidable in such circumstances.
If the patient’s condition is critical, but there is no perforation, the doctor will check for the patient’s response to certain medications. He will also look at other factors, including the patient’s age and overall health. Based on these factors, the doctor will have the final say whether or not the patient requires surgery.
About 75% of patients with Crohn’s disease will eventually need surgery. On the other hand, about 23% to 45% of patients with ulcerative colitis need surgery. Some people consider undergoing surgery because they find it hard to keep up with the medication requirements to manage their symptoms.
Life after surgery
A lot many people ask if they will be able to get back to their routine activities after surgery. In a perfect world, getting the diseased part of the bowel should provide instant relief from the condition. Nonetheless, some patients continue to have flare-up like situations on different occasions. The good thing is that such situations are quite rare. Most patients get rid of the painful conditions once and for all.
The patients who feel uncomfortable after having specific foods may want to discuss their condition with their doctor. Remember, a bowel ostomy brings a change in your anatomy, so your GI tract might remain unable to process some foods and nutrients.
As for the activities, you can do pretty much everything you have been doing before surgery. You may have to hold back until the initial recovery duration is over. When your bowel is all set, and you feel energetic, you can get back to a more active lifestyle, including fitness training and swimming.
At this point, you may be concerned about your ostomy bag losing hold of your abdominal skin and cause leakage. The good news is that modern-day ostomy bags use strong adhesives that adhere well to the abdominal skin. You may also like to use skin care products to ensure that your peristomal skin remains healthy enough to support your ostomy appliance.
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