After a colostomy surgery, your stoma needs a cover to collect the stool, which is a colostomy bag. In this operation, your bowel needs healing and a part of the colon (infected or blocked section of the large intestine) has to remove. Thus, surgeons create a hole in the abdomen after the removal of the diseased part of the large intestine; hence, you need a container to collect the solid discharge. To receive feces from the opening in the abdomen or stoma, you attach a sack, called a colostomy bag.
A person needs colostomy surgery when there is an infection in the colon, disease in the colon, colon cancer, injury in the large intestine, inflammatory bowel disease, or blockage in the large intestine. There could be any reason for these diseases. Sometimes a minor road accident can cause injury in your colon. Thus, you need a temporary colostomy. However, in a few cases like colon cancer inflammatory bowel disease, you may need a permanent colostomy. In this operation, doctors remove the infected section of the large intestine; therefore, a patient cannot discharge feces through the anus. Thus, the surgeon creates a hole in the abdomen for the collection of solid waste, called a stoma. Then, you need a bag or pouch to collect the stool. Your all solid waste will go to the colostomy pouch and you need to empty and wash the appliance, once you feel bowel movement.
Many colostomy patients worry about daily activities, a sudden change in life, and emotional change. Well, for temporary colostomy patients, it is not a big deal. They know that this new alteration in their body is for a few months. They will be back on their natural track of pooping, once their disease is cured. However, permanent ostomates think differently. They feel their norma life is going to an end. Well, this is not true, you need counseling and emotional support. You can pursue your normal previous life freely, once your stoma is healed and adopt the changes.
Types of Colostomy Bags
Everyone’s body and the stoma is different. Therefore, there is no specific colostomy bag. There are different types you can pick up according to your stoma size, shape, and body requirements.
One-Piece Colostomy Bag
This is a colostomy bag system in which the bag and skin barrier have connected. You cannot separate both tools. When you need to change your colostomy pouching system, you have to remove the skin barrier and pouch. The size of this pouching system is amazing, it fits around your opening. Moreover, a few one-piece colostomy bags use flushable liners.
Two-Piece Colostomy Bag
The two-piece colostomy pouching system is the opposite of one-piece. In this system, you do not have to remove the skin barrier while changing the pouch. You have to attach the base-plate to your stoma and paste the bah on it. Another best part of this bag is that you can change your pouching system after three days. This is convenient for elderly patients and for the people who do not feel easy to change their bags.
Closed Colostomy Bags
Closed colostomy bags are best for the patients who discharge solid waste or patients of constipation. You can change these pouches twice a day. Moreover, if you use liners in this system, you can flush down the solid content in the flush.
Drainable Colostomy Bags
Many colostomy patients suffer from loose motion or diarrhea; therefore, drainable pouches are best for liquid stool. You can clear the content from the bag once you feel the bowel movement, or it gets 1/3 full.
Mini Colostomy Bags
When colostomy patients need to wear a bag for a short time; thus, you can use mini pouches. Do not use mini colostomy bags for a longer duration. After the one use discards mini bags.
Healthy Essentials 