Everything You Need To Know About Ostomy Surgery Recovery

In general, surgery can be a scary topic. Most of the time, that fear stems from the fact that many people go into them not knowing what to expect afterward.

However, most post-surgery events aren’t as bad as people expect, especially when it comes to ostomy surgery. If you have one of these procedures coming up soon, we’ll let you know what to prepare for during the recovery phase.

Stoma Look and Feel

One thing that makes ostomy surgeries so impactful on a person’s life is the fact that they introduce a person to a new part of their body: the stoma. Since these aren’t common, many people have questions about how they’ll look and feel.

The first thing to note is that your stoma will be bigger post-operation than you might expect. This is due to swelling, which is completely normal. It will shrink back down to normal size within the first few months.

In terms of how it will feel, you will most likely not even notice it. The reason for this comes down to the fact that stomas don’t have sensitive nerve endings. If you decide to touch it with your fingers, it will be soft and a little moist, kind of like the inside of your mouth.

Potential Post-Surgery Pain

Of course, just because you won’t really feel the stoma itself doesn’t mean you won’t have any pain after the surgery. This is totally normal, and your doctor or surgeon will go into more detail on what type of pain you might experience since this aspect can vary.

However, the important thing to know is that the pain is entirely manageable and won’t last long. Multiple pain relief options will be available to you, but most of the soreness will subside by the time you leave the hospital. You will still feel weak in the coming months, so resting is important. Be sure to find ways to stay mobile, though, because movement is a crucial part of a proper recovery.

How You’ll Feel Emotionally

More important than physical pain, though, are potential emotional troubles. A small percentage of people who go through an ostomy surgery will experience depression afterward. It’s important to let your doctor know if you notice that you don’t feel like yourself. You’ll also want to note the severity of the issue. They will go over options with you.

However, one thing you can do on your own to help with these feelings is to seek out other people to talk to about it. In some cases, this can be a family member or close friend. If you want to speak with people who truly know what you’re going through, though, plenty of online and in-person support groups exist that specialize in ostomy-related experiences.

When the Stoma Will Begin Working

Another crucial thing to know about your ostomy surgery recovery is that your stoma won’t begin working immediately. During your operation, your bowels will go into a temporary state of shock, meaning they won’t return to full capacity immediately. Once your internal systems return to normal operation, your stoma will begin working, but this could be a few days.

You’ll know when it’s about to start working because you’ll experience some gas-related pain from bloating. Fortunately, this process won’t be too painful and will pass. Once it does, your stoma should be good to go. You will still be in the hospital during this timeframe, so your doctor can address any complications immediately.

What Kinds of Foods You’ll Need To Eat

Due to the temporary shutdown of your bowels, your doctor will limit your food intake for a few days. Immediately following the surgery, you’ll only be able to drink fluids. Once your bowels begin to wake up, the hospital will upgrade you to soft food. Around the time that your stoma starts working, you should be OK to return to normal meals.

A good thing to know is that your stoma shouldn’t stop you from eating anything you used to eat. However, this operation affects everyone differently. Foods that may be OK for you to eat might not sit right with someone else with a stoma. Some people report that foods such as peppers, popcorn, and potato skins are difficult to digest. You’ll need to test different meals and snacks to find out what works for you, though.

Adjusting to an Ostomy Pouch

Of course, the biggest change in your life post-surgery will be adjusting to an ostomy pouch. You’ll need to adapt to always having it there, learn how to change it, and try different products to find what suits you best, such as a drainable pouch vs disposable pouch. Fortunately, after the operation, you’ll have a nurse who will teach you how to change your pouch and clean your stoma.

They will also cover all the ostomy care products you need to properly care for your stoma. It might seem a little weird at first, but it won’t take much time at all for this to become a normal part of your life.

Things You Can Do During the Recovery Period

Right after the surgery, moving up into a sitting position will be the extent of what you can do. This will help your lungs return to full capacity and help your bowel begin working again. You should easily be able to start walking before you leave the hospital as well.

Once you get home, be sure to go on plenty of walks to build your strength back up. Once your legs feel stronger again, you should be able to take up driving again. This will probably be around six to eight weeks after the surgery. Once you can do that, you’ll be free to return to work unless your job involves heavy lifting.

Excessive physical work can strain your stoma unnecessarily, leading to a potential hernia forming behind it. After eight weeks or so, you should be back to normal for lifting requirements, but you should still be careful when you do. Always consult with your doctor to determine the appropriate recovery and activity timeline for you.

Also, many people wonder about bathing with a stoma. You’re free to clean yourself with the pouch on or off, so that part is up to you. If you take a bath with it off, make sure you fully remove any bathing products from your skin around the stoma to keep your ostomy wafer from sticking. On the other hand, if you clean yourself with your bag on, remember to put a sticker over the filter to keep it from clogging up with water.