Colostomy Tips please?!?! - Bowel Disorders Message Board

rfriend · 01-03-2004, 06:18 PM

I have been trying to beat this case of diverticulitis for too long. It has been going on since three weeks before Thanksgiving. Things only seem to improve when I am on IV antibiotics. I have taken Cipro and Flagyl and other times I have been on Augmenten. However the only thing I seem to respond to Is the IV antibiotics. Anyway I went into to the hospital a few days before Chtistmas and was released on Christmas eve. That weekend the pain started to come back, it was a good thing I had a recheck appointment with the surgeon on Monday because it truns out that the CT sacn that they did before they discharged me from the hospital showed that I had deloveped a very large abcess. The doc sent me immediatly back for a stat CT scan. The second scan showed that the abcess ruptured. So he put me back into the hospital and put a drain in throught my belly and put me back on IV meds and fluids. Since I have been able to tolerate soft foods he let me go after being in the hospital for 6 days with the drain in and oral meds and a home health care nurse. I will go back to the hospital on Monday for a repeat CT scan. If it shows that the hole has healed up I can plan for surgery. If it has not healed up I will have to have a temporary colostomy put on. Can anyone give me any information on colostomies? I am so scared that I will have one put on, I'm not sure why, I guess it is just the fear of the unknowan. However I am willing to do whatever it takes to get this cleared up, I am so over diverticulitis!!!! I have lost 21 pounds since Thanksgiving and ready to get better.
Thanks for the tips,
RFriend.

twisten · 01-04-2004, 12:08 PM

I ended up with a fistula after an emergency hysterectomy. Then I needed another emergency surgery, a temporary colostomy. I had this for approximately 3 months. I had major infection and septicemia from the fistula so I had 2 drains coming out my abdomen and was in ICU for a few days. I was in quite a bit of pain for a few days following surgery but I was given a morphine pump which helped tremendously. I think on the 3rd or 4th day I had stopped taking it myself. I wanted to go home and they told me I had to be off of it first. Needless, to say I was still in the hospital for about another week and a half after I stopped the morphine. I didn't have time to get scared about the surgery, it happened to fast. If I had to do it again though I wouldn't hesitate. It saved my life. I just don't want one permanently!! Hope this helps some.

auntjudyg · 01-04-2004, 12:09 PM

Any surgery is scary, so no wonder you are scared! But you'll get through it!

There is a national ostomy association you might want to search out. And hopefully your hospital has a good person who does orientation on colostomies. And if there are any support groups connected with the hospital, it would be a good idea (I had a temporary one, too, and was shy to go to a group since mine was temporary and most in the group would have permanent ones, but I would recommend going if something is available.).

It is difficult to come up with tips when you don't have it yet. But, honestly, at first it is rather disgusting. But like most things in life, you get used to it, and of course for you it is temporary. But, if you are covered for a home nurse after the surgery, get one for a week or so to help you with it (otherwise, stay in the hospital as long as you can). In the hospital, don't just watch the nurses take care of "things", make sure you do it, so you have "mastered" emptying the bad and changing things and so on.

Sorry, can't think of any other specifics right now.

suzi47cmt · 01-04-2004, 02:08 PM

I agree with all the above advice and suggestions. I had to have a permanent colostomy years ago, but due to my crohns, I now have an ileostomy. A support group is a great idea. even if it is temporary. my first colostomy was temporary, due to non-healing fistulas. But my situation is different from yours I have had crohns disease for a long long time.

It can be a little overwhelming at first, but like the advice offered here, it is the best thing to do all of your ostomy care and maintenance yourself. you will get used to it, and the more you take care of it yourself the easier it becomes. Another tip: after you have the surgery they most likely will have put a clear/see-through pouch/bag on you, and it may be rather large. dont let this scare or upset you. There are many great pouches (they are technically called "appliances") on the market that are smaller, and that are not see through. the reason they put on a see through, is so that they can monitor the ostomy site without removing the pouch. I dont know if I am allowed to mention brand names on this site, but one of the very best pouches I have found are made by Convatec/Squibb. They are called "active life" and come in an opaque, or non see through type. I can even give you the stock number of the particular pouch I have been using all these years. Of course there are many others out there too, and like the above advice, talk to one of the ostomy experts on staff. Ask your nurse if you can have a trained ostomy visitor come to speak with you. I am a trained ostomy visitor with my local ostomy chapter support group. There is a national ostomy organization which publishes a newsletter. The newsletter is full of new ideas suggestions, and products.

I would love to hear from you, and help in any way I can. take care now, and good luck.