Home Health Care for Colostomy Patients

Once an ostomy patient gets discharged from the hospital, he/she needs home care. Being a home health caregivers, we provide routine maintenance of the stoma and its appliances. A person seeks appropriate tools and guidelines for the care of the stoma. Once you are home, you are the one who will have to take care of your opening and entire health. However, today we will guide you about the home health care of stoma and ostomy pouching system after having a colostomy.

First, you need to understand what is colostomy and why you need this organ in your body.

What is a Colostomy?

A colostomy is an ostomy operation in which surgeons remove the defected or injured part of the colon or rectum, or the entire large intestine. Due to the colostomy, a patient cannot discharge the feces through the anus, as doctors change the organic pathway of excretion. Thus, they create an inorganic passage in the abdomen of a person for discharging solid stool, called a stoma. It is a circular small opening, like a pit. It collects the solid waste of the body from the large intestine and passes it to the ostomy pouch. An ostomy pouching system is a dress or a cover of the stoma.  A patient wears the stoma bag over the opening in the belly wall. It protects the stoma and carries the solid stool. This hole does the job of the anus in the human body. The creation of the stoma does not bring any danger or discomfort to the life of an ostomate. Instead, it makes the life of a patient and easy and allows him/her to live a previous life.

Why a Patient Needs a Colostomy?

To treat a disease or infection in the colon, rectum, or large intestine, a patient needs colostomy surgery. However, there is no specific disease that requires ostomy or change of colon tack. There are several infections and dysfunctions of the colon, like colon cancer, rectum cancer, Crohn’s disease, bowel obstruction, a birth defect, inflammatory bowel disease, an injury in the colon, a spinal injury, diverticulitis, intestinal destruction, blockage in the colon, injury in the bowel, or any other serious infection in bowel, rectum, or colon.

Role of the Home Health Caregiver

Home health caregivers provide the service at the doorstep of colostomy patients. It involves emptying and changing of the ostomy pouching system and maintaining a healthy opening.

Home Care for Stoma

Colostomy patients should take care of their stoma at home; moreover, he should use a caregiver service. Well, at home, the first thing a patient needs to do is to have a healthy diet.

Do not eat something that can cause constipation, diarrhea, or gas. Many colostomy persons assume that they cannot eat anything delicious from now on. No this is not true, you just need to be a little conscious about your food. Moreover, eat small meals, do not overload your stomach. Try to avoid onion, eggplant, dry fruits, garlic, cauliflower, and eatables that can create chaos in your stomach.

Moreover, an essential part of the colostomy patient's life is taking care of the stoma and its surroundings. Use the pouching system that is suitable for your opening and according to the accurate size of the pit. Change your pouch after every two or three days. Empty the bag once a day in case of a discharge of solid waste. However, if you are facing lose motion, then the drainage frequency needs according to the movement of the bowel. Moreover, peristomal skin should be dry and clean all the time. Use medicated wipes and toilet papers for the cleaning of skin around the stoma.