Results of Ileostomy

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The majority of people with an ileostomy or ileo-anal pouch will lead a normal complication-free life after the operation. Many people are actually able to be more active after recovery from surgery as the symptoms caused by their underlying problem should disappear.

A normal well balanced diet should be gradually reintroduced. Some people find that certain types of food upset their bowels and they may need to adjust their diet accordingly. If a personâ€™s bowel actions are too frequent they may need to take medication such as the anti-diarrhoeal drug loperamide. These tablets slow down the bowel. Certain foods may cause excess wind, including pulses (peas, beans etc), dried fruit and peanuts. Some foods, especially fruit skins and pips can swell in the gut causing blockages.

Ileo-anal pouch - after the operation expect 10-15 urgent bowel movements in the first day. This will gradually reduce and within a few months there are usually 5-7 movements a day. The number of bowel actions however does vary from person to person. Bowel movements normally take on a porridge-like consistency once everything has settled down but are never completely formed. Occasionally ileo-anal pouches passively leak stools either during the day or while asleep at night but this tends to improve with time.

Stoma bag - a variety of bags and seals are available that protect the skin surrounding the stoma site and allow for collection and disposal of stools. Bags are usually drainable and can be emptied frequently. Some have specially designed charcoal filters to absorb any odour from wind. The stoma opening on the abdominal wall must be well cared for because bowel contents can irritate the skin, which results in ulceration and infection. More water and salt are needed than normally, because these are no longer being reabsorbed.