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Ileostomy

An ileostomy is a common type of ostomy surgery. It is a medical procedure in which doctors treat your ileum (small intestine).

When a person has some kind of infection, injury, blockage, disorder, or cancer radiation side effects in the small intestine, then there is a need for an ileostomy. The surgery method is the same as any other ostomy. Doctors clear up the blockage or amend injury, cut the infected part, and bring the remaining portion of the ileum to the stoma (an opening or hole on the abdomen for the collection of stool). This operation makes your digestive and excretion system problem-free, disease-free, artificial, but active.

Well, hope you got the purpose and reason for an ileostomy surgery. However, here are a few more facts regarding ileum disease and stoma need, necessary to know about.

Well, the best way to answer your queries and clear your confusion is to ask your surgeon or experts. However, before any surgery, you may want to grab some information, so here we are. We provide you the best and appropriate details about ostomies. You can clear your dilemmas and get the replies of the question, you have in your mind. Most probably, you are worried about life after ileostomy, diet, social activities, precautions, preventions, happening in the digestive system, and stoma. Well, you are in the right article, here are all the necessary facts and details related to an ileostomy.

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What is the GI (gastrointestinal) System?

A digestive system needs several canals, enzymes, and actions to absorb useful nutrients from the food and send the waste to the large intestine. Well, the process of the digestive system starts when you send your chewed food from mouth to esophagus. It further sends the content to the stomach. Here, the stomach plays a vital role in absorbing the necessary elements. Through enzymes, stomach grinds the food. Then, it goes to the small intestine (also called the ileum). This is a twenty feet long canal, it receives minced food directly from the stomach.

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Here, the ileum absorbs some nutrients from the food and these are proteins, fats, carbohydrates, minerals, and vitamins. The unnecessary elements and wasted becomes stool or urine. The feces, then pass to the large intestine for excretion. The colon receives solid waste and stores it until the next bowel movement. The movement of bowel discharges the solid waste out of the human body.
Necessary Facts about Ileostomy

Here are some necessary facts about ileostomy:

  • After an ileostomy operation, a patient cannot excrete the feces through the anus. It comes out through the stoma (an artificial hole or opening in the abdomen of the patient).
  • Well, after this operation, you cannot control the bowel movement and frequency of discharging stool. As an ileostomy is without the sphincter muscle; thus, you have no control over the discharge time and repetition.
  • Usually, ileostomy patients think that this is a permanent pathway of excretion now, Well, no, the surgery could be permanent and temporary as well. If you do not have a severe disease (suffering from a minor injury, infection, or blockage) then, it will be temporary and reversible.
  • You have to avoid foods that can cause gas, constipation, or loose motion. Your stoma can stink and fart if you eat red beans, pulses, cabbage, red meat, onion, and garlic.
  • With a permanent stoma, you can carry on your previous activities, after the healing of ileum and stoma.

After the operation, you cannot ignore the stoma, its health, and care. This is a new organ in your body. You should have enough Hollister ostomy supplies and must understand the pouching system. Find the right one for your stoma. Cleaning and washing of the stoma and its surrounding will be the vital activity in your life. Keep the skin and opening healthy and dry.

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