What is an Ostomy?

Other than being gross, an Ostomy is a life-saving surgery that redirects the excretion of toxic chemicals from your body due to a malfunctioning urinary or digestive system. With an ostomy, it can be permanent or temporary, but it's different from person to person. The opening is called a stoma. This opening is where the ostomy bag is placed to collect urine or stool. The stoma is a dark pink color and is located on the abdomen. It is possible to have a content diversion. This diversion eliminates the need for a colostomy bag. 

The need for an ostomy bag can differ in its reasons based upon the person getting it. Some reasons may include Cancer, inflammatory bowel disease, birth defects, and many other medical reasons. They can also be needed in severe cases of pelvic or abdominal trauma that are results from accidents or other injuries. Ostomy or content diverters can be required at any age, but it does not lower your life expectancy. However, you will have to make some adjustments to your ‘new normal life’. 

There are different types of ostomy but, a few are commonplace. A colostomy is a surgically created hole in the colon, large intestine area. Part of the colon or rectum is cut away and brought forward to the abdomen wall, where a stoma forms. Another common ostomy is a urostomy. This surgery is required when the bladder is deseased or defective. Either a sectoin of the lower small bowle or at the start of the large intestine is removed via surgery and relocated as a conduit for urin to pass form the kidneys to the exterior of the body through a stoma. The entire bladder may be removed in certain cases, depending on the damage of the organ. The final most common ostomy is a ileostomy. A surgical procedure to create an opening from the ileum, the lowest part of the small intestine. Part of the small intestine is brought to the front of the body to make a stoma. This procedure may involve the full removal of the colon or part of it. 

I believe that i would struggle if I had any of these ostomys. None of them sound very pleasant but I think I could get through it. The Ilestomy sounds the worst to me as its brining the small intestine to the front of the body. I cant imagin the twits and turns that must be made in order for this procedure to work. It is a true marvel how we have come up with such odd practices that help people live a better life even though to a ‘normal person’ it looks and seems very inconvenient I am sure thoes people who have ostomys are happy and dont think much about it day to day. Im not even sure I have seen or known someone with an ostomy. These procedures are apparently commonplace but as mentioned before I do not think i have met someone with such a procedure done. I do think it is important to never make anyone feel left out or isolated based upon something they can not control and regardless of how we feel and think about it.