ostomates.uk

Introduction

This website is the "new-kid-on-the-stoma-block". It aims to raise stoma awareness by sharing information, best-practice tips, finding physical and emotional support resources and tackling stoma-stigma.

About www.ostomates.uk

Bag On My Belly (BOMB)

living with a stoma BOMB

The single biggest reason people need a stoma is cancer related
(bowel, colon and bladder cancer).

A stoma can be life-saving for people with conditions like Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, or colorectal / bladder cancer.

Having a stoma brings both relief and challenges. It often improves quality of life by reducing pain, accidents, and bathroom urgency, but it also requires adapting to potential leaks, body image changes, and unpredictable routines.

Pros

Pros include reduced urgency and accidents, less pain, restored bowel function, and improved overall quality of life.

Many ostomates find they regain freedom and comfort after years of debilitating symptoms. It can also relieve painful or dangerous symptoms (like blockages, bleeding, severe diarrhoea), allow cancers or diseased bowel to be removed.

A stoma can give people back energy, appetite and the freedom to leave the house without constantly worrying about finding appropriate toilets.

Cons

Cons include loss of control over when waste is passed, occasional leaks, lifestyle and routine adjustments, and emotional hurdles such as frustration and body image concerns.

A stoma brings daily practical work (bag changes, ordering supplies, watching for leaks), body-image worries, and sometimes anxiety about smell, noise or intimacy. There can also be skin problems, hernias and fear of accidents in public.

Some public toilets (including disabled ones) are not stoma friendly.

In Summary, for many - the pros outweigh the cons, because a stoma often provides the chance to live a more fulfilling life with less suffering.

Bag On My Belly

Stoma BOMB

When you, or someone you care about, are diagnosed with a (complex) medical condition, one of the first challenges is learning the terminology involved. Here are 4 basic terms to start with:

1: Stoma

A stoma is a surgically created opening on the abdomen that diverts waste (number 1s and number 2s) to a bag on your belly.

2: Ostomy

An ostomy is a surgical procedure that creates a stoma. It is can be created via key-hole surgery, or by opening up your abdomen.

3: Ostomates

An ostomate is a person that has an ostomy. Many who have a colostomy, or an ileostomy, also have a urostomy.

4: Stoma bag / pouch

A stoma bag / pouch attaches to your stoma and collects poo / pee. The bag can be drainable, or single use (and replace)

About ostomy bags

this really is my bag baby...

Bag components

The bag - soft material, can be opaque or clear. Many providers offer skin-coloured, black or white bags.
Flange / wafer - sticky part with a hole in the middle that covers the stoma.
Filter - typically charcoal based used to reduce odour and avoid ballooning.
Fold up velcro tab or tap used to open the bottom of the bag to drain the contents.

1: Ostomy bags (by type of stoma)

Basically, there are 3 kinds of bag:

1: Colostomy

For a colostomy (large bowel/colon).
Output is usually thicker / formed stool.
Often closed bags (single use, then dispose) or drainable if stool is looser.

2: Ileostomy

For an ileostomy (small bowel/ileum).
Output is usually loose / semi-liquid (like runny porridge) and more frequent.
Nearly always drainable bags, with a tap or Velcro-type closure at the bottom.

3: Urostomy

For a urostomy (urine from the kidneys via a segment of bowel).
Have a tap at the bottom for emptying urine.
Often connect to a night drainage bag while sleeping.

2: Fit - based of the shape of your belly

Flat bags

For stomas that stick out nicely (bud).
Sit flat on the skin.

Convex bags

Have a curved / domed base that gently presses in around the stoma.
Used when the stoma is flush, retracted, or in a skin fold to help the output go into the bag and reduce leaks.

3: One-piece or two-piece

One-piece system

The bag and the sticky baseplate (wafer) are joined together.
You take the whole thing off and put a new one on.
Pros: Soft, flexible, often flatter under clothes.
Think about: More frequent removal from the skin, which can irritate some people.

Two-piece system

The baseplate stays on your skin, and the bag clips or sticks onto it.
You can change the bag more often without removing the baseplate each time.
Pros: Gentler on the skin, easy to swap bags (e.g. smaller bag for swimming).
Think about: Slightly bulkier and the join may show a little under clothes.

4: How do they empty?

Closed bags

Sealed at the bottom – you cannot empty them.
When they are about 1/3 to 1/2 full, you remove and throw away the whole bag.
Often used for colostomies where the stool is thicker.

Drainable bags

Have an opening at the bottom that you undo to empty into the toilet.
You then clean the end and close it again (usually with a roll-up or clip).
Common for ileostomies and some colostomies with looser output.

Urostomy bags (for urine)

Designed for continuous urine flow.
Have a tap or valve at the bottom so you can drain frequently.
Can often be connected to a larger night drainage bag while you sleep.

5. What do they look like?

Opaque

Today you can get skin-coloured, black or white bags. The white bags are great in summer if you wear a white T-shirt,
You cannot see the contents through the bag.
Many people prefer this for privacy and confidence.
They often have a see-through flap so you can check the stoma.

Clear

You can see the stoma and the output.
Often used soon after surgery so nurses (and you) can see how the stoma is doing.
Some people prefer these long-term to check their stoma more easily.

5. The bottom-line

Choosing the right ostomy bag depends on the type of stoma (colostomy, ileostomy, urostomy), the consistency of output, lifestyle needs, and comfort preferences.
There is no single “best” bag! It’s about what works for you. You may need to try different bags to end up with the one that meets your needs.
If you have leaks, sore skin or worries about your pouch, contact your stoma nurse or healthcare team for medical advice.