What to Expect After Stoma Surgery

If you’re booked in for stoma surgery, it’s completely understandable that you want to know exactly what to expect post-surgery. Not only can it help you to prepare for life after stoma surgery, but it can also help you to adjust and adapt to your new stoma bag. 

There are approximately 21,000 people who have stoma surgery in the UK each year, with between 165,000 to 200,000 people living with a stoma in the UK. Sometimes it’s just nice to know that you’re not alone! 

Now, let’s talk about what you came here to find out, which is about the immediate aftermath of stoma surgery, what happens when you go home, life in the first few weeks, and how to care for your skin post-surgery.

What to expect immediately after stoma surgery

When you wake up after stoma surgery, you’ll most likely be in a recovery room where you’ll be monitored. You might feel a little groggy from the anesthesia and experience some discomfort. Of course everyone’s different, but you may also feel quite weak and perhaps emotional — this is completely normal and you should be kind to yourself and allow time to heal and recover. 

You'll notice the stoma, a small opening on your abdomen, which allows waste to exit your body into a stoma bag. Initially, it might look swollen, but this will reduce over time. 

You might be wearing a clear, drainable pouch which allows the medical staff to inspect your stoma. You may also have drains and infusions, as well as catheters attached to your body. 

During your stay in the hospital, the staff will show you how to care for your stoma and manage the stoma bag. When your stoma is functioning and you’re ready to be discharged, you’ll have the chance to choose and apply a pouch that meets your specific needs. 

What happens when you go home

When you are discharged, you’ll be given pain medication and guidance on how and when to take it. If your pain does get worse, speak to your GP or follow the instructions given to you by the hospital.

Until your stitches dissolve — which can take up to 6 weeks — the stoma may feel quite tight. The stoma doesn’t have any nerve endings, so you might not feel much when you touch or wipe it, but be careful because it can bleed easily, so don’t worry if you do see specks of blood when you clean your stoma. However, if you have any blood in your stools or from the stoma opening, get it checked out by your GP or surgeon. 

You’ll likely feel tired when you get home, so be sure to rest for a couple of weeks, but try not to stay in bed. Gentle activities such as walking helps to prevent complications from your stoma, which you can then increase over time. You may have better days and harder days, which is totally normal! Just listen to your body. 

Life after stoma surgery

After around six weeks, you should start to feel more comfortable and start to feel like you can be more active. Your daily stoma care routine will start to become easier and efficient, only adding a few minutes onto your bathroom breaks. By three months, you’ll probably start to feel relatively back to normal. However, you shouldn’t do any heavy lifting or strenuous activities.

Post surgery skincare

Proper skincare around your stoma, known as peristomal skin, is vital to prevent complications like peristomal dermatitis. You may be more prone to developing this especially in the first few weeks as you become accustomed to changing your stoma bag and caring for your skin. 

To prevent and treat peristomal dermatitis, we’d recommend that you:

1. Gently remove your adhesive products: Use products like Lifteez, which help remove stoma appliances without irritating your skin. 
2. Project your skin: Before applying a new stoma bag, use a barrier film like Medi Derma-S Total Barrier Film to protect your skin from adhesives and stoma output.

Adjusting to life after stoma surgery takes time, patience, and support. If you have any questions or need further information, don't hesitate to reach out to our incredible and friendly team at MedicarePlus. 

Otherwise, you can explore our blog for more resources and guidance. You're not alone on this journey, and with the right care and support, you can navigate life with a stoma successfully.