Explanation

A stoma is an artificial opening that is made in your Abdomen. The opening is stitched to your skin, and a tube connects it to a special bag outside your body, which collects waste (wee or poo). Stomas to collect poo are made in your large or small intestine, and stomas to collect wee are made in your ureter.

Why do I need one?

You may need to have a stoma if you have Crohn's disease, or some types of cancer in your intestine or Bladder.

You might have a stoma just for a while, or you may need it always, depending on the type of operation you have.

What happens before I have it?

A stoma nurse specialist will tell you all about the operation and answer any questions you may have. He or she will also tell you how to look after your stoma after the operation.

How is it done?

A doctor will make a small cut on your tummy, and will then connect your intestine to your skin and stitch it up. This is the stoma: A place where your intestines or ureter attach to your skin.

The doctor will then attach a stoma bag to it, so that any poo or wee can go through the stoma into the bag.

Will it hurt?

No. The stoma shouldn't give you any pain. If it does, make sure you tell your doctor.

What happens next?

Your doctor or stoma nurse specialist will tell you how to look after your stoma.

Stoma bags fit under your clothes and hide any smells. You will have to empty your stoma bag regularly, and the nurse or doctor will show you how to do this. You can also ask the adults who look after you to help you empty it, if you find it hard to do yourself.

You must make sure that you eat a healthy diet and drink lots of water and juice, until your body gets used to your stoma. Make sure you chew your food well, and try not to eat things like celery, nuts, mushrooms and sweet corn.

Could it cause any problems afterwards?

Your stoma might get blocked or separated from your skin. You should talk to your doctor if this happens.

Your stoma might bleed when you change the stoma bags. This is normal, but if the bleeding doesn't stop or happens at other times, you should tell your doctor.

What if I have any more questions?

If you have any other questions, you can ask your doctor, or chat to other people about stomas in the Medikidz forums and virtual world, Mediland.