Colostomy Stoma and Bag Care
How you care for your colostomy stoma and ostomy bag can vary from person to person. For example, how often you change your bag depends on your output and the type of bag you’re using.A colostomy is a surgical opening between a part of your large intestine and your abdominal wall. If, for some reason, your stool can’t pass naturally through your rectum, a colostomy allows your bowel movements to redirect into an external bag called a “stoma.”This article will explore general stoma care tips, including how to change and care for your ostomy bag, complications to be aware of, and answers to frequently asked questions about living with a colostomy.How to care for a colostomy stomaA stoma is a visible opening to your colostomy site. It’s made of a mucous membrane like the inside of your mouth, so a bright red color is natural. You shouldn’t feel sensations like pain at the stoma unless the skin around the stoma has become irritated. Bleeding isn’t unexpected from the stoma site since blood...