To your health: Living well with ostomy To your health: Living well with ostomy (May 12, 2004)

by The Health Library

More than 70,000 Americans with bowel or bladder dysfunction will face ostomy surgery this year. While ostomy can provide relief from debilitating and life threatening illness, people facing such a procedure are understandably distressed and frightened. Not only are they facing major surgery for a serious medical condition, they must also adapt to an alternative method of waste elimination that will affect them in many ways.

Ostomy is a surgically created opening in the abdominal area that allows the elimination of stool or urine. This surgery is needed by those with problems in bowel or bladder function, such as inflammatory bowel disease, ulcerative colitis, congenital problems, and cancer or the urinary tract or colon. It is not an uncommon occurrence. More than 750,000 Americans are living with ostomies.

A new book by Elizabeth Rayson, "Living Well with an Ostomy," provides practical advice aimed at reducing apprehension and improving the quality of life for ostomates. It is an ideal resource whether a person is facing the surgery as well those who have lived for many years with an ostomy. The book is available from the Stanford Health Library.

In ostomy surgery, an artificial opening called a stoma is created in the abdominal wall. Waste material is released through the stoma, typically into a pouch, although some choose other methods of stoma management, such as irrigation. Ostomies can be temporary or permanent, depending on the patient's condition. Advances in ostomy supplies and appliances have made them easier to use and less noticeable under clothing than they used to be.

There are three common types of ostomy: colostomy, in which part of the large intestine is redirected to the abdominal wall; ileostomy, an opening in the small intestine bypasses the colon for stool elimination; and urostomy which diverts urine away from a defective bladder.

In addition to descriptions of surgical procedures and issues of short-term recovery, "Living Well with an Ostomy" addresses the myriad of psycho-social issues faced by those living with ostomy. Eating, dressing, traveling, playing sports, and intimacy are among the issues addressed. Unique challenges faced by specific groups, including children and the elderly, are included as well. Particularly valuable to readers are two sections at the back of the book: a glossary defining medical terms relating to ostomy and a terrific resource section that lists contact information for a number of organizations that exist to support ostomates.

While the prospect of ostomy can be daunting and is certainly life-altering, it does relieve debilitating conditions and can actually provide people with a better quality of life. Ostomy patients who understand the challenges and benefits are better equipped to manage that change.

The Stanford Health Library's web site provides an easy link to many excellent resources. Go to http://healthlibrary.stanford.edu and click on the link for "Diseases and Disorders." Then go to "Digestive System," where you will find a section on Intestinal Surgery http://healthlibrary.stanford.edu/resources/internet/bodysystems/digestive3.html In addition to "Living Well with an Ostomy," there are other informative books about living with ostomy available at the Health Library. They include "The Ostomy Book:Living Comfortably with Colostomies, Ileostomies and Urostomies," by Barbara Dorr Mullen and Kerry Anne McGinn; Coping with an Ostomy: a Guide to Living with an Ostomy for You and Your Family," by Robert H. Phillips; "The First Step: a Book for Colostomy Patients," by Kay Marshall; and "Moving Forward: a Book for Ileostomy Patients," by Kay Marshall. The Stanford Health Library has three branches: at the Stanford Shopping Center, on the third floor of Stanford Hospital and in the new Stanford Cancer Center. For more information, call (650) 725-8400.

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