Comments on: How often does a person with a colostomy have a bowel movement? http://colostomysurgery.net/how-often-does-a-person-with-a-colostomy-have-a-bowel-movement/ Breaking News, Expert Tips. Get the Answers You're Looking On Colostomy Surgery. Sat, 24 Apr 2010 02:18:15 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.3 By: Shaz http://colostomysurgery.net/how-often-does-a-person-with-a-colostomy-have-a-bowel-movement/comment-page-1/#comment-117 Shaz Thu, 22 Apr 2010 02:58:44 +0000 http://colostomysurgery.net/how-often-does-a-person-with-a-colostomy-have-a-bowel-movement/#comment-117 That depends on the person. Some people can more or less predict when their colostomy will work by experimenting with their diets (no guarantees though) and others would rather eat whatever and whenever they want which means their bowel movements will be unpredictable. You have no sphincter muscles and therefore are unable to 'hold' stool in like before surgery. Hence the need to wear a bag at all times. Most people have their first bowel movement 1 -- 4 days after surgery, depending on how long it takes for their bowel to 'wake up' after surgery (that's when you can start to eat 'real' food again!) If your stoma nurse says you're able to irrigate (ie give yourself a water enema via the stoma which returns all stool at once emptying the bowel), you may be able to go 24 - 48 hours between bowel movements and not have to wear a bag - just a small patch over the stoma at all other times. However, not all colostomates are candidates for irrigation. PS don't let your stoma nurse tell you irrigation is 'old fashioned and not done anymore', if they do, find another stoma nurse. Thousands of colostomates irrigate daily and have been doing so for years. They love the freedom from not having to wear a bag because of it. That depends on the person. Some people can more or less predict when their colostomy will work by experimenting with their diets (no guarantees though) and others would rather eat whatever and whenever they want which means their bowel movements will be unpredictable. You have no sphincter muscles and therefore are unable to ‘hold’ stool in like before surgery. Hence the need to wear a bag at all times.

Most people have their first bowel movement 1 — 4 days after surgery, depending on how long it takes for their bowel to ‘wake up’ after surgery (that’s when you can start to eat ‘real’ food again!)

If your stoma nurse says you’re able to irrigate (ie give yourself a water enema via the stoma which returns all stool at once emptying the bowel), you may be able to go 24 – 48 hours between bowel movements and not have to wear a bag – just a small patch over the stoma at all other times. However, not all colostomates are candidates for irrigation.

PS don’t let your stoma nurse tell you irrigation is ‘old fashioned and not done anymore’, if they do, find another stoma nurse. Thousands of colostomates irrigate daily and have been doing so for years. They love the freedom from not having to wear a bag because of it.

]]> By: william http://colostomysurgery.net/how-often-does-a-person-with-a-colostomy-have-a-bowel-movement/comment-page-1/#comment-116 william Thu, 22 Apr 2010 02:34:08 +0000 http://colostomysurgery.net/how-often-does-a-person-with-a-colostomy-have-a-bowel-movement/#comment-116 Its continual at any moment - there is no control Its continual at any moment – there is no control

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