Ileostomy

Surgery can be stressful. This information will help you understand what you can expect. And it will help you safely prepare for surgery.

Preparing for surgery

• Your doctor will tell you about any bowel prep to follow if needed, including if you should take laxatives, an enema, and antibiotics before surgery. Or you may need to go to the hospital the day before surgery to prepare your intestine.
• Be sure you have someone to take you home. Anesthesia and pain medicine will make it unsafe for you to drive or get home on your own.
• Understand exactly what surgery is planned, along with the risks, benefits, and other options.
• If you take a medicine that prevents blood clots, your doctor may tell you to stop taking it before your surgery. Or your doctor may tell you to keep taking it. (These medicines include aspirin and other blood thinners.) Make sure that you understand exactly what your doctor wants you to do.
• Tell your doctor ALL the medicines, vitamins, supplements, and herbal remedies you take. Some may increase the risk of problems during your surgery. Your doctor will tell you if you should stop taking any of them before the surgery and how soon to do it.
• Make sure your doctor and the hospital have a copy of your advance directive. If you don’t have one, you may want to prepare one. It lets others know your health care wishes. It’s a good thing to have before any type of surgery or procedure.

Activity

• Allow your child's body to heal. Don't let your child move quickly or lift anything heavy until your child is feeling better. When your child is active again, a support belt can help secure the ileostomy pouch.
• Have your child rest when they feel tired.
• Your child will probably need to take 2 to 4 weeks off from school. But check with your doctor first.
• Many children are able to return to normal activities within a few weeks after surgery.
• Your doctor will tell you when your child can shower or take a bath after surgery. Your child can shower with or without the ileostomy bag. You don't need to worry about getting the stoma wet.

Diet

• Your child may not have much appetite after the surgery. But try to help your child eat healthy foods.
• Have your child drink plenty of fluids to avoid becoming dehydrated (unless the doctor tells you not to).
• Give your child a low-fiber diet for several weeks after surgery. It's best for your child to eat many small meals throughout the day. Add high-fiber foods a little at a time.
• Your doctor will tell you which foods are best for your child and which ones to avoid. This will help reduce gas and prevent runny stools and blockage of the stoma.
• Your doctor will tell you if your child needs to take certain supplements, such as vitamins.

Medicines

• Be safe with medicines. Read and follow all instructions on the label.
  • If the doctor gave your child a prescription medicine for pain, give it as prescribed.
  • If your child is not taking a prescription pain medicine, ask the doctor if your child can take an over-the-counter medicine.
• Your doctor will tell you if and when your child can restart their medicines. The doctor will also give you instructions about your child taking any new medicines.
• If the doctor prescribed antibiotics for your child, give them as directed. Do not stop using them just because your child feels better. Your child needs to take the full course of antibiotics.
• Your doctor will tell you if your child needs to take some medicines in a different form now that they have a stoma. You may need to crush pills or give your child a liquid form of the medicine.

Incision care

• If your child has strips of tape on the cut (incision) the doctor made, leave the tape on until it falls off.
• Gently wash the area daily with warm water, and pat it dry. Don't use hydrogen peroxide or alcohol. They can slow healing.
• You may cover the area with a gauze bandage if it oozes fluid or rubs against clothing.
• Change the bandage every day or if it gets wet or dirty.

Other instructions

• If the skin under your child's pouch is red, irritated, or itchy, you need to treat the skin. Follow these steps:
  • Gently remove the pouch.
  • Clean the skin under the pouch with water.
  • Dry the skin.
  • Sprinkle ostomy protective powder on the skin, and then blot it off.
  • Reattach or replace the pouch.
  • If your child keeps having skin irritation, talk to the doctor.
• Follow all instructions from your doctor or ostomy nurse.
• Empty and replace your child's ileostomy bag as often as directed by your doctor or ostomy nurse.