Video Tuesday: Colostomies
September 29, 2009 by Marijke Durning, RN
Filed under Diseases & Conditions
Diseases below the waist are often ignored; best to not talk about such things, many people think. But not talking about diseases below the waist, which include illnesses such as colon cancer, can result in serious consequences, including death.
Diseases of the colon (or bowels) sometimes require treatment with a colostomy. A colostomy is a way for the human body to excrete stool (bowel movements) through an opening in the abdomen rather than through the rectum. The stool is evacuated into a bag that is fastened to the opening and emptied on a regular basis.
There is a lot of stigma to having a colostomy. The idea repulses some people and it can take a while for patients and their loved ones to become comfortable with the idea. But it doesn’t have to be that way.
Whether a colostomy is a permanent solution or just a temporary treatment, colostomies can save lives and most people who live with colostomies have learned that it’s really not a big deal to have one.
To learn more about colostomies and living with one, click on the TV screen below:
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Image: iStock.com
