My wife has been given a choice of an ileostomy ( temporary for 6 months) or to have a colostomy permanent. We have heard and read that ileostomy bags are very time consuming to care for and many problems. Is this a common problem?
I am sorry that your wife has been given a choice in her surgical options, these kinds of decisions can be hard to make.
Unfortunately no one other than your wife can make that final choice, so it hard for anyone else to comment. This said, what we can provide you with are different resources for you both to read through which may help.
For some the constant attention that an ileostomy can need is too much, particularly if before the surgery someone was a very sociable, active person with a busy lifestyle, or if they are generally an older, frailer person it can feel too overwhelming.
Some struggle hugely with the idea of a permanent stoma, but they can change their minds once all the healing settles and they find they can get into a rhythm with its care.
This said we all different.
Do talk things through where you can with the team involved with your wife's care, including specialist nurse (cns) if available.
If you or your wife would like to talk things through with one of the nurses on our helpline do call 0808 800 4040. Lines are open mon-fri, 9-5.
