About
When your doctor recommends stoma surgery, the first thing you will need to go for is the pre-op assessment. Your surgeon carries out this assessment a few days before your stoma surgery.
During this assessment, you can ask your surgeon about anything you have in your mind regarding upcoming surgery. The surgeon will tell you about the risks and will make sure that you understand the procedure. You will also meet the Anaesthetist whom you can discuss pain management measures to follow after surgery.
A nurse will take your blood sample and check your heart-rate to make sure that you are physically fit for stoma surgery.
A nurse will take your blood sample and check your heart-rate to make sure that you are physically fit for stoma surgery.
Marking the stoma site
The stoma care nurse will mark the stoma site during the pre-op assessment or on the day of surgery. Sometimes, the nurse asks the patient about the preferred stoma site. If the nurse asks you this, you can tell about the preferred stoma type depending on the type of clothes you normally wear.
The day before surgery
If your doctor has provided you the bowel preparation instructions, make sure that you are following them. You can choose to spend the night before surgery in the hospital’s observation room. Generally, the doctors will disallow you to eat or drink 6 hours before surgery.
If your doctor has provided you the bowel preparation instructions, make sure that you are following them. You can choose to spend the night before surgery in the hospital’s observation room. Generally, the doctors will disallow you to eat or drink 6 hours before surgery.
Things you can take into hospital with you
It will be a good idea to take with you your pajamas, a selection of books, a tablet computer, slippers, and a bottle of squash if you want to add flavor into the drinking water. If you are a light sleeper, you may want to take with you your earplugs. Remember to keep with you any medication that you take.
On the surgery day
On the day of surgery, your nurse may give you a shower gel to clean your skin. Then you are going to need to wear a hospital gown. You will need to remove anything like nail varnish, makeup, jewelry, dentures, glasses, contact lenses, and hearing aids before surgery. The nursing staff will transport you to the pre-operative room via trolley. In this room, you will receive anesthesia before surgery. The hospital staff will administer anesthesia by placing a cannula into a vein in the back of the hand.
An ostomy might seem scarier, but the fact of the matter is that it is a life-saving procedure that tends to revive your healthy self. In case you have any questions regarding this procedure, you can ask an ostomy care nurse.