What is the sleeping posture for people with ostomies?

Everyone should be familiar with stoma, especially in hospitals where you often see it. It is a small bag used to collect feces and urine in the body when people undergo major surgery. After a major surgery, a stoma is used when one cannot move. This avoids harm caused by wound rupture due to random movement. The sleeping position of the person with a stoma must be different from before. What should be done?

"Sleeping position" is an issue that people with ostomy have always been concerned about. After having a stoma, is there any difference in sleeping position compared to before the operation?

1. Colostomy

For those with colostomy, is your sleeping position different from before surgery?

You can sleep in any position you like, but for the purpose of collecting stool, try to sleep in the side-lying or supine position with colostomy.

The prone position can easily injure the colostomy. Therefore, some friends who are used to sleeping in the prone position should change their habits and sleep in the supine or side-lying position.

2. Ileostomy

For those with ileostomy, are your sitting and sleeping positions different from before surgery?

Some people with ileostomy often feel pain and discomfort when sitting because of surgical reasons, such as anal removal and incomplete wound healing. They can use a soft pillow or air cushion on the seat to relieve the pain.

The stoma bag needs to be worn close to the body 24 hours a day, so it should not be removed even when sleeping.

Sleeping in the side-lying or supine position will not affect the ileostomy, but sleeping in the prone position may cause pressure on the ileostomy and should be avoided. Lying on the right side (towards the side of the ileostomy) as much as possible

Things to note when sleeping:

The stoma bag should be emptied before going to bed. If you experience diarrhea and watery stools, you should switch to a urinary stoma bag and connect it to a bedside urine bag when you sleep.

The bed should be padded to prevent the ostomy bag from leaking and soiling the bed.

3. Urostomy

For those with urinary stoma, are your sitting and sleeping positions different from before surgery?

When sitting after urinary stoma surgery, you should avoid bending over excessively, pay attention to your sleeping posture, and try to lie supine or in the right side position. Do not lie prone to avoid compressing the urinary stoma.

When standing, avoid lifting heavy objects, which may increase abdominal tension and lead to peri-urostomy hernia.