What to expect after a colostomy – recovery after surgery

Key takeaways

• A colostomy is an opening using the colon (large bowel) which is stitched to the abdominal wall. There are many medical reasons that a colostomy may need to be formed, cancer is just one of them.
• Expect there to be changes to the size of the bag after surgery, but this will settle as you recover.
• Life with a colostomy will be different than before but it should not stop you doing anything you would like to do, including being active.

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There are many medical reasons that a colostomy may need to be formed, not just cancer, and it is thought that 1 in 500 people in the UK are living with a form of ostomy (Colostomy UK, 2021). Here, colorectal and anal cancer expert Jacquie Peck explains what to expect after a colostomy.

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What’s the difference between an ostomy and colostomy?

An ostomy is surgery to create an opening from an area inside the body to the outside (Medline 2021). A colostomy is an opening using the colon (large bowel) which is stitched to the abdominal wall. This can either be temporary or permanent. 

The colostomy does not have any nerve endings therefore you should not feel pain from the stoma itself. However you can get discomfort from things such as trapped wind or if the skin surrounding the colostomy becomes sore.

You may have had a colostomy to treat bowel cancer, anal cancer, vaginal or cervical cancer and many non-cancer related issues.

What to expect after colostomy surgery

After colostomy surgery you may feel very tired at first. Your belly may be sore, and you will probably need pain medicine for a week or two. This is all very normal and side effects will start to improve day by day. 

At the beginning, you may find the bag fills with wind rather than stool, but this will settle as the bowel recovers. The stoma itself will also reduce in size over about a 6-week period as the inflammation reduces. 

If your bag is on with a tight seal, there should not be any smell. If you do smell something this would be the time to go to the bathroom to check the seal on your skin.

At the beginning it is common to do this regularly but as you become more confident in managing it this will reduce. Stoma bags have been developed over the years and do not need to be changed regularly. Most people will change them every 1 – 2 days pending on the type of bag worn.

Being active while recovering from colostomy surgery

You will be restricted for the first 6 weeks post colostomy surgery. But after this, it should not stop you from doing anything you would like to do in life.

For example, exercise has been shown to help both with the function of the bowel and to reduce the effects of cancer treatment (Brown and Gilmore 2020). You can do any type of exercise with a colostomy. However, for the first few months, you should reduce exercises that use the abdominal wall muscles. 

Living with a colostomy bag

Psychologically having a stoma can have an impact on you. And getting used to your new ‘plumbing’, as it is often referred to, will take time.

You will not become an expert at this overnight and there will be days at the beginning where it misbehaves, leaks or you have other problems. It will not be like this forever. There are people around to help and support you through this and if you are struggling reach out to your stoma care nurse, cancer nurse specialist or Colostomy UK.  They will be able to help with the technical issues of life with a stoma and refer you on for further support if needed. 

If you would like further support with life after colostomy, get in touch with our team of cancer nurse specialists for a one-to-one appointment.

Here at Perci Health, we are here to support anyone that has been impacted by cancer. If you think you or your loved one could benefit from virtual access to high-quality cancer specialists, find out more about our support types or how we help those living with cancer and living beyond cancer.

While we have ensured that every article is medically reviewed and approved, information presented here is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you have any questions or concerns, please talk to one of our healthcare professionals or your primary healthcare team.