Preparing For Surgery
Meeting your Stoma Care Nurse
Facing stoma surgery can be a worrying time but learning about what to expect before, during and after your stoma operation can help to settle any nerves and get you into the right mindset to prepare for the changes that will be happening to your body. You will usually meet your local Stoma Care Nurse soon after your surgery date has been confirmed. They will be able to provide answers to any questions that you may have, as well as talk you through the surgery and recovery process in more detail. Don’t be afraid to ask anything that’s on your mind, there is no question too small, or that you should be embarrassed about. Your Stoma Care Nurse will also advise you about the stoma care routine that is required for the type of stoma that you will be receiving, enabling you to feel prepared to care for your stoma once you have returned home.
Stoma site selection
Where possible before your stoma surgery, the Stoma Care Nurse will find the most appropriate place to site your stoma, based on your body shape, the clothes you wear, what activities you like to take part in and your occupation. They may get you to bend and stretch to see where a stoma would best sit for you. Other factors such as previous scars and natural creases in the skin will also be considered. They will mark the site on your abdomen using a permanent pen and wherever possible, the surgeon will do their best to form the stoma there.