Natasha Creenan
Country Manager Ireland, Coloplast
If you have a stoma, professional medical support is always available to help you adjust, solve any issues and live life to the fullest.
On social media, people seem to be very happy to discuss every intimate aspect of their lives. Money, jobs, sex, relationships: nothing appears off limits. Yet, for some reason, in the non-virtual world, it’s still taboo to talk about the normal human functions of emptying your bowels and bladder.
Open bladder and bowel conversations
“Part of our mission is to have a more public conversation about bladder and bowel issues,” says Natasha Creenan, Country Manager Ireland at Coloplast, a company that manufactures medical devices and services related to ostomy, urology, continence and wound care. “Talking openly could help people who have a stoma to empty their bowels or a catheter to empty their bladder — because it’s just another way to go to the toilet and nothing to be ashamed of.”
Part of our mission is to have
a more public conversation about
bladder and bowel issues.
Living an independent and normal life with a stoma
A stoma is a surgically created opening in the abdomen wall that allows urine or faeces to be diverted out of the body and into a bag. Patients may need a stoma for various reasons, including colorectal cancer, Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, diverticular disease, birth trauma or a neurological condition.
“The idea of a stoma can be daunting,” admits Emer Molloy, Clinical Nurse Manager at Coloplast. “People do have to adjust to it, but if they’ve been unwell because of a particular condition, it can give them back independence and improve quality of life.” People can live completely normally with a stoma. “They could run a marathon, go to the gym, swim, go on holiday, eat a varied diet and have sex,” insists Creenan. “They can do everything they did before.”
How nursing services reduce fears and help patients adjust
It is, however, normal for new stoma patients to have worries and questions. “For example, will the bag smell or make a noise? Will people notice it? Could it leak?,” says Molloy. “Thankfully, expert support is available to help people adjust. In hospitals, stoma care nurses do an amazing job supporting and educating patients in the early days post-surgery. There’s also lots of expert support available in the community, to help resolve any clinical issues and advise on lifestyle adjustments.”
It’s recommended that patients have regular check-ins with their stoma team, ideally on an annual basis. This progress check may include a review (via telephone or face-to-face appointment) of skin health, device used, routines and self-care. “If you haven’t seen a specialist for a while, you may be experiencing common problems — such as leaks or sore skin — that are not normal and could be solved with specialist support,” says Molloy. “Please don’t hesitate to contact Coloplast Nursing Service for help with signposting.”
