While there are variations, there are essentially three types of ostomy surgeries: colostomy, ileostomy, and urostomy. Educating yourself about your particular procedure is the key to living a normal life. Hundreds of thousands of people have ostomy surgeries every year, and you are not alone in your search for ostomy education. Here are the basics.

Colostomies are very common, and involve surgically creating an opening in the colon, or large intestine, to allow excrement to pass through a stoma (opening constructed in the abdomen during surgery). Ileostomies involve bringing a portion of the small intestine (the ileum) through a stoma to rid your body of intestinal waste. Urostomies divert urine through a stoma as well, instead of the bladder due to some sort of disruption, blockage, or removal of the bladder altogether.

Each type of procedure will require you to wear some sort of bag or pouch, to collect the waste matter. For some, the bags are a permanent fixture, always needed through the day and night. For others, typically colostomy patients, you may only have to wear the bag to relieve yourself at certain times. Either way, you must find the bag that is easy for you to wear, to clean, and allows you to enjoy your normal activities with ease.

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