Glossary I
Ileostomy
An ileostomy is a surgical procedure involving the small intestine. The small intestine is part of the digestive system. In an ileostomy, the end of the small intestine, known as the ileum, is diverted from the colon, and re-routed through a hole that the surgeon cuts in your abdomen. The hole, or opening, is called a stoma.
An external pouch may be connected to the stoma to collect any waste products. The operation is usually carried out when the colon is damaged, or if it has to be removed.
Types of ileostomy - There are two types of ileostomy - an end ileostomy and a loop ileostomy.
End ileostomy - the colon and rectum are removed and the end of the ileum is brought out through the stoma.
Loop ileostomy - a loop of the small intestine is brought out through the stoma, but the colon and rectum are not removed. This is usually carried out as a temporary procedure, when it is necessary to remove only a part of the colon. Once the remaining colon has healed, it can be reconnected to the small intestine, and the stoma can then be closed.
Ileo-anal pouches - a loop ileostomy is also sometimes used in the construction of ileo-anal pouches. Ileo-anal pouches are internal pouches that are surgically constructed from the small intestine. The pouches are constructed for people who need to have their colon and rectum removed. The pouch is then connected to the sphincter muscle, which is the muscle that surrounds the anus.
Once the surgery is complete, it is important that the pouch remains free of waste materials for a few weeks so that it can heal. Therefore, the loop ileostomy allows waste to pass through the stoma, without affecting the pouch. Once the pouch is healed, the small intestine is connected to the pouch, allowing the stoma to heal.
Ileo-anal pouches are not suitable for everyone who has their colon removed, and some people will need to have a permanent end ileostomy.
Incontinence - bowel
loss of bowel control
Incontinence - urinary
Accidental leakage from the bladder
Insurance
The Colostomy Association Travel Insurance Policy (CATIP)
Travel Insurance specifically designed for Ostomates - With this scheme everyone wins - the
Association benefits by receiving commission on every policy written
and you win because the policy is bespoke - designed for your needs and
highly competitive. Our premiums stand up to any competition with the added bonus that
no individual with a colostomy will be treated unfairly. Such are our
premiums that we would encourage members to ask others to visit and
hopefully take out a policy through us. The policy can apply to
non-members as well as members. Go to Special services in Find information to learn more.
Irrigation
This is an alternative to wearing a colostomy bag/pouch all the time, it is a way of keeping the bowel clean by washing water through it every other day. It is not an option for all colostomates, as some medical conditions or types of stoma mean that this process is not suitable. If you are interested and want learn more you must seek advice from your consultant surgeon or stoma care nurse - never attempt to do this on your own.
Irritable bowel syndrome - condition causing abdominal pain and diarrhoea
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a chronic disorder, featuring recurrent abdominal pain and intermittent diarrhoea, often alternating with constipation. There is normally no obvious cause.
This disorder most commonly affects people between the ages of 20 and 30 and is twice as common in women as in men. The syndrome can be divided into four types depending on which is the main symptom - abdominal pain, diarrhoea, constipation or diarrhoea alternating with constipation.
IBS is known by a variety of other terms:
• spastic colon,
• spastic colitis,
• mucous colitis,
• nervous diarrhoea,
• nervous colon, and
• nervous or functional bowel
Some of these names misrepresent the condition.
The syndrome is not the same as Ulcerative Colitis. Colitis is an inflammation of the colon, whereas in IBS, the colon is not inflamed.
IBS is very common and is present in perhaps 60% of patients that see a specialist in gastroenterology. The incidence (frequency) of the condition in the general population is estimated to lie somewhere between 10% and 20%. The true incidence may be higher than this, because it is thought that many people with IBS symptoms do not seek medical advice.