I'm Katy, a 34-year-old student who is in my 3rd and final year of my MSc course in nursing and health sciences. I have a passion for community and colorectal nursing and raising awareness of inflammatory bowel disease and ostomies.
Diagnosed with Crohn's disease at 25, I spent many years battling with the condition before improving my quality of life and undergoing a subtotal colectomy and ileostomy formation in 2017. The following year my very own nursing journey began, inspired by the outstanding care and support I received during my hospital stays but also spurred on by the negative attitudes and pitying eyes I experienced following my surgery too, with an ambition to make a difference.
Negative perceptions
I have always been honest and open about my condition and my stoma, yet I have encountered many negative perceptions, bewildered and commiserative looks. I am not embarrassed or ashamed of my ostomy, in fact quite the opposite, therefore I always find it puzzling that other health professionals are. Although I feel I may have the answer, the distinct lack of education and information that is provided through cohorts and nurse-led programmes on ostomy care is sparse and often insufficient.
Providing support to patients
The East of England NHS Collaborative Procurement Hub report (2019) states that there are approximately 1 in 500 people in the UK who are living with an ostomy and in Scotland there are an estimated 14 500 ostomates. With statistics showing there is a significant number of individuals with an ostomy in the UK, health professionals can encounter individuals with a stoma at any opportunity in any health care setting. For many patients it is a very personal, distressing and difficult part of their life, and health professionals should feel comfortable to provide support and counselling to patients who require this. Sadly, many health professionals do not know the difference between a colostomy and an ileostomy. The truth is, through my own personal experiences and experiences as a student nurse, I have realised many are put off by the thought of stoma care or have poor knowledge and skills surrounding this area.
With statistics showing there is a significant number of individuals with an ostomy in the UK, health professionals can encounter individuals with a stoma at any opportunity in any health care setting
I was fortunate enough to receive excellent post-operative care by a dedicated team of colorectal nurses. It was a difficult time adjusting to my new life, but those nurses gave me the confidence to embrace the new journey I was on and life with a stoma bag. Yet such positivity should not be refined to specialist nurses, all health professionals should have the ability to build up a patient's confidence and self-esteem through their own knowledge and awareness. While not all healthcare staff have negative thoughts or attitudes surrounding stoma care, those that do can bear a significant impact on a patient's self-esteem and their own acceptance of their ostomy.
Helping patients to feel more comfortable with their stoma
A stoma is considered a hidden disability and unfortunately some patients feel they need to hide behind their disability, through fear and embarrassment, and this has to change. These patients who have underwent ostomy formation have been through a challenging and testing time, it is nothing to be ashamed of, and they should in fact be proud. Perhaps if clinicians and health professionals could be more accepting of ostomies this would go a long way in allowing patients to feel comfortable in their own skin.
Useful resources
- https://www.colostomyuk.org/information/what-is-a-stoma/
- https://www.crohnsandcolitis.org.uk/about-crohns-and-colitis/publications/living-with-a-stoma