You will be going home with a new ileostomy. At the hospital, you will be seen by a certified wound/ostomy nurse for instruction on care of your ostomy. Other care team members will also be involved in providing you with important information.
Caring for your ileostomy at home
If you have any questions, please contact your surgeon.
Directions and supplies
Before being sent home, the nurse should have reviewed with you:
- Directions for when and how to make your post-operative appointment with your surgeon
- Directions for when to call and schedule a post-operative appointment with the ostomy nurse at 215-829-5333
And you should have been sent home with:
- Prescriptions for ostomy supplies (if needed)
- A chart to allow you to record your intake and output at home
- A “hat” and “urinal” to help you measure your output
Danger of dehydration
One major risk of having an ileostomy is dehydration. This is related to fluid loss through your stoma.
Signs and symptoms of dehydration include:
- Dry mouth or tongue
- Dizziness upon standing
- Weakness
- Decrease in urination
- Urine being darker in color
- Cramps in your abdomen and legs
- Confusion
If you are having any signs of dehydration, please call your surgeon immediately.
Avoiding dehydration
To avoid dehydration, we instruct you to:
- Drink 10 to 12 glasses of fluids daily, including electrolyte-enhanced beverages such as Gatorade, Pedialyte, or Powerade. This is especially important in warm weather, because you are perspiring and losing more fluid from your body.
- Measure your fluid intake and ileostomy output. Use your “hat” or “urinal” as you were taught in the hospital to collect and measure the drainage in your ileostomy pouch. Record these amounts on your measurement chart. If your ileostomy output is less than 500 mL or greater than 1200 mL, please call your surgeon. Bring the chart with you to your follow-up appointment with your surgeon and/or ostomy nurse.