OSTOMY CARE UPDATED EXAM TEST PAPER
QUESTIONS AND SOLUTIONS GUARANTEE A+
✔✔After ostomy surgery, I have gained excess weight. What happened? What types of
food should I eat? - ✔✔The relaxation of dietary restrictions, freedom from debilitating
illness and malabsorption promotes a rapid gain in weight. Follow the same weight
reduction diet as recommended by nutritionists and dietitians. Eating smaller quantities
of a well- balanced diet and increasing water/ fluid intake will assist with weight
reduction.
✔✔Can sugar free foods containing mannitol, sorbitol, isomalt or xylitol have a bad
effect on my gut? - ✔✔Yes. The effect is probably the same for people with or without
an ostomy. These are sugar alcohols used instead of or in addition to nutra-sweet and
saccharin. The sugar alcohols can cause gas, bloating, abdominal pain and/or diarrhea.
✔✔Will my ileostomy continue to produce output even if I do not eat? - ✔✔Yes, the
small intestine will continue to produce gas and digestive juices. An empty digestive
tract seems to produce excessive gas. Eat small meals to keep something in
the gut. Peristalsis happens!
✔✔In the past, certain foods caused me some trouble with digestion. How will they
affect me since my ostomy surgery? - ✔✔Check them out. You may find that some of
those same foods will continue to be troublesome and others may not.
✔✔How soon after ostomy surgery can I return to a normal diet? - ✔✔Physicians and
ostomy nurses suggest that you begin slowly, depending upon your
recovery and/or other medical complications. Add back one new food at a time. If you
experience any problems, discontinue for a few weeks and try again.
✔✔Should I be concerned about vitamin B-12 deficiency?
Vitamin B-12 is absorbed in the last section of the small bowel (terminal ileum). -
✔✔Ileostomy surgery necessitates the removal of some portion of the terminal ileum
and some of the absorption abilities for vitamin B-12. Ask your ostomy nurse or
physician to check out your B-12 level and prescribe some replacement therapies if
needed. There are several therapies available including B-12 injection, B-12 nose
spray, and some B-12 pills that absorbs under the tongue.
✔✔Antacids - ✔✔Products containing aluminum may cause constipation (e.g.,
Amphogel®, Basalgel®, Maalox®, Fast-Acting Mylanta®).
✔✔Antibiotics - ✔✔Colostomy- Caution-May destroy normal flora (may cause diarrhea).
Ileostomy- May lead to diarrhea and risk of dehydration (e.g., ampicilin, cephalosporins,
sulfonamides, etc).
, ✔✔Corticosteroids (Cortisone) - ✔✔Colostomy and Ileostomy: Sodium retention.
Possible fungal infection under face- plate due to suppression of immune system.
✔✔Diuretics - ✔✔Colostomy- Usually no problem
Ileostomy- Caution--may cause electrolyte imbalance.
*After ileostomy surgery, never take laxatives. For a person who has an ileostomy,
taking laxatives can cause a severe fluid and electrolyte imbalance.*
✔✔NSAIDS Nonsteroidal anti- inflammatory agents - ✔✔Colostomy/Ileostomy: May
cause bleeding from stomach or duodenum-gastric distress. Do not take on an empty
stomach.
✔✔Vitamins - ✔✔Colostomy- Liquid form is best. B complex may cause odor.
Ileostomy- Liquid form is best. B complex may cause
odor. Vitamin B-12 is best by injection or nasal B-12 spray. Not absorbed well by oral
route.
✔✔Ileostomy Absorption Concerns - ✔✔Due to the absence of the colon and often
altered transit time through the small intestine, the type of medication taken must be
carefully considered when prescribing for the person with an ileostomy.
For a person who has an ileostomy, taking laxatives can cause a severe fluid and
electrolyte imbalance.
The best type of medication for the person with an ileostomy is either in the form of
*uncoated tablets or in liquid form*. These dosage forms ensure that the medication
prescribed is being absorbed.
Medications in the form of coated tablets or time- release capsules may not be
absorbed and no benefit received
A large number of medications are prepared in this way. Before the prescription is
completed by the physician, the patient with an ileostomy should inform him of this
difficulty
If the medication required is available only in this form and not destroyed by the
stomach juices, then the tablet may be crushed between two spoons and taken with
water. This often results in an evil-tasting mixture but absorption is ensured.
✔✔Gas Producing - ✔✔-Alcoholic beverages
-Carbonated beverages
-Beans
QUESTIONS AND SOLUTIONS GUARANTEE A+
✔✔After ostomy surgery, I have gained excess weight. What happened? What types of
food should I eat? - ✔✔The relaxation of dietary restrictions, freedom from debilitating
illness and malabsorption promotes a rapid gain in weight. Follow the same weight
reduction diet as recommended by nutritionists and dietitians. Eating smaller quantities
of a well- balanced diet and increasing water/ fluid intake will assist with weight
reduction.
✔✔Can sugar free foods containing mannitol, sorbitol, isomalt or xylitol have a bad
effect on my gut? - ✔✔Yes. The effect is probably the same for people with or without
an ostomy. These are sugar alcohols used instead of or in addition to nutra-sweet and
saccharin. The sugar alcohols can cause gas, bloating, abdominal pain and/or diarrhea.
✔✔Will my ileostomy continue to produce output even if I do not eat? - ✔✔Yes, the
small intestine will continue to produce gas and digestive juices. An empty digestive
tract seems to produce excessive gas. Eat small meals to keep something in
the gut. Peristalsis happens!
✔✔In the past, certain foods caused me some trouble with digestion. How will they
affect me since my ostomy surgery? - ✔✔Check them out. You may find that some of
those same foods will continue to be troublesome and others may not.
✔✔How soon after ostomy surgery can I return to a normal diet? - ✔✔Physicians and
ostomy nurses suggest that you begin slowly, depending upon your
recovery and/or other medical complications. Add back one new food at a time. If you
experience any problems, discontinue for a few weeks and try again.
✔✔Should I be concerned about vitamin B-12 deficiency?
Vitamin B-12 is absorbed in the last section of the small bowel (terminal ileum). -
✔✔Ileostomy surgery necessitates the removal of some portion of the terminal ileum
and some of the absorption abilities for vitamin B-12. Ask your ostomy nurse or
physician to check out your B-12 level and prescribe some replacement therapies if
needed. There are several therapies available including B-12 injection, B-12 nose
spray, and some B-12 pills that absorbs under the tongue.
✔✔Antacids - ✔✔Products containing aluminum may cause constipation (e.g.,
Amphogel®, Basalgel®, Maalox®, Fast-Acting Mylanta®).
✔✔Antibiotics - ✔✔Colostomy- Caution-May destroy normal flora (may cause diarrhea).
Ileostomy- May lead to diarrhea and risk of dehydration (e.g., ampicilin, cephalosporins,
sulfonamides, etc).
, ✔✔Corticosteroids (Cortisone) - ✔✔Colostomy and Ileostomy: Sodium retention.
Possible fungal infection under face- plate due to suppression of immune system.
✔✔Diuretics - ✔✔Colostomy- Usually no problem
Ileostomy- Caution--may cause electrolyte imbalance.
*After ileostomy surgery, never take laxatives. For a person who has an ileostomy,
taking laxatives can cause a severe fluid and electrolyte imbalance.*
✔✔NSAIDS Nonsteroidal anti- inflammatory agents - ✔✔Colostomy/Ileostomy: May
cause bleeding from stomach or duodenum-gastric distress. Do not take on an empty
stomach.
✔✔Vitamins - ✔✔Colostomy- Liquid form is best. B complex may cause odor.
Ileostomy- Liquid form is best. B complex may cause
odor. Vitamin B-12 is best by injection or nasal B-12 spray. Not absorbed well by oral
route.
✔✔Ileostomy Absorption Concerns - ✔✔Due to the absence of the colon and often
altered transit time through the small intestine, the type of medication taken must be
carefully considered when prescribing for the person with an ileostomy.
For a person who has an ileostomy, taking laxatives can cause a severe fluid and
electrolyte imbalance.
The best type of medication for the person with an ileostomy is either in the form of
*uncoated tablets or in liquid form*. These dosage forms ensure that the medication
prescribed is being absorbed.
Medications in the form of coated tablets or time- release capsules may not be
absorbed and no benefit received
A large number of medications are prepared in this way. Before the prescription is
completed by the physician, the patient with an ileostomy should inform him of this
difficulty
If the medication required is available only in this form and not destroyed by the
stomach juices, then the tablet may be crushed between two spoons and taken with
water. This often results in an evil-tasting mixture but absorption is ensured.
✔✔Gas Producing - ✔✔-Alcoholic beverages
-Carbonated beverages
-Beans
