- An ileostomy is where the end of your small bowel is brought through an opening made in your tummy. The opening is called a stoma.
 - You will no longer poo from your bottom – it will come out of the stoma into a pouch or bag you stick on your tummy.
 - It's usually done because your large bowel needs to be removed, or rested after surgery.
 - There are 2 types, an end or loop ileostomy.
 - It may be temporary and reversed later, or permanent, depending on why it's needed.
 - A stoma might be flat against your skin or stick out a couple of centimetres. It should be soft, slippery and pink, like the inside of your mouth.
 - The stoma should not hurt, but it can bleed easily when scratched or wiped.
 - The poo in the stoma bag is liquid or soft, like porridge. But you can still become constipated or have diarrhoea.
 - You cannot control when poo, wind or bowel sounds come out your stoma. It might happen for a few hours each day or more often.
 
What is an ileostomy?
        Page last reviewed: 13 March 2023
        
        Next review due: 13 March 2026