Fast Facts About Pediatric Ostomy

Fast Facts

Is it normal if my stoma hurts?

Your stoma should not hurt and if it is, tell someone in your family.

Do I have to worry if my stoma gets bumped?

Your stoma will not be hurt by activity, like doing the things you love to do such as sports, or dancing or even touching it! It could bleed a little bit if it gets bumped or hit but that is okay. It should stop bleeding after a few minutes. If you play sports that are rough like football, you may want to protect your stoma with something special like a stoma guard. A stoma guard is something that you can attach to your pouch to protect your stoma. There are also protective belts you can wear. Ask your ostomy nurse or supplier about them.

Will my pouch fall off if I am running, swimming or playing sports?

It is very unlikely that your pouch will fall off even if you are very sweaty playing sports, or if you are swimming. Kids with ostomies jump on trampolines, run on soccer fields, and swim in the ocean!

Before you play sports or go swimming, always empty your pouch to get it nice and flat and prevent leakage.

But if you notice that your pouch peels around the edges when you are sweaty or swimming you can add a layer of waterproof tape to help your pouch stay on longer. Your parents or a family member can ask your ostomy nurse or supplier for options.

Why does my pouch and stoma sometimes make funny noises?

Everyone pees and poops and everyone farts and toots too! Just like poop drains from your stoma you can also pass gas (fart) through the stoma too instead of coming out your bottom. When gas comes out of your stoma it sounds a little different, more like a true tooting sound!! If you hear it, it is a good sign that the gas is coming out because you don’t want it to stay inside – that can hurt! You might notice that certain foods or drinks cause more gas or more poop to come out. If you are out with friends, you might want to avoid these foods and drinks.

What should I do if my pouch leaks?

If you get a leak, the pouch needs to be changed. Tell your mom, dad, or the person that helps you so that it can be changed. If it does not get changed it will just continue to leak and that is no fun at all because your clothes will get wet and messy. When poop gets on your skin it can cause some skin problems that can also be itchy or painful so it is important to change your pouch as soon as you see or feel that it is leaking. Plus you will feel better when it is changed.

Its always a good idea to have extra supplies with you or nearly. This includes a new pouch, other supplies and some wipes to help clean your skin if you have to change the pouch unexpectedly. For school, most kids have extra supplies and a change of clothes in case of a pouch leak. Your family can meet with your school teachers and school nurse to make sure there is a place for you to keep these supplies and to use a private bathroom to change your pouch.

Do I have to tell my friends I have an ostomy?

That is a very good question. Everyone’s a little bit different as to who they share their story with and how they share it.

Let’s start with who to share it with. Do you have a best friend who you want to share your story with? Sometimes it feels good to have your friend know that you have an ostomy because friends share things that are both happy and fun and sometimes things that may feel a little scary too. Once you share with your friend, it may even make you better friends as your friend may have things to share with you too! Friends are meant to care for each other!

Your school nurse may be another person who you want to share your story with so that if something happened while you were at school, the nurse would be there to help you. Your mom, dad or a caregiver would be a good person to help you share your story with your school nurse.

Hope, support, and finding community

Parent Stories

Various versions have evolved over the years, sometimes by accident, sometimes on purpose (injected humour and the like). Various versions have evolved over the years, sometimes by accident, sometimes on purpose (injected humour and the like).

Kristina S.Mother of a toddler with an ostomy

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United Ostomy Associations of America
P.O. Box 2293
Biddeford, ME 04005-2293

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Call us toll-free at: 1-800-826-0826.
Our Information Line hours are Monday-Friday, 9am to 3pm EST. If you have an emergency, please dial 911 or contact your local medical professional.

Please understand that UOAA is a private, nonprofit, advocacy and informational organization. We are not a medical facility and we do not have medical or legal professionals on staff. Therefore, UOAA does not provide Medical, Mental Health, Insurance or Legal Advice. Visit UOAA Virtual Ostomy Clinic provided by The Wound Company for non-emergency, virtual ostomy support.

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