What is Ostomy Awareness Day? It’s an awareness commemoration that falls on October 1st this year where we take additional time to help others understand the procedure. This, of course, includes teaching ways to cope with the post-operative lifestyle issues that arise from undergoing an ostomy.

What is the Purpose of Undergoing an Ostomy?

Patients decide to get an ostomy to address many serious digestive problems, including bowel blockage, rectal cancer, colon cancer, bladder cancer, Crohn’s Disease, diverticulitis, incontinence, and serious infection. Ostomy is a surgical procedure where the surgeon makes an incision into the abdomen in order to redirect the small/large intestines. They do this to divert discharge from damaged digestive organs out through a small abdominal opening called a “stoma.” 

This lets urine or feces exit into a pouch instead of passing through the latter digestive stages. Modern ostomy supplies, particularly drainable pouches, allow patients to do this in a safe, quick, and sanitary manner.

There are three general variations of the ostomy procedure: colostomy, ostomy, and ileostomy. Physicians may recommend these depending on the specific digestive failures or complications.

Colostomy redirects fecal matter for patients who lack colon function. Urostomy does the same for urine that cannot pass through damaged kidneys, while ileostomy diverts the small intestines from the ileum.

How You Can Raise Ostomy Awareness

So, how can we raise awareness for ostomy care?

1. Education is the best initial step. You can actually participate in a free webinar with the Wound, Ostomy and Nurses Society (WOCN) on Ostomy Awareness Day, October 1st. This is a six-hour course designed to further educate ostomy-care professionals. If that’s you, or you have a team of medical care technicians on staff, they could benefit from learning even more about the topic.
2. Have you undergone an ostomy? Then we encourage you to spread awareness by sharing your story and experiences on social media, using the hashtag #OstomiesAreLifesavers or #OstomyDay2022. When you do this, it helps dispel the myths and stigmas associated with the procedure.
3. Share or print this Ostomy Awareness Infographic that shows pertinent statistics and information about ostomy and the seriousness of associated illnesses like bladder cancer, Crohn’s Disease, and colorectal cancer.

Fortis Medical Products has a twofold mission of raising awareness for ostomy lifestyle issues and addressing those needs with safe, reliable, and effective products. Hopefully, you’ll take advantage of Ostomy Awareness Day and help us raise awareness for this important procedure. If you’d like to learn more, please contact us at 855-550-2600.