Ostomy

Overview

An ostomy, or stoma, is a surgically created opening between the intestines and the abdominal wall. Ostomies can be temporary or permanent.

Ostomy Types

Ileostomy: Connects the last part of the small intestines (ileum) to the abdominal wall.
Colostomy: Connects a part of the colon (large intestine) to the abdominal wall.

Diagnosis

Ostomies can be caused by the following conditions:

Cancer
Trauma
Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) such as Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis.
Bowel obstruction
Infection
Fecal incontinence (inability to control bowel movements)
Diverticular disease (small bulges or sacs that form in the wall of the large intestine)

Treatment

Dietary Restrictions: Depending on the type of ostomy, you may need to change what you eat to control the number of and consistency of bowel movements. You will learn to monitor the effect of food on ostomy function. After a period of time, many patients are able to slowly introduce foods back into their diets. It helps to chew food well, drink plenty of fluids and avoid certain high roughage foods, such as green leafy vegetables. After recovering from surgery, most patients do not have dietary limitations.

ASCRS: Ostomy

United Ostomy Associations of America

Find a Location in Your Area

Find a Location

Request an Appointment

What Our Patients Are Saying



Excellent

Digestive Health Institute | Gastroenterology

4.7

Based on 2419 reviews

See all reviews

review us on

john S.

I felt welcomed

Richard W H.

Courteous, Professional, Kind Staff.

Alice A.

Quick and professional service.

Bob L.

Dr Yusuf and his team were great, very good experience!!

LastMeme_earth

I enjoyed my visit with Brooke she staid a long time talking with me regarding my health issues. The receptionist was kind and thoughtful.

Dale K.

Everyone was very friendly. It was very clean. The doctor, Jannel Lee Allen, was especially concerned about my health and the specific ways we would get me feeling better. Very knowledgeable and nice personality.

anna P.

They were courteous, professional and kind.

Beauford F.

I'm very pleased with the staff and the Doctors that helps and explains to you what's going on with you.

Cathy S.

I had a <5 minute wait in the waiting room. The medical assistant/nurse was very pleasant and knew exactly what she needed to do and what info to collect from me.Only a 5 minute wait to see Leslie, the certified P.A. I thought Leslie was very professional and appeared very experienced. I was allowed to take a test at home and start on a fiber supplement instead of scheduling a colonoscopy right away (which I may end up needing anyway).I hope Dr. Iftiker Ahmad is enjoying his retirement. I liked him a lot.

Jeffrey St P.

Received advice but missed a few things - my fault for not bringing ginger them up

Our Doctors

We’re proud of our team here at Digestive Health Institute. Our health care providers include some of the very best colorectal surgeons, gastroenterologists and physician assistants. To learn more about our qualified team of specialists, click their image or visit our providers page.

Daniel Coffey, MD

Dorian Jones, MD

Lucas Julien, MD

Janell Lee-Allen, MD

Razvan Opreanu, MD

Scott Plaehn, DO, FACOI

Albert Ross, MD

John Walling, Jr., DO, FACOI

Siaka Yusuf, MD

Our Locations

FAQs

What happens during my first visit?

If you are a new patient, you can expect to have a complete physical exam. You will also be asked detailed questions about your current problems and your past medical history, your current medications, allergies, your family history and other pertinent medical information. If you are taking medications, please bring a completed medical history form with you to your appointment. Once the physician has reviewed your medical information and completed the physical examination, a plan of care will be developed. You may need to be seen again in the office, be referred back to your family physician for follow-up care, or require additional testing. If additional tests are needed, we will assist you in scheduling these tests.

What if I need to schedule an endoscopic procedure?

An endoscopic procedure allows the physician to visualize a part of your gastrointestinal tract with a special instrument called an endoscope. If your family physician has ordered testing, you will be contacted by telephone by one of our staff members. If an Digestive Health Institute physician orders testing and you are in the office, the procedure can generally be scheduled during the course of your visit. You will be given a date, time, and location for the test, as well as written instructions telling you how to prepare for the test. If you have any questions about the procedure, please feel free to ask one of our staff members or the physician.

How do I get test results?

We ask that you wait 10 to 14 days before contacting us for results. Often results come from several different sources. This information needs to be compiled and reviewed by your physician before you can be appropriately advised. You may call 517-332-1200 and press “8″ and your call will be directed to the triage nurse.

What insurances do you accept?

Digestive Health Institute accepts payment from most insurance companies including Medicare, Blue Cross/Blue Shield, Blue Care Network, Physicians Health Plan, Cofinity, Sparrow Professional Health Network, Medicaid, McLaren, Health Plus, and several others. Accepted insurances are subject to change at any time without notice.

If your insurance requires an authorization from your primary care physician, you may be asked to assist us in obtaining this authorization.

All patients are responsible for all copays and deductibles at the time of service.

If you have any questions regarding your benefits or insurance coverage, please contact our Billing Department at 517-332-1200 #6.

What if I need to contact the doctor?

To contact your doctor during business hours please call our main number 517-332-1200. If you have an urgent need to speak with the doctor after hours please call our answering service at 517-483-9124 and the doctor on call will be paged. In the case of a medical emergency please proceed directly to the nearest hospital emergency room.

Is a bleeding rectum a sign of food intolerance?

Food intolerance is a term for when your body has a tougher time digesting certain foods than others. Some reactions may be mild, while others may be very intense. Whether a food intolerance presents itself as a risk to a patient is for a gastrointestinal specialist...

What is Bloating?

Bloating is the feeling of having a full stomach, and it is accompanied by a distended abdomen or an increase in the stomach’s size. Bloating typically involves the accumulation of gas in the intestines, resulting in swelling of the stomach. What are the causes of...

3 questions to ask your gastro specialist during your first visit

A gastrointestinal specialist is someone with extensive medical knowledge of the gastrointestinal system. They are professionals who are great resources for a variety of digestive disorders and gastrointestinal conditions. People with these issues can get diagnoses of...