The correct spelling is colostomy, with no “n” in the middle. It’s a common misspelling because people often mix it up with “colonoscopy,” a completely different procedure. These two words sound similar and both involve the colon, but they refer to very different things.
Colostomy vs. Colonoscopy
A colostomy is a surgical procedure that creates an opening in the abdomen so waste can leave the body through the colon without passing through the rectum. That opening is called a stoma, and a small bag is attached to the outside of the body to collect waste. A colostomy is performed when part of the colon or rectum needs to be bypassed or removed.
A colonoscopy is a diagnostic screening test. A doctor inserts a flexible, lighted tube through the rectum to examine the inside of the entire colon. If abnormal growths (polyps) are found, they can be removed during the procedure and tested for cancer. The American Cancer Society recommends people at average risk start regular colonoscopy screening at age 45.
The simplest way to remember: a colostomy is surgery that changes how your body eliminates waste, while a colonoscopy is a screening exam that looks inside your colon.
Why a Colostomy Is Performed
A colostomy becomes necessary when the colon can’t function normally on its own. The most common reasons include colon or rectal cancer, bowel obstruction from cancer or scarring, traumatic injury such as a gunshot wound, inflammatory bowel disease like Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis, and certain conditions present at birth.
Some colostomies are temporary, allowing a damaged section of the colon to heal before being reconnected. Others are permanent, typically when a portion of the colon or rectum has been removed entirely.
Life After Colostomy Surgery
Recovery takes time, but most people return to work and resume their normal activities once they’ve healed. Unless your hobby involves contact sports with a high risk of injury to the stoma, you can generally get back to doing what you enjoy. Runners and swimmers sometimes use a special belt or binder to hold the ostomy bag securely in place during activity. For weight lifting, your doctor or ostomy nurse may recommend an abdominal support device.
Diet is one of the biggest adjustments. Once you’re cleared to eat normally, you’ll notice that different foods affect your digestion in new ways. Some general patterns people discover:
- Foods that cause gas: beans, broccoli, cabbage, carbonated drinks, onions
- Foods that thicken stool: applesauce, bananas, rice, pasta, peanut butter
- Foods that thin stool: fried foods, spicy foods, high-sugar foods, prune juice
- Foods that increase odor: eggs, fish, garlic, asparagus, alcohol
- Foods that reduce odor: yogurt, buttermilk, cranberry juice, parsley
Chewing food thoroughly and drinking plenty of water both help. Some harder-to-digest items like popcorn, nuts, corn, coconut, and fruit skins may pass through without fully breaking down, so it helps to be aware of those early on. The ostomy bag should be emptied when it reaches about one-third full to prevent leaks.
What to Expect During a Colonoscopy
A colonoscopy requires preparation that starts a few days beforehand. Three days before the procedure, you’ll switch to a low-fiber diet. The day before, you move to clear liquids only, with no solid food. You’ll also drink a bowel prep solution in two doses: one in the evening before the procedure and another six to eight hours before your appointment. Four hours before the procedure, you stop drinking anything at all.
The prep is widely considered the least pleasant part. The procedure itself is done under sedation, so most people don’t remember it. If polyps are found and removed, the tissue is examined for signs of cancer. For people at average risk with normal results, the recommendation is to repeat the screening every 10 years.