How will I feel after a urostomy operation?

Following surgery, it’s not surprising that you will feel weak. You may go through a whole range of emotions – and these will obviously vary from person to person. It’s important to remember that it may take a while for you to recover and get back to feeling your normal self again – both emotionally and physically.
When you wake up after the operation, you’ll be wearing your first bag. This will probably be a clear one to make it easier for your nurses to check on your new stoma. At first, your stoma may be swollen, but it will gradually decrease in size over several weeks.Your stoma will begin to work immediately after your operation but the stents (a tube placed in the urostomy) will be left in place for seven to ten days. At first, your urine may be tinged red, but it will soon return to its normal colour. There will also be mucus in the urine from your stoma.
Your bowel movements may be disturbed and you might experience some constipation – and it can take a little time before your bowel starts working normally again. When it does start to work, you may find that you have some diarrhoea for a short time – but this will settle.
How wil it affect your body?
You’ve had to deal with a lot of changes in your life, so don’t expect to be back to your old self straight away after the operation. Having any type of surgery can affect how you look and feel about your body. Try and accept that it is going to take time to adjust. It’s not just about your stoma, but your whole body.
Everyone is different, and you should take whatever time you need to come to terms with everything.
See advice for before and after your urostomy operation for more information.