These are some cool biological things I learned when I had to have an ileostomy bag during my senior year of high school.
Did you know that the small intestine engages in peristalsis all on its own?
Did you know that if an intestine is removed from the body but placed in a specific liquid, that the intestines will continue to engage in peristalsis indefinitely? It can survive without a human.
Did you know that with an ileostomy or colostomy, the stoma doesn't actual feel anything... you cannot feel what is going on with the stoma?
Did you know that you cannot feel or control when you defecate with an ostomy? Or pass gas? There is no sphincter to help control that and you don't have the same sensation or control as with the large intestine, it just happens when it happens.
One of the most intriguing parts about going from an ileostomy to an internal J-Pouch is how the body adapts.
A J-Pouch is created to simulate a rectum. But, with a rectum, you can feel when it is full, you can hold it in, you can essentially control when you actually go to the washroom.
But if it's the small intestine that is 'posing' as the rectum, how can we control it?
With practice!
Although the sphincter is still intact at the end, there is still no control in the small intestine. So, after surgery, it is important for the patient to practice holding it in. Slowly. Small amounts at first. Trying to build up the functionality.
After a while, the small intestine begins to function like the large intestine. After a while, you can have control.
If you're like me, you can even have more control with the small intestine as the J-Pouch than you had with a severely diseased large intestine.
I find it fascinating how the body can take such monumental changes and adapt. It can evolve, change, redirect.
Our bodies are amazing - even if they don't work properly.