If you’re on the journey to a J-pouch, you’ll probably experience a couple of different types of stoma — an end ileostomyand a loop ileostomy.
You might be wondering what’s the difference between them and how it will impact you in the real world.
We’ll answer those questions now.
Understanding the End Ileostomy
Let’s start with the end ileostomy.
That’s the stoma that’s made from the very end of your small intestines. The stoma is presented on your tummy through a small incision that the surgeons will make.
As the stoma is made from the end of your intestines, it means that your waste has got the full length of your intestines to travel before it exits your body via the stoma.
As the waste has most of your intestines to travel, it means your body has every chance to absorb and digest what’s being passed through. So that means things like water and nutrients can get absorbed.
The so what of that means that your output will be slightly thicker than with the loop ileostomy, as you’ve got the entire length of your small intestines to use.
This is pretty much the best that you’re going to get with an ileostomy. The shape of the stoma is typically round and nice and easy to manage.
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Understanding the Loop Ileostomy
Let’s have a look at the loop ileostomy.
Again, this is presented on your tummy, typically at the same site where your end ileostomy sat. The actual stoma is made from intestines that are higher up. This means that waste has got less distance to travel before it exits your body via the stoma.
The result is less time for things like liquids to be absorbed. Therefore, output with a loop ileostomy is typically runnier and more liquidy than the output from an end ileostomy.
The so what of having more liquid output means things like leaks can be a bit more of a challenge, and more frequent bag changes may need to take place.
The shape of the loop ileostomy is also slightly different from the shape of an end ileostomy. Instead of being round and more like a circle, it can be a little fatter and a little wider. This allows the loop part to be made.
The loop part is actually quite important. The loop acts as a junction to divert waste out of your stoma and into your bag before it can carry on travelling down — typically to a newly formed J-pouch.
This allows the J-pouch to heal in a clean environment, without getting stressed while it’s having those first few weeks and months of recovery.
My Experience with Both Types
I’ve experienced both types of these stomas on my route to a J-pouch.
While the loop was a little bit trickier to manage to begin with, I did get used to it.
If you’ve lived with an end ileostomy, you’ll take to living with a loop ileostomy fairly easily.
Remember, the loop ileostomy is just a step on the journey — it’s not the final destination.
Final Thoughts
Both the end ileostomy and loop ileostomy are part of the same journey — one that leads you toward your J-pouch and a life with more normality again. Each stage has its own challenges, but also its own lessons. If you’re on this path right now, know that you’re not alone — and each step forward really does matter.
If you’d like to hear me talk through this in more detail, you can watch the full video below:
And if you’re preparing for surgery or recovery, you’ll find more real-world stories and practical guides here on the Pouch Heals Blog — plus new videos every week on the Pouch Heals YouTube channel.
Check out another video from Pouch Heals, and let’s take the next step together.