Kidney Infections and Protecting Your Stoma

By Shirley Norris

3 min read

I've had my stoma for exactly one year today and up until two weeks ago, everything first started had no issues at all. Then, I began to feel unwell.

Symptoms of a kidney infection

I started first of all feeling a little lethargic, then I started to get a dull aching pain in my lower back. Soon after I developed a temperature and began sweating profusely.

I knew something wasn't right and had heard from fellow ostomates that these were the stereotypical symptoms of a kidney infection. I knew I needed to get a urine sample to my doctor as soon as possible.

Getting a urine sample

Now this would be the first time I had attempted to get a urine sample direct from my stoma. You "cannot" take a sample of urine direct from your bag as it will always test positive for infection due to a part of the bowel being used to make your stoma. So how was I going to get a sample? I needed to get the sample directly from my stoma.

So I drank about a pint of water. I waited around 15 minutes and got a small plastic measuring jug that I had previously sterilized with boiling water and I headed to the bathroom. I removed my bag and got into the shower. I gently pressed around the stoma area and hey ho my little Winnie began to pee.

The urine was collected directly into the jug and I could then pour into the sample bottle to take to the doctor's office for testing. I felt quite pleased with myself that I had got a sample with relative ease.

Stomach pains and nausea

I gave the sample to my doctor for analysis and would await the results in a couple of days time. It was a day later that, I began to get terrible stomach pains and feelings of wanting to vomit. Now, this sickness terrified me as I had never been ill while having a stoma.

I had heard that you needed to be very careful not to "wrench" around the stoma area as this could cause a hernia. I began to think, "What could I do to protect my little stoma?" If indeed I began to vomit.

Well, I vomited, and the pain around the stoma area was quite intense.

Using a hernia belt to support my stoma

Then I remembered right after my cystectomy surgery, my stoma nurse advised me to order a hernia belt. This could be used if I wanted to do any lifting or in the event that I got a stomach upset or a bad cough, as this would provide comfort and support to my stoma.

I immediately went to the wardrobe and pulled out the box containing the belt. It's a wide piece of stretchy, firm fabric that is adjustable in tightness and fastened with Velcro. From the moment I put it around my abdomen I felt my stoma was supported and protected. I would wear this for the next 2 to 3 days.

I felt much safer wearing the hernia belt and it also helped lessen the stomach pain around the stoma area when vomiting.

Hernia belt for the win

The urine test results came back and I did indeed have a kidney infection. Antibiotics were issued and the infection cleared up in about a week.

Using the hernia belt protected my stoma, and I would highly recommend anyone with a stoma to purchase one, as you never know when you may need it.

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Linda Urbanski Member
<inline-mention username="Shirley Norris" user-id="2077667"/> - Great article and suggestions. I did not think to put on a hernia belt when I went through a rough night with the 24 hours flu a couple years ago. I have a hernia and did end up having some pain with it but did honestly not relate the hernia pain and the nausea. I guess that as I was resting in bed I did not think to put on my hernia belt. Great suggestion and something I will definitely do in the future should I find myself ill like that again. Hope all is well with you Shirley - My best to you. Linda Urbanski (moderator, <a href='https://bladdercancer.net' target='_blank'>Bladdercancer.net</a> team member)
Linda Urbanski Member
<inline-mention username="Shirley Norris" user-id="2077667"/> - Great article. A reminder to me to put the hernia belt on even when resting during a possible illness like the flu. I wish I would have thought of that a year ago when I had the flu and also had some serious hernia pain. Not sure why I did not connect the 2 but now I will. Thank you for this info. My best Linda Urbanski ( moderator,Bladdercancer.net team member)
Laura MacKenzie Member
A good tip Shirley. I have been fortunate not to have had any infections since I got my urostomy over 4 years ago. Quite ironic since it was repeated UTI which caused the bladder cancer in my case. I have never used a hernia belt but think about getting one now in case I need it. Thank you. Laura, Moderator, <a href='https://bladdercancer.net' target='_blank'>BladderCancer.net</a>
Linda Urbanski Member
<inline-mention username="Shirley Norris" user-id="2077667"/> - I read this again and have a question. I have always given a sample from my bag. I change my bag in the morning and go directly to the lab to provide a sample. I have never been told that I need to provide the sample directly from my stoma and have not tested positive for an infection. I assume it is because I have a clean bag on and provide a sample immediately. Just curious if others always give samples direct. Linda Urbanski (moderator, <a href='https://bladdercancer.net' target='_blank'>Bladdercancer.net</a> team member)