Ileostomy surgery is done for many different diseases and problems. Some conditions that can lead to ileostomy surgery include ulcerative colitis, Crohn’s disease, familial polyposis, and cancer. Sometimes an ileostomy is only needed for a short time, but for some people it’s lifelong.

For the thousands of people who have serious digestive diseases, an ileostomy can be the start of a new and healthier life. If you’ve had a chronic (long-term) problem or a life-threatening disease like cancer, you can look forward to feeling better after you recover from ileostomy surgery. You can also look forward to returning to most, if not all of the activities you enjoyed in the past. This guide will help you better understand ileostomy – what it is, why it’s needed, how it affects the normal digestive system, and what changes it brings to a person’s life.