The psychological challenges of living with an ileostomy: An interpretative phenomenological analysis

Ileostomy, in which the small intestine is redirected out of an abdominal wall so that waste is collected using a bag, is used to treat conditions including inflammatory bowel disease and colorectal cancer. This article reports an in-depth idiographic analysis of the experience of living with an ileostomy.

Twenty-one participants took part in semistructured interviews about their lives and relationships. Those interviews were transcribed verbatim and analyzed using the experiential qualitative methodology interpretative phenomenological analysis.

Two superordinate themes arose from the data: ileostomy's intrapersonal impact and the impact of ileostomy on relationships with others. The authors found that ileostomy may destabilize the sense of self, disrupt body image, and alter experience of age and sexuality. Other participants were able to use their illness to positively reframe the self. Disclosure of ileostomy status was difficult for some. Intimate and friend relationships were often challenged by stoma status, whereas other family relationships were largely characterized as supportive.

Ileostomy may impact upon both intra- and interpersonal aspects of the lives of those who live with it, in both negative and positive ways. Consequently, the sense of self can appear challenged, and relationships with partners, family members and friendships could be causes of distress. On the other hand, some partners were supportive, and children were found to be sources of comfort. (PsycINFO Database Record