The Day that Changed a Fremont Resident’s Life

Editor’s Note: This is the final article in a two-part series on ostomy.

Carole Sorenson of Fremont calls it the day that changed her life. The retired electronics saleswoman woke up one morning last year doubled over in pain.

When she arrived at the Washington Hospital Emergency Department, she immediately had tests. Carole had diverticulitis (inflammation) of both the small and large intestine, with perforation and abscess, and needed surgery. This serious colon problem was a total shock to her, as she never had pain or symptoms.

“The doctor told me that I could either have the surgery or I could die,” recalls Carole of her August 2023 procedure. “I had no choice,” she says. By that evening, Carole had a colostomy, an artificial opening made in her body to divert feces and allow her colon to heal.

A Temporary Colostomy

General surgeon Kranthi Achanta, MD, created Carole’s opening, called a stoma, to allow waste to collect in a pouch outside the body. Carole’s colostomy is temporary and can be reversed after her colon heals.

She is among the estimated 1 million people in the United States living with an ostomy, according to the United Ostomy Association of America. In addition to a colostomy, which refers to the colon, similar surgeries include an ileostomy, pertaining to the small intestine (ileum); and urostomy, which diverts urine out of the body.

Washington Hospital Healthcare System is among the few hospitals in the region that offers comprehensive ostomy services for patients living with a colostomy, ileostomy, or urostomy, according to Thuy Vo, a nurse practitioner (NP) certified by the Wound, Ostomy, and Continence Nurses Society. Vo is one of two NPs staffing the ostomy program at the Washington Center for Wound Healing and Hyperbaric Medicine. In addition, five specialty nurses are certified and trained in ostomy care at both the hospital and an outpatient ostomy program at 39141 Civic Center Drive.

Carole was hospitalized for about a week, and says having a colostomy was overwhelming. “It was one day that changed my life,” she explains. “When I woke up from surgery, all I remember is that I had a lot of doctors and nurses explaining the surgery, and what I would have to do to care for myself.”

She credits the hospital staff and the team at the outpatient ostomy program for her recovery. Once a week after discharge, Carole visited the outpatient program to learn how to care for her ostomy. Patients have to empty the pouch daily and change it twice weekly, keep the site clean, and maintain a good attitude.

“My husband helped me a lot,” notes Carole. She has recently had to manage more on her own since her husband fell and had hip replacement in October. “We’ve had a lot of Washington Hospital visits lately,” Carole says. “They’re really very good there.”

Care at the Outpatient Ostomy Program

Carole visited the outpatient ostomy program for four consecutive weeks following the surgery. “The team there was so friendly. I barely sat in the lobby for a moment before they had me in a room. They were very nice.”

While the emergency experience was daunting, Carole says she pressed on with a good attitude, something the ostomy team says is essential to healing. “To be honest, I didn’t look at the site for three months,” Carole explains. Patients often have a hard time accepting the reality of a stoma, according to Vo. “It can be very depressing for people to wake up from surgery and see a hole in their stomach,” she notes. “We ease patients into it and hold their hand. We’re there for counseling and education.”

Carole is preparing to schedule her colostomy reversal, which removes the stoma and pouch, and allows the colon to function normally again. Her husband’s hip rehabilitation has delayed scheduling. She says, “I’m a little apprehensive to go back in the hospital. Besides having a baby, I’ve never felt that sense of helplessness. The surgeon said I can set it up when I’m comfortable doing so.”

Complex Surgery

Ostomy surgery is complex. Patients are usually very sick, and many have colon cancer, inflammatory bowel disease, colitis, and birth defects. While that wasn’t the case for Carole, she says that care of the pouch was a learning experience. Dietary restrictions were also challenging, including avoiding soda that can cause gas in ostomy patients. “I miss 7UP,” Carole says with a smile. But aside from some challenges, she says she’s doing well.

“I’m getting stronger,” she shares, “and that’s good because I can take care of my husband who needs a little help now.” The couple recently took a trip to their cabin in Lake Tahoe, the first in several months, and they look forward to more outings. Carole is especially thankful for the care she received at the hospital. She adds, “The staff paid close attention, and took good care of me. Everyone knew me by the time I left.”

Carole continues, “Having a good attitude is what really helped me. I constantly said to myself, ‘You’re going to get better, you’ll be OK.’ It’s all about your mental state. When you get down, you stay down, and I wasn’t going to let that happen. My husband also kept it positive. I’m doing better and keeping my mind in the right place.” Her advice to others who may be facing an ostomy is simple, “Be strong.”

In addition to the ostomy program, the Washington Center for Wound Healing and Hyperbaric Medicine offers hyperbaric oxygen therapy, a simple but effective treatment providing patients with pure oxygen inside a pressurized chamber.

The outpatient wound clinic, which treats hard-to-heal ulcers, diabetic and gunshot wounds, and other types of injuries, is open Monday through Friday. The outpatient ostomy clinic is open on Fridays. For more information, call 510.248.1520 or visit whhs.com/Wound.