Stoma Pouch Ballooning or Pancaking?Describe What the Bag Is Doing
Bloating & DigestionArticleTwo pouch problems to describe to your stoma nurse without improvising a fix.
In this article
After an ileostomy, dehydration signs, a very high temperature or feeling hot, cold or shivery, lots of blood from inside the stoma or in the bag, or severe cramps with nausea and vomiting need urgent medical advice. Do not wait for a pouch review. Contact your team promptly about reduced or stopped output.1
Ballooning: the pouch inflates
OUH describes wind inflating the pouch. Its leaflet explains that pouch filters help release wind.2
Pancaking: stool stays near the stoma
OUH describes this colostomy problem as stool remaining around the stoma instead of dropping into the bag.2
Bring the difference into the review
Tell your stoma nurse what the pouch does and when it happens. Ask which individual pouch arrangements need review. The descriptions above do not identify the cause or authorize changing equipment yourself.2
Keep a short description in your own words. Leave room beside it to record the nurse’s explanation and any question you want to return to.
Bloated by Dinner includes a Test It list and visit script. Use them to organize your questions and record your team’s answers. Explore the digestion playbook.
This article is for general educational purposes only and is not medical advice. It isn't a substitute for diagnosis or treatment from a qualified healthcare professional who knows your health history. Please don't ignore professional advice or delay getting care because of something you read here. If you think you may be having a medical emergency, call 911 or your local emergency number right away. Girl Playbook does not endorse any specific product, test, or provider.
Girl Playbook sells this book. It provides education and worksheets, not individualized medical care.
Sources
The research behind this article, in the order it’s cited. How we source our articles.
- NHS, 2023Complications of an ileostomy (opens in a new tab)↩
- Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, 2025Common concerns and possible stoma complications for people with a stoma (opens in a new tab)abc
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