Ostomy Appliance Care At Home

By Sharron Cantu


Ostomy is a medical surgery that creates an opening in the abdomen, making a new passageway of waste products of the body. The one that surrounds the opening is called stoma. It is where the ostomy appliance is attached.

This appliance is a bag or pouch that collects the waste products. This bag is light, thin and odorproof. This will serve as a protection and a cover to the stoma to prevent further complications.

To avoid unnecessary problems you have to look closely at it. Take it on step at a time, particularly to those who are first timers. I may be unbearable at first.

Cleanliness is very important when you have this thing around you. Before you start cleaning the pouch, you need to prepare everything. Empty your pouch. Flush all the products bowel movement or urine. Clean the stoma first and then the skin that surrounds it with a clean linen and warm water. A soap may be used, but make sure that you are using a mild soap. Rinse and pat dry. Before attaching the new one, dry everything out to lessen the chances of having irritated skin. You may provide skin cream for extra skin care.

Do not forget to measure and check the size of it when replacing new one. A guide in measuring is included in a box. Check if there is a presence of swelling. The size and appearance of your stoma may be affected if it is swollen. Normally, when you touch it, you will notice some bleeding. But if you will notice unusualities like in its size, shape and discoloration have it check with your physician. The bag replacing can be in 3 to 7 days or as needed.

Adhesive wafer attachment can sometimes be irritating. You can apply some skin gel to avoid the skin irritation before you apply the adhesive wafer. Without irritating it, place the wafer properly and well fitted. It should be located in the center. Clip the bottom and seal it in place.

Managing your pouch disposal is easy as counting one, two, three. Empty the pouch or bag in the by flushing it in the toilet. Throw away the pouch, wafer, waste but do not include the clip. You can always use the clip. Seal the pouch in a garbage bag and dispose it just as a normal household waste. Although, there are also kinds of pouches or bags that are drainable that can be emptied and lessens your burden of disposing many bags.

For some tips, do not eat late at night before replacing your ostomy bag to have lesser output. When changing ostomy pouches or bags have an old towel or paper towel to catch some waste from the stoma. Always follow and listen to the instructions of your health care provider.

You may be living differently. It can be unbearable during the first few days or weeks, but you can get used to it. You can have a life, but different from others. It may be different, but it is not a hindrance to get a life back.




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