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.

Stoma and the pouch that is attached to it needs to be taken care of to avoid unnecessary complications. This will need more time and patience, especially to the new ones. You might feel a little uncomfortable moving and doing things around with this around you.

In cleaning you will need to be patient. Prepare all the things needed beforehand. Remove and empty the bag. Flush the waste products right away. Clean it and the skin around the area with a washcloth and warm water. If you desire to use soap, use the mild one. Remove the soap by rinsing. Pat it dry. Make sure it is dry. The skin around should also be dry before attaching a new one to avoid irritation. Provide 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.

A few points to help you. Have some old towel or paper towel prepared when you change it to catch the waste. Less food intake for lesser output is the secret. Instructions are important, do not forget them.

Living with it for the first time may be very difficult. But that does not mean you are not going to have a life. Most patients like you were able to enjoy after surgery and lived normally.




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