Seal the disposal bag, put it into a domestic refuse bin, and wash your hands. While it is fine to dispose of used stoma bags into normal domestic waste, some local authorities offer a 'yellow bag' clinical waste service for stoma bags if you prefer.
Emptying and disposing of your used stoma bag
Empty the contents of your stoma bag into the toilet, then place the used pouch and any wipes into a disposal bag. Seal the bag and put into the domestic refuse bin, then wash your hands.
Changing a Drainable Ostomy Pouch:
To change a drainable ostomy pouch, consider leaning over or sitting down on the toilet to drain the pouch – whichever is more comfortable. Once the pouch has finished draining, use toilet paper or wipes to clean around the drainable opening.
The inner lining and flange are usually bio-degradable and can be flushed in domestic toilets, septic tanks and single flush siphonic systems. As the outer bag stays clean it can be disposed of in a standard bin, with any stoma output flushed away safely in the inner lining.
Once home, avoid strenuous activities that could place a strain on your abdomen, such as lifting heavy objects. Your stoma nurse will give you advice about how soon you can go back to normal activities. At first you will pass wind through your stoma and then, usually within 2 or 3 days, you poo through it.
Taking a Skin Break
Many people enjoy leaving their skin uncovered for 15 to 30 minutes after taking their pouching system off. This is called a skin break. Taking a skin break can help with irritation or keep it from happening. You can decide if you want to take a skin break.
Yes. As a general rule, if you have a colostomy bag that makes it difficult to work, you'll qualify as disabled. If your colostomy bag is functioning well or if you expect to have it reversed within the year, you probably won't qualify.
Empty the pouch
Sit on or next to the toilet. Or stand in front of the toilet. Put a layer of toilet paper in the toilet bowl to keep stool from splashing. Pull your clothes away from the pouch.
Closed bags may need changing 1 to 3 times a day. There are also drainable bags that need to be replaced every 2 or 3 days. These may be suitable for people who have particularly loose poos.
Many ostomates worry about odour. If the stoma bag fits well there should be no smell except when changing it. If you do notice a smell from your bag, you should check it as there may be a leak under the flange and the bag will need changing.
Key facts. A stoma is a small opening in the abdomen which is used to remove body waste, such as faeces and urine, into a collection bag.
If you allow it to get too full, the weight of the stool may pull the pouch away from the skin. A person with an ileostomy will need to empty the pouch about five or six times in a 24-hour period. If you have a colostomy, you will need to empty the pouch two or three times in a 24-hour period.
If your bag is fitted around your ostomy correctly and adhered effectively to your skin, you should not smell anything from your ostomy apart from when you empty and change your bag. If you do notice a smell, it may be worth checking around your bag to see if any output has started to seep under the adhesive.
Protect the skin around the stoma
For the pouch to stick well, the peristomal skin needs to be dry and smooth. If the skin is moist or uneven, the pouch is more likely to leak. And any urine that leaks out of the pouch can pool on your skin. This can irritate the skin.
Change your pouch every 5 to 8 days. If you have itching or leakage, change it right away. If you have a pouch system made of 2 pieces (a pouch and a wafer) you can use 2 different pouches during the week. Wash and rinse the pouch not being used, and let it dry well.
Changing your stoma bag may seem daunting at first but you will soon get used to the routine of it and over time you will find that a bag change will only take you a few minutes to complete.
Keeping hydrated with an ileostomy, colostomy and urostomy
You should try to drink 6-8 glasses of water each day along with any other drinks such as tea or coffee.
After a colostomy, you can expect to feel better and stronger each day. But you may get tired quickly at first. Your belly may be sore, and you will probably need pain medicine for a week or two. Your stoma will be swollen at first.
Living with a stoma is a challenging situation for various reasons including uncontrolled gas passage through it, odor, diarrhea, and leakage around the stoma or appliance. It would take several months for the patients to adjust to this difficult time.
Some common complications of stoma include poor siting, parastomal hernia (PH), prolapse, retraction, ischemia/necrosis, peristomal dermatologic problems, mucocutaneous separation, and pyoderma gangrenosum. Each will be discussed separately in further detail.
Use the palm of your hand to apply gentle pressure to the stoma, very gently pushing it back into its usual position. 2. Another alternative is to apply a cold compress to the stoma with your pouch on. Then try to reduce the stoma again using the palm of your hand.