For ladies, longer tunics or dresses pared with leggings or slip shorts, may be more comfortable following surgery. For men, untucked shirts with softer material pants may be more comfortable in the weeks following surgery. Look for jeans made with 1 or 2 % spandex.
You might be entitled to some ostomy underwear, waistbands, and support belts on prescription, so do check with your stoma nurse. I mainly stuck to wearing tighter vest tops underneath whatever I was wearing in the colder months. During the summer I wore tights over my bag, or skater style dresses.
There are specialist stoma underwear, swimwear and clothing companies that produce clothing for people with stomas but this is not necessary to purchase or wear – your usual clothing should be suitable.
High waisted garments
As well as Comfizz offering high waisted garments such as waistbands and underwear, high waisted swimwear can be good to try as an ostomate if you're wanting to keep your ostomy bag more discreet and supported. Garments such as high waisted jeans and shorts can also be good to try.
Wearing multiple layers of clothes can also help to minimize the visibility of a pouch. Swimming is often a concern, as those with ostomies feel that the pouch will be highly visible under snug bathing suits. Again, choosing a bathing suit with dark colors and/or a pattern will help to conceal the pouch.
If your stoma is near your waist, avoid tight pants, skirts or belts that sit directly over the stoma. You may feel more comfortable wearing pants or skirts with a higher or looser waistband, or with an elastic waistband.
You can bathe or shower with or without wearing your pouching system. Normal exposure to air or water will not harm or enter your stoma. If you're showering without your pouch, remove the skin barrier too. Try to create a routine that coincides with when you're due for a pouch change.
Sit-ups and crunches can be uncomfortable with an ostomy bag, also called a stoma bag. They also put strain on your belly area that could raise your risk for a hernia. Try gentle alternative ab exercises like pelvic tilts or knee rolls instead.
You can always shower without a colostomy bag, water and pH-autobalancing products do not harm your stoma. In fact, 38% of colostomy patients prefer to shower bag-less every time, and 23% shower without the bag 3-4 days per week.
The best position to sleep in when you have a stoma is on your back, or on your side. If you prefer to sleep on your stomach, this will be fine at the beginning of the night but increases the chances of leaks as the night progresses and your bag fills.
Leggings and cosy jumpers
Top tip – high waisted black gym or yoga leggings are insanely comfortable, flattering and supportive. Pair them with a nice cosy top half that you can wear tucked in or baggy (for those comfier times or to disguise a filling bag).
Irritant contact dermatitis is the most common peristomal skin complication. Although attention to proper fit occurs during the inpatient setting, patients need to be refitted postoperatively as stomal swelling decreases.
If you have regular and predictable bowel patterns, you may not always need to wear a colostomy bag. But as occasional leakages can happen, it's recommended that you wear a small stoma cap. Additional products that can make living with a colostomy more convenient include: support belts and girdles.
Make sure your clothes are not too tight around the bag.
You may need to be careful that waistbands do not rest below the stoma restricting ability to drain into your pouch. Depending on stoma placement, you may feel more comfortable with high- or low-rise waistband items, like underwear, jeans, or activewear.
Cleanliness is one of the most important aspects when adjusting to life with a stoma. Once you've pushed the stool into the toilet, take some toilet paper and clean the inside and outside of the opening. Flushable wipes are very good to use in this instance, as they'll help eliminate any unsightly odor.
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.
Eat three small meals a day, with snacks in between about 4-6 times per day. Start by eating a light, bland and easily digestible diet. Avoid fatty, spicey or high fibre foods. Drink plenty of fluids at least 6 cups per day (8 cups per day for those with ileostomies)
One major issue to watch out for with a stoma is the laxative effect of some chocolates. The caffeine and fibre within the chocolate can increase the rate of motility (which is the contraction of the muscles in the digestive tract that encourage bowel movements).
Well, elimination of waste is a major body function and your elimination of waste has changed; in fact you need to wear a prosthetic device (ostomy appliance) to manage this change. You have a record of an impairment of a major body function, therefore you are protected by the provisions of the ADA.
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.
The opening is called a stoma. The colon, where poop forms, will now expel poop through your stoma instead of your anus. You may need to wear a colostomy bag to catch the poop when it comes out. Some people only have a colostomy for a few months, and others need it for life.