OSTOMY SUPPORT GROUP OF BEAVER COUNTY

 

                                                             

   If you are cleaning a drainable two-piece pouch for reuse, use warm, rather than hot or cold water. Cold water doesn't lift stool or urine as readily from the plastic and the pouch is less pliable. Hot water will cause the pouch to wear out faster and may increase the likelihood of odor. If you want to rinse the pouch while you're still wearing it, use a small squirt bottle to get the water in it, "slosh" it around by holding the end, and then let everything empty into the toilet. Unless you have no option, it's best to remove the pouch entirely for its cleaning.  A bit of ordinary dish detergent with warm water, or if bacteria are a concern, a bit of white vinegar mixed with water will do the trick. Fill the pouch with the warm water/soap/vinegar solution and "slosh" it around by hand over the toilet, drain and repeat as necessary. It's not recommended that you wash these things in the sink. The drains are too small to handle this sort of waste and the resultwill not be hygienic. Once you have things reasonably clean, you can hold the pouch under the bathtub faucet and let it rinse. Tub drains are larger and so long as you let a good flush of water follow, and scrub the bathtub on a regular basis (which you do anyway, right?) your bathroom will not smell. Baking Soda in the wash water and down the drain is an excellent deodorizer. You can hang the wet pouch by the ring on a hook to dry, or just leave it flat on a towel and it will be ready for use the next day. The inside doesn't have to be bone dry for use, but the outside and ring should be. Many products have a thin fabric covering them - nice against the skin when dry, but very uncomfortable if damp. Make sure that part is dry before putting it back on.

 

 

 

 

       If you do spring a leak, especially when you're away from home, it can be a cause of panic. Being prepared can help you keep your cool. Wearing an appliance cover provides extra protection. One person noted that when he had a leak near the seal, he was able to stuff several folded tissues between the pouch and the cover. This absorbed the leakage and kept him going for 90 minutes until he was able to get back home and change. A pouch cover has the advantage of soaking up perspiration on a hot day. Perspiration can quickly undermine the best adhesives. A good ostomy powder can help soak up moisture, too. Lacking this, corn starch or baby powder is equally effective. Some people always carry Band-Aids with them. One ostomate said she used the bandage to mend a small tear in the pouch. It worked so well that she forgot about the makeshift repair until her regular time came to change pouches! One ileostomate told about hispouch filling with gas while he was hurrying to catch a plane and he didn't have time to stop in a restroom. He used a pin to poke a hole in the top of his pouch. By pressing his arm against his body, he was able to avoid an emergency until he could safely use the restroom on the plane. Another ileostomate told us about using a disposable diaper to wrap around her pouch. It kept her safe until she could get home and change. Individually packaged alcohol wipes or towelettes are easily carried and are great helpers in cleaning up an emergency. Best of all, though, take precautions to try to avoid having an emergency.

 

                                                                                            Trouble shooting the leaks                

There are times that a leak may occur for no reason, however here are some hints for stomal leakage that continues to occur.

• Most important, remeasure the stoma, stomas can change in size and shape, when this happens the appliance may be placed on top of the stoma, causing the leak.

• Changes in weight can change the contour of the stomal area, when changing the stoma, sit and stand look for creases that may occur. These changes may need a different appliance and/or paste or seals to be applied.

• Did you change your soap or are you using baby wipes that may have oils or moisturizers in them? Use water to cleanse and rinse area thoroughly.

• Parastomai hernias, this is a bulge around the stoma, sometimes flat when laying but can bulge forward pushing the pouch and wafer off.

• Skin irritation can loosen the wafer, applying a small amount of Stomahesive powder will help to dry area. Remember to dust off the excess and pad with a skin prep or spray over to seal the powder.

• Keeping a diary of where it leaks for example always at the bottom or side and how often. If it leaks every 4th day change it every 3 days.

When having persistent problems, call for an appointment to be assessed by the stomal nurse.