Five Quick and Easy Tips to Help with Ostomy Pouch Changes

When you have an ostomy, it can be challenging to change your pouch in public bathrooms. It's essential to find a private space so you don't feel self-conscious and embarrassed. You also want to make sure that you change your pouch at the right time so it doesn't get too full or leak on clothes. Here are five quick and easy tips for better bathroom changes:

1) Find a private place with plenty of light and ventilation if possible: If you are in a public bathroom, it may be challenging to have privacy. If possible, find a stall where you can close the door behind you so no one sees what is happening. You should also avoid changing your pouch near sinks or anywhere there might be people waiting for them because they will hear everything that happens. Bring wipes and a clean baggie to the bathroom so you can wipe down counters or benches before sitting. 

2) Plan by bringing supplies with you before going out (wipes, toilet paper, new bag): You should have a supply bag full of wipes, toilet paper, and new ostomy pouches with you. If you run into any problems on the go (leaking or pouch failure), this will give you time to find supplies while your old one is draining instead of having to make an emergency bathroom stop. 

Keep bags in the car: If you tend to get stuck in traffic, or your commute takes longer than expected, then it's a good idea to keep bags in the car. This way, if you are caught somewhere that you can't go home right away- like when there is an accident on the highway -you won't have any issues with leaks later because of delayed pouch changes. 

3)Cleanse ostomy site with wipes: Most bathroom stalls don't come with sinks, so make sure you bring your water and cleaning supplies to help clean the area around the stoma before trying to change it. Be gentle when cleaning because even though you're in a public place, no one wants their skin irritated by

 4) Wear loose clothing fitting around the waistband area; this will make removal easier: It's also a good idea to wear clothing that is not tight or restrictive around the waist so you can easily take your ostomy pouch off. This means it might be wise to avoid tucking in shirts and wearing belts, as they may cause problems when trying to access your stoma.

 Wear "summer clothes" in summer: In the warmer months, you should avoid wearing clothes that are too thick or heavy as they may be uncomfortable during a bathroom change. Many ostomates find it easier to take their pants off entirely and put them back on at the end of a pouch change rather than removing only one pant leg with an active stoma.

 5) Use all the products you're given by your ostomy nurse: Your treatment team will provide you with many different supplies to help with pouch changes, so make sure that you use them. These could include cleaning wipes, stoma powder, and stabilization products like wafers or adhesives. Ask for more if there are things they can provide- not using everything you're given can lead to skin irritation or problems with pouch leaks. 

Use a bathroom mat: Sometimes, the floors in public bathrooms are wet and dirty, so place a towel on top of it before sitting down if possible. This will help protect your skin from any grime that might be lurking on the floor and prevent accidents during pouch changes. 

How To Deal With Skin Irritation From Continuous Glucose Monitoring Systems

Glucose monitoring systems use strong adhesives that tend to cause skin irritation and dermatitis. These issues can be resolved by working on the root cause. If you are reading this post, chances are you are doing some research on how to handle skin irritation.

In this article, we have compiled a list of tips and facts to help you prevent or get rid of skin irritation caused by the adhesives in your CGM system or insulin pump.

• If you are trying a sensor or set while you continue to experience skin irritation, it is unlikely that your problem will subside without any medical intervention. This problem will only worsen over time.
• Keep the affected skin area dry and clean. Non-perfumed soap or a cleaning solution, essentially without any strong chemicals in composition, can help prevent bacterial growth without damaging the skin further. Use a swab soaked in an alcohol-based solution on the affected skin area to disinfect it. Let this area completely dry once it is nice and clean.
• You may get periodic and short-lived relief from sprays and anti-histamines approved by doctors. If you want to get long-term relief, you may consider using prescribed creams and sprays that tend to leave an effect for several days after the first application. Be sure to discuss with your doctor before using these long-term solutions.
• Some skin barriers come in wipes and sprays. These solutions create a barrier film over the skin to prevent it from getting damaged due to the strong adhesive. You can look through different brands to choose the product of your choice. Most of these products are waterproof but can be removed with water and gentle scrubbing. Using soap can also make barrier removal quite convenient, but make sure you are using non-perfumed soap.
• You can also choose to use the tape backing on the sensor. Be sure to create a correct-sized hole in the patch of tape to let the sensor pass through and come in contact with your body. You can discuss these barrier options with your doctor or surgical staff.
• It is also possible to apply tape directly to the skin and then apply your set or sensor to that tape.

Contact dermatitis and skin irritation

Several adhesive additives can cause flare-ups in skin allergies. These additives can be both synthetic and natural. The best way to deal with contact dermatitis is to discuss the problem with your healthcare provider and ask for the adhesive additive that won’t result in a flare-up. Since everyone’s skin is different, getting your skin examined is necessary so that your doctor can recommend the right solution.

Make sure to discuss the skin problem with your doctor as soon as you experience any discomfort. Delaying a consultation will only worsen this problem.

Getting your Supplies

Right now, we’re living in an unprecedented time in modern history. While a lot of people seem to understand the urgency of the current pandemic situation, there is still a huge chunk of people who aren’t taking it seriously enough, which is an unfortunate situation to find ourselves in as a species.

Now, I could go on and on about what the implications of this whole situation happen to be. Instead, I’m choosing to look at the good it can bring to the world and how we’re going to recuperate as a planet (and not just as a nation). The obvious things sticking out about this pandemic are the deaths it has and will cause and the major impact it’s had on the economy.

But what about the future of our healthcare system? What about how things operate from here on out? I’ve got a few people in my life that will be impacted (for the better!) by this thing, and it’s only beginning to ramp up. You see, things like Hollister ostomy supplies currently can make a few people wonder why prices are set as they are. Luckily, brands like that have made the highest quality supplies available, and people who are on good health insurance plans don’t see the costs as they are.

Nonetheless, there are others who aren’t so lucky with their health insurance situations, which means they aren’t as lucky to see “nothing” on their bill whenever they visit their ostomy specialist. And so after this whole thing pans out, I truly believe a lot of healthcare will be shifted in favor of a more regulated system where lower-income individuals can afford not only the healthcare they need but also the supplies and medicines that are unique to their situations. So no matter how much you feel like you’re in desperate need of things like insulin, Hollister ostomy supplies, or other basic prescribed medicines and supplies, you should be covered in the long run.

It’s stuff like this pandemic that should bring our species together in solidarity rather than push us apart, like we’ve been doing to one another for the past century. I’m excited for the change that will be enacted once this all passes over, because the current state of the world definitely does need overhauled for the better of everyone, not just the top few. And when we come together to realize that, real change happens to pull us all up.

Urostomy: What You Need to Know

Most patients agree that the most challenging time during their life with an ostomy is right after the procedure. Their body is in quite a bit of pain and will take a few days to heal. In the meatine, the nurses and healthcare professionals will assist the patient in learning ostomy care. The patient (or caretaker) will have to learn all the necessary steps to keeping the stoma healthy and clean. They will learn how to drain, clean, and change their bags around their stoma. They will also have to learn the different types of adhesives and what type is best for them. All of these supplies will be ordered prior from Hollister ostomy supplies.

Here are a few more types that have to do with life in general after a urostomy. Patients should expect a slight odor when draining the urostomy. There are different types of bags that can mask odor more depending on the patient’s needs. There are also deodorizing sprays that can be applied several times a day. To help check that odor in check patients should be testing and then limiting certain types of foods. Food to limit at first would be foods such as: asparagus, eggs, and cheese. Depending on the patient these types of foods can really increase the odor. Some people have found that drinking multiple glasses of water and taking extra Vitamin C can help.

Patients should expect up to seven days in the hospital for recovery. But they should also give extra time after the hospital stay to get acclimated at home before returning to work. At the hospital, patients have nurses and healthcare professionals to help them with all of their new daily tasks. Once the patient gets home they will have to do their daily routine entirely on their own.

Time returned to work also depends on the type of work the patient will be doing. Desk work will be an easy adjustment as they will just have to empty their bags a few times a day. Laborious work may have to wait a while longer for the urostomy to completely heal. People who are laborers should consider purchasing an ostomy belt from Hollister ostomy supplies.

 The belt will keep the pouch in place to ensure the stoma and bag are safe during work. The belt can always be used for athletes or people who exercise on a daily basis. There are even waterproof options for people who sweat or spend time in the water.

Tennis and Your Ostomy

So, you’ve had your ostomy. You’ve recovered from your ostomy. You’ve learned how to get along with your stoma and pouch, and now all you want to do is get back to life. And part of that life included being outdoors and being able to play sports, like tennis. But, seeing as how things have changed and you’re now carrying around an additional accessory you weren’t before, it’s easy to see how you’d wonder if you’ll ever be able to get back to your old normal way of doing things. The short answer to that is no. Old normal is out. But that doesn’t mean that a new normal isn’t around the corner. And this new normal can still include your favorite activities, like tennis, amongst many other things. 

 

The trick is learning how to work with your pouch when doing physical activities, such as sports. One of the best ways you can do this is simple little tricks. One such trick for instance is making sure your pouch stays in place with athletic tape. You just gently wrap it around your abdomen, securing the pouch in place and assuring that it won’t move while you do. If you’re concerned about the cost of such things, as athletic tape can be a wee bit expensive to buy a lot of, no worries, you can always go to distributors, such as Amazon, and buy it in bulk. I actually have done that for more than just my pouch. Back in the day, I had to wear a heart monitor for over a month, and I found a supplier that was technically athletic tape for horses, but it was made from the same material that humans use, and it was less than a fraction of the cost you buy it in stores. 

 

Another way to make yourself more comfortable while making sure your opponent scores nothing more than some love while hitting the ball around the court, is to wear athletic clothing. There are actually websites designed to sell apparel for people like you and me who’ve had ostomies, and are looking for something that can help secure, conceal, and give the most comfort possible. Otherwise, you can just go to places like Under Armor, who have a wide selection of dri-fit clothing that is perfect for sweating and keeping the moisture from building. 

 

Now when it comes to movement, and in tennis there’s a lot of it, as long as your pouch is secure, you really don’t have much to worry about. Maybe don’t dive for that ball that will have you landing on your stomach, but aside from that you should be good to go. Another good tip is to make sure you empty your pouch before hitting up the court. And, if you’re wanting more concealment (because tennis shirts aren’t exactly baggy) you can also go with a smaller pouch for athletic purposes. 

 

All-in-all though, despite that you now have a new normal, that normal can still include your favorite past time activities. It may take a little extra planning and thinking ahead, but as long as you dot your i’s and cross your t’s, you should have no trouble being to partake in almost any sport. But let’s be honest…tennis is pretty much the best, so why do anything else? Ok ok ok, maybe switch it up occasionally. But no matter what you do, you should be able to have fun and maybe even forget your ostomy ever happened in the first place. 

Enjoying Spring with a Stoma

Spring is here and it makes me so happy.  I enjoy Easter for sure, but my part of the country starts becoming nice in the weather for being outside.  But if you find out that an ostomy surgery is going to be scheduled and it is for you, your mind starts to wonder.  Sometimes this is a scary moment.  Many people think this is the end of their fun in life.  I was totally afraid that my outdoor life would end once I got my stoma, but in fact, I was totally wrong.  I had a lot of fears that were not necessary and completely wrong.  This was a wonderful thing to find out, but a lot of it was more along the lines of me learning the hard way.  I had seen many people simply give up and live a sedentary lifestyle with a stoma in I was totally not a fan of it at all.  Now I write a ton about my stoma and talk to as many people as I can to help them with their fear.  I want people to live happy and active lives and know how to do it with a stoma.

One of my favorite things to do is be outside and enjoy the wild weather.  But with spring here I can enjoy amazing weather. I have always been an avid hiker, backpacker, and jogger.  These things are what give me joy on a daily basis and something that I really like to do.  So to me letting them go was not going to be a possibility unless there was no other choice. My journey to being outside has been just that a journey. Make sure you are researching and learning all you can to ensure you can do your favorite things too. You may be surprised by what people are doing who have stoma's.

Now it took me a long time to get back into the swing of a gym.  After a surgery you need to heal and recover.  If you have a six-pack and want to jump back into abs you may have to wait a little bit.  You are now more prone to having hernias and no one wants that to happen.  So for me, it was a process of heading to the gym and walking on the treadmill.  This was a huge step because it was outside my home and neighborhood and had a possibility of bad things happening in public.  So that is why I started slow and just walked for some time.  After a week, I added elevation and then slowly moved into doing ellipticals too.  It took me a few months to feel confident in my gear and in my ability to jog in public.  Confidence is not an easy thing to get, but in time it comes and you can really start living again.

My journey took me to a lot of social media in the healing stages. I was lucky to be able to spend time listening to others and learning about gear and how to use it.  It was pretty cool to find athletic people sharing their lives for free. I don't care if they were getting paid by Youtube, they were and still are helping me.  That is pretty darn cool if you ask me.

 

What’s a Parastomal Hernia

A hernia is a protrusion or a wrongful placement of the intestinal tract and usually, it’s via a weaker part of the body, or a defect as well. Hernias usually involve a defect including weekend openings, and also what’s called the hernial sac, and the content of this. Usually, a hernia will occur when an organ gets away from your abdominal wall. 

When that happens, especially with your stoma, and the pathway is around where your stoma is, it’s called parastomal, since it is outside the skin. If it’s via a surgical wound, it’s an incisional hernia. Surgeons usually make incisions to help create a stoma, and usually to help cut off the digestive tract from the other. Whenever you cut this, it does debilitate the strength of the wall. Sometimes, a part of the intestine may lodge up against the walls, and eventually pass through these defects too. 

Usually, parastomal hernias are one of the most common forms of stoma complications. It can happen in an asymptomatic manner, and it only is noticed because the area looks deformed. In some cases though, it can strangle or incarcerate the bowel, which means you have to go in for surgery. About a third of patients deal with this, and it’s also why there is a higher level of recurrence after they try to repair it. 

Usually, they try to prevent this with prosthetic mash, and usually, this is when the parastomal hernia isn’t able to be avoided with hurting, and it sometimes has to be dealt with after a little bit. Sometimes, parastomal hernias protrude out through the skin or settle within the inner parts and layers of your abdomen. 

Usually, these types of hernias come into four different categories. Typically they’re interstitial, where the sac is within the abdominal layers in the wall itself. There is also subcutaneous, where it happens on that part of the skin. There is intrastromal, where it penetrates into the ileostomy spout itself. And finally, you have the prolapse, which is where the sac is within the stoma that ended up prolapsing. The incidence of that usually is very small, or it can be in almost half of the cases, depending on stoma types, and the follow-up length too. Most of these typically don’t have any symptoms, but it can cause life-threating complications if you’re not careful. 

The Risk Factors 

Usually, if you have a few instances where you’ve dealt with this before, you may have some different risk factors inside. If you have had surgery before, there is a chance that it could happen again. The same goes for stoma location. Some are in more common areas. There is also some other factors including how old your are, how obese you are, any sorts of infections that are there, and of course, smoking and other risk factors. 

Quality of Life 

For the most part, you usually don’t have too many complications with this, but you may want to make sure that you buy and ostomy belt. Some people however that deal with symptomatic hernias deal with a much more debilitating quality of life, where it can make them feel a bit more worried, they’re dealing with pain, bulging, and it can make them need to use the toilet a bit more. 

Loose pouches is also a concern too, along with making sure that they are not feeling like they’re being looked at. There is also an increase of needing to rest and feeling tired during the day, along with that feeling of self-consciousness and a fear of going out as well for them.