General stoma care

Hi Jools63

Stop panicking, take it easy and relax try not to stress yourself out it will make your recovery easier.

It's good that you are preparing yourself so here are the answers to questions.

Cleaning your Stoma

You use a dry wipe or paper towel to wipe any poo from around your stoma after you take your bag, then dipping a dry wipe into warm water wash around your stoma (peristomal skin) to remove any residue poo, then using another dry wipe carefully pat your skin until completely dry (pouches don't stick to wet skin)

Note Don't be alarmed if you see some blood when you are cleaning THIS is perfectly normal.

SHOWERING

You can shower with your bag on, the material covering the pouch will dry quite quickly and you can help it along by patting it dry.

You can also shower without your bag on, your stoma will enjoy it, when finished gently pat the skin around your stoma dry.

CUTTING THE HOLE.

The hospital stoma nurse will show you what to do. In every box of pouches you receive there will be a sheet with lots of holes in it, you place the paper gauge over your stoma to find the nearest size to stoma, you then trace round the hole onto your pouch base plate and cut the hole out. It should not be too tight against your stoma and there shouldn't be a large space just a nice comfy fit. After a while when your stoma settles down you may think about getting your pouches pre cut by your supplier to help you but I would always suggest that have a few uncut pouches available in case of emergency.

You may be lucky and receive a plastic sheet with all the hole sizes cut out, it's a lot easier and you can reuse it over and over.

I hope that I've answered your questions I know you will have more between now and Thursday and even afterwards please don't hesitate to ask me anything and in this connection I have sent you a friend request, if you accept you message me directly with any questions and I'll give you a prompt reply and put your mind at rest. I'm about every day early morning until early morning and I'm here to help you.

Keep asking and good luck for Thursday

Ian

Ian

thank you so much for coming to my aid again! I’m trying to be mentally prepared as I suffer from anxiety. I’m keen to make sure I can help myself by being prepared. The stoma nurse was quite cross knowing they only have one day to help me before the weekend! She is a real sweetie.

Jools63

Hi Jools 

We do so much with our stomas on autopilot I omitted to mention when showering with your pouch on that you should apply a guard over the filter.

With each box of pouches you receive there will be in the box a sheet of little stickers these are the filter guards

The filter stops working if it gets wet or if poo has come in contact with it.

Keep in touch with me during the week if you are worried about anything or if you just need a little reassuring chat I'll be here for you.

Ian

Jools63

Measuring your stoma

Tracing the hole size on to base plate

Cutting hole out

Ian 

Thanks for coming to my aid once again Ian! You are a great comfort.

Jools63

Hi Jools, just wondering if there is anything else you would like to ask me or need  clarification on anything your nurse has told you. 

Ian

Hi Jools63 just to reassure you my operation was in a Thursday and I didn't see the stoma nurse till Monday or Tuesday the nurses take care of it until you see the stoma nurse and she won't let you be discharged until you are competent at sitting and changing it good luck I'm only a couple of weeks ahead of you and still getting used to it 

Love 

Peacock62 xx

Hi Peacock62!

I have just read one of my slightly older posts and seen your lovely reply! I had my op last Thursday and really was quite worried about the stoma nurses not working weekends, which I knew in advanc! One of the “normal ward nurses” was a true superstar. I gained enough confidence from her to empty my bag unaided and without anyone telling me to on Sunday morning. Thought I was such a star! Camhome lateish last night and had to get up at 2.15 with a full bag. Had a bit of a mishap, which actually made me laugh, and reminded me that it is early days. I’ve been well and truly put in my placby my bag and gravity. Thanks for your support.