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Why Do I Need to Wear an Ostomy Pouching System?

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If you’ve recently been told you need ostomy surgery, you will soon be among the approximately 100,000 people in the United States who undergo the operation each year. Although that is a small percentage of the overall population, that doesn’t trivialize the fact that you may be experiencing some anxiety, or at the very least, have a lot of questions. One common inquiry is, “Why do I need to wear a bag?”

To put it simply, an ostomy pouching system is used to collect bodily waste. But let’s look a little deeper into how an ostomy works.

Types of Ostomy

The reasons for an ostomy vary and can include bowel disease, certain types of cancer, birth defects, and injury. Whatever the cause, the majority of ostomies are one of three types:

  • Colostomy – the large intestine, or colon, is rerouted through a surgically created opening in the abdomen
  • Ileostomy – the small intestine is rerouted through a surgically created opening in the abdomen
  • Urostomy – urine is rerouted away from the bladder and exits the body through a surgically created opening in the abdomen
In each case, the opening formed during surgery is referred to as a stoma. In a functional digestive system or urinary tract, foods and liquids are introduced into the body via the mouth when we eat or drink. After traveling internally through various organs each with its own job, the body gets rid of what it doesn’t need by passing stool through the anus or urinating through the urethra. Following ostomy surgery, however, waste is expelled from the body through the stoma rather than by going to the restroom the traditional way.

Why Can’t I Just Go to the Restroom When It’s Time to Eliminate Waste Through My Stoma?

A stoma does not have nerves or muscles, so an ostomate (a persona with a stoma) cannot control the release of waste. Remember as a kid when your parents would tell you to “hold it’ until you could locate a restroom? With a stoma, “holding it” is not something you can practice or learn over time. As waste moves through your system, it will naturally continue its path when it arrives at your stoma and leave the body. Since there aren’t any nerves in your stoma to signal the presence of stool or urine to your brain, and you don’t have any muscles to contract around your stoma to stop waste from exiting, a pouching system is necessary to collect output that could leave the body at any given moment.

Won’t My Pouch Be a Hassle?

Think of it this way — is constant pain or having to run to the restroom at the drop of a hat less of a hassle than having to empty a pouch a few times a day? Probably not. If you keep in mind that the goal of having ostomy surgery is to improve your quality life, wearing a pouching system will soon become second nature, and you may even find yourself grateful you have it.

If you need help finding a pouching system that works well for you, give Comfort Medical a call at 1-844-700-7013. A representative will fill you in on all of the top-of-the-line products available and can even send out samples for you to test before ordering.

Need ostomy supplies? Get them delivered straight to your doorstep. 

Preparing for Ostomy Surgery

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There’s no doubt about it; surgery is scary. You wouldn’t be human if you didn’t feel at least a slight swell of anxiety upon learning you’ll soon be going under the knife. The good news is you can do something about it. A little preparation for your ostomy surgery goes a long way toward calming nerves and easing stress. Let’s break down the prepping phase into three categories: mental, physical, and practical.

Mental Preparation

Stressful situations are typically perceived one of two ways:  as a threat to our well-being or a challenge we’re capable of overcoming. A 2017 study on this very subject showed that people who see stress as a challenge have a better physiological response and naturally produce more growth hormone than those who take the woe-is-me stance. To put that into perspective, growth hormone (GH) is so powerful that its synthetic form has been banned by the International Olympic Committee and other governing bodies within the sporting world due to its performance enhancing properties. Theoretically, as one of the principal functions of GH is cell regeneration, simply changing your perception of stress can promote faster healing of tissues and organs.

Once you convince yourself you’re capable of facing your surgery head on, take some time to do a little research on your condition, the risks involved with getting surgery (or not getting it), and the specifics of what exactly a stoma is and how it functions. Coloplast’s What is a stoma? page is a great place to start. Understanding that your quality of life will most likely improve after your operation will help you come to grips with it and reduce the anxiety you may be feeling. Write down any questions or concerns you may have and discuss them with your healthcare professional well before your operation date. Many people find it helpful to join a support group a few weeks or months before surgery. Veteran ostomates are sure to have extra tips and tricks that doctors or nurses won’t have simply because they’ve lived the experience firsthand.

Physical Preparation

If your condition allows for it, stay physically active leading up to your surgery. Exercise is a form of stress, so being physically fit means your body is already in the habit of recuperating from strain making recovery from your operation that much easier. Likewise, proper nutrition is a vital part of physical and mental wellness, so make sure to follow your doctor’s guidelines on healthy eating.

Another important aspect of preparing for your surgery is determining the placement of your stoma. It is absolutely crucial that you disclose details about your daily habits with your WOC (wound, ostomy, and continence) nurse. Discuss any sports you play, what you do for work, and any hobbies you have that require bending, stretching, and movement in general. You want to make sure the placement of your stoma won’t be a constant bother once you get back to your normal routine. You’ll also want to assure you can easily access that area of your abdomen since you’ll be changing your pouch and caring for the skin around your stoma on a regular basis.

Practical Preparation

As with any major surgery, you’ll be staying in the hospital for several days. In order to ensure maximum comfort and avoid extreme boredom, you’ll want to bring certain items from home along with you. Here are some of our suggestions:

  • Your cell phone
  • Books, magazines, or a loaded e-reader
  • Laptop or tablet. Check if your hospital has wifi beforehand. Even if it does, don’t count on it for streaming video. If possible, load up your device with movies and binge-worthy TV series before arriving.
  • A power strip or long charging cords so you don’t have to get in and out of bed to plug in your devices
  • Headphones
  • If you’re a light sleeper, bring earplugs and an eye mask. If odors tend to bother you, throw some essential oils in your bag to mask any funky smells and assist with relaxation.
  • Cozy socks, warm clothes, and your favorite blanket. Hospitals like to keep temperatures on the chilly side.
  • Your favorite pillow
  • Slippers or flip flops
  • Any prescription medications you take. It’s also a good idea to write down or type out a list of them to give to your nurse.
  • A list of emergency contacts. Include your primary care doctor’s contact information.
  • A notebook or journal and a pen
  • Any other items you can’t live without on a daily basis (e.g., lip balm, deodorant, toothbrush, toothpaste, other toiletries)

Ask the hospital beforehand for a list of forbidden items and leave valuables such as jewelry and cash at home. Don’t forget to have a conversation with your insurance provider in order to avoid any surprise out-of-pocket costs on your hospital bill. That’s the last thing you’ll want to deal with once you return home and start working on getting your new day-to-day routine down pat.

We’re Here for You!

Let us help you find the right ostomy supplies here. 

Comfort Medical can help get you set up with the supplies you’ll need after returning home from the hospital. Reach out to us with any questions regarding the best pouching system for your scenario, how often to order supplies, or troubleshooting any problems you experience. Just fill out our contact form to the right or give us a call at 1-844-700-7013!

 

The Best Ways to Care for Your Stoma

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Just like the rest of your body, your stoma and its surrounding skin require routine maintenance and good hygiene practices in order to stay healthy. At first, you may feel like caring for your stoma is a hassle, but you’ll quickly learn that slacking is not worth the potential discomfort. Forming a new habit is rarely simple, but if you commit to finding a method that works for you and your lifestyle, it’ll become second nature in no time.

Maintaining Healthy Skin

One of the most common issues ostomates have related to their stoma is skin irritation. Nearly everyone, ostomate or not, experiences some sort of skin issue in their lifetime — a rash, chafing, cracking — and whatever the cause, it can be extremely painful and uncomfortable. Just after your operation, the skin surrounding your stoma may need some time to get used to your new routine and may be hypersensitive. Do yourself a favor by regularly keeping tabs on its condition.

One of the main culprits of inflamed or itchy skin is leakage from your stoma which can happen for a variety of reasons. One way to prevent output from getting onto your skin is to make sure the hole in your appliance fits your stoma precisely. The shape and size of your stoma will change with time following your surgery, so you should measure it often and cut the opening of your baseplate accordingly or order a different size if needed.

Warm water and a washcloth are usually sufficient when it comes to cleaning your skin, but if you feel you need to use soap, go for a mild, unscented version. If you’re left with any adhesive residue from your previous baseplate, try something like Coloplast’s Brava Adhesive Remover.

After washing, you may naturally want to hydrate your skin with a lotion or cream, but this can hinder the adhesive from properly sticking. If you are looking for relief from irritation, instead of moisturizing, try a stoma powder made specifically for soothing the skin while still allowing your baseplate to firmly stay in place.

Before applying the baseplate, it is important to dry the area around your stoma thoroughly. If you’ve ever tried to get a band-aid to stick to a wet finger, you know it just doesn’t work. The same applies to your baseplate.

Some people find the baseplate, also known as a wafer, adheres better after removing any hair from the area by shaving, tweezing, or epilating. However, hair removal can cause irritation as well and if you’re using a razor, you should be extra careful not to nick your skin or cut your stoma.

If you’ve tried all of these methods, but are still experiencing issues, try troubleshooting with Coloplast’s Self-assessment Tools.

Healthy Eating Habits

You’ve probably heard before that our skin is a reflection of what we put into our bodies. Maintaining healthy eating habits plays a large role in building resilient skin and facilitating digestion. Avoid refined sugar, drink a lot of water, and make sure you’re getting sufficient vitamins and minerals through a whole foods diet. Talk to your medical professional about what foods you should avoid and how to get proper nutrition as an ostomate.

A Pouching System That Works for You

Your stoma is as unique as you are and finding a system that meets your needs is essential to your well-being. At Comfort Medical, we carry all of the major brands and are committed to helping you obtain the best appliance and accessories for your unique situation. Give us a call at 1-844-700-7013 to discuss the options with one of our trained representatives today!

Get Your Ostomy Supplies Here. 

 

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