Showering with a Dixie Cup to Keep Things Dry - Tips?

Hi all, this is my first post. A lady posted about using a Dixie cup while showering to keep the bag dry. Is this a brand? Also, any suggestions for added support for playing tennis? Thanks, Jackie.

G-Day Jackie, a Dixie Cup is just a plastic or paper cup; you can put it over your stoma as you leave the shower. Or you could use this I made from a Hollister Bag Collar and belt. Regards, IGGIE

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A Dixie cup cannot keep an attached wafer/bag dry; obviously, what it's used for is when one removes the wafer and wants to keep sudden discharges from the bare stoma contained. Some do this to get a "skin day" where no wafer is attached to allow the skin to breathe and heal up some. Some do this while lying on their stomach with a pillow, etc.

If you want to keep your bag dry, you can buy barrier strips and when applying the wafer, apply these around, attaching to the wafer flange better to your skin. This will help keep a lot of water from getting in. When you're ready to take a shower, use a few pieces of waterproof tape along the top edge of the barrier strips, then take the tape off after you're done towel drying. The bag will get wet, but you can blow dry it.

If that won't work for you, you can wrap plastic around your midsection and waterproof tape the top edge. Use a washcloth underneath.

For playing tennis, you can wear a wrap if you want to be more secure. I wear a wrap when I go swimming. I got one on Amazon.com; it did cost a bit of money. The one I got cost about $80, but if you don't plan on getting wet, you can use a much less expensive wrap. A piece of fabric that is tight-fitting might do the same. Make sure it is breathable though, so output can go into your bag and won't get stuck.

Ever drive a car that has a convertible top? In the rain?

Do you see those drivers trying to cover their roof?

No.

Why?

It's made that way.

So is your bag.

The strips Shamrock suggested are bulletproof... uh, I mean waterproof, super strong. Use those and a hair dryer for the bag.

By the way, welcome. Good to have you.

Staying Hydrated with an Ostomy with LeeAnne Hayden | Hollister

Sometimes there are cracks where the barrier strips meet the skin, like it's not adhered well or over scar tissue.

That's why I recommend the temporary use of waterproof tape along the top barrier skin edge, where water is most likely to force its way in during a shower. 😊

Hi, I'm very new to this group. I just started reading about how to keep your bag dry. Why does it have to be dry? I've had a colostomy for 25 years and now an ileostomy for the past 5 years. I've never taken any precautions to keep my bag dry. I shower and I swim; it dries off by itself. It doesn't pop off. Please forgive me if I'm misunderstanding you.

You have a unique situation. Not too rare where scars form from surgery. That is tough to fix—fill in those gaps. Or skin folds are also common areas where it's impossible to seal and get good solid adhesion. 😩

I feel for you and others facing this predicament.

I'm reminded of a car's valve cover. Replacement is usually with RTV silicone; it seals the new gasket rough areas. I don't advise using that, but someone suggested Fixodent.

The denture glue? Yuck.

You are blessed with patience.

I give you that, man.

I'm thin on it. 8 years with a stoma.

Some of us know what works for us may not work for others. But "suggestions" should be taken as such. An offer. Experience counts. Street stoma smarts. Not textbook smarts. (Sorry, went off subject... tangents ZOOM🚀.)

For you, in your situation, your appliance has to fit and adhere over these little "speed bumps." That's got to be frustrating to deal with and get a better seal.

No harm using extra sealing power on top of the appliance.

Those C strip extenders are a godsend. 24/7 for me. Every... appliance... change...

Thing is, I don't get it when people shower:

1- Why face the shower head on? Is that what a dog feels with its head out the window-like? 😂

Turn your back to it.

2- If you like that—facing the water force... then cover the top of the appliance with your arm briefly, or use your hand to cover it. Shield it... again briefly but tight, and turn away from it.

3- If your pressure out of that shower head is much like that out of a fire engine hose, something is wrong. 😊

4- Handheld shower head... adjustable flow... direct water where it needs to be going. Problem solved. 👍

Wow! I am so sorry for myself that I never expected anyone to have it worse than me. I assumed we all had this situation and it fit us all the same. I thought we all just had nightmares to share and help others with questions. Thank you, Warrior, for explaining that. Much appreciated.

Oh stop... I'm blushing... 😉 and you're welcome.

You take a common sense approach to this with your experience. It's good. Thank you for posting that. You are saying basically "what's the big deal here," right?

No big deal!

People get so uptight "my bag! my bag! It's wet!! it's wet"..

Like it's gonna disintegrate.

Please. More important stuff to worry about than a wet bag.

Yes, there are others here much worse off than others. We share the stoma saga though.

In Shamrock's case, he has difficulty with adhesion from scar tissue. Not an easy fix. With poor adhesion comes leaks and irritating skin. His appliance is more likely to pop off or leak than others here.

By the way, welcome to the site. Please add more answers or topics. 👍 or questions... 😊

That's awesome, Iggy!! I was just trying to figure out how to dry off after a shower without using more than one hand. That will work great. 😃😃.

I am going to make one.

Amazon sells an Ostomy Shower Guard for Stoma. It is essentially a flat bowl with a belt that covers the entire flange and the pouch folded into it. It's not foolproof. My belly button allows for some water to get in. But it keeps the flange dry which helps it to last longer. 

My biggest concern about a wet bag is having it against my skin after the shower that might cause a rash.  I don't have the patience to dry it with a hair dryer. 

My shower routine involves emptying the bag, and putting the cap over the bag and flange to shower. Once I'm dried off, I take off the bag, clean the stoma and flange with a wet wipe and put on a new bag. I then rinse out the first bag and hang it to dry for tomorrow.  I've go a clip on the shower wall to clip it to. This way I rotate two bags and try to get three days out of each bag. If it pancakes real bad, I toss it!

I've also discovered a tattoo bottle works fantastic to open the top of the bag and squirt water into it, before I open the bottom to empty it. Bought a two pack on amazon.  It helps the stool to just slide out and makes me feel a little cleaner. I can even squirt a little water right on the stoma to flush anything sticking on it.

We all find ways that work for us. 

Hello Fitzy

What you are saying is experience talking; there is no need for gadgets, as you have found. Pat the bag dry with a towel, then hit it with the hair dryer; it is the most efficient way to go.

Ditto that! Can't beat experience talking. 👍

The problem is there are not many good listeners.

I wear a Stealth Belt Pro for playing pickleball and it makes me feel secure because the bag is well protected. So happy to be back on the courts!

Thanks Iggie. I’m trying to keep urostomy bag dry while showering though 😕

Sometimes I am pressed for time going to work, and even at work, I use these wipes to clean up.

I guess it's similar to a quick condensed sponge bath.

Firemen use these on the job. I don't know the exact name for those wipes, but even baby wipes would work when pressed for time.

I don't know how a uro bag is fitted to a person, but if it's like a bag that hangs around the midsection, it's difficult to keep completely dry. And if the bags are the same that we ileos and colos use, (big assumption—mind you) you shouldn't need to worry much about it.

Good luck though. Just thought wipes could be an easier alternative for you.

Useful hints, thanks Warrior. I'm very new to this, Sadie stoma arrived in May, then 2.5 months in intensive care + delirium + sepsis. Nothing nastier than waking up at 3am and not knowing who you are, at all. I phoned 999 and they asked the nurse.         

So my brain is substandard at the moment and I appreciate hints and tips that may be obvious to others, e.g. reducing the shower  pressure. My son tells me we can buy a pressure reducing shower head. I'd never heard of them.

How smart are you, Warrior... Well, duh... I never even thought of a handheld shower head as an option... I will now go around all day shaking my head - what the hell is wrong with me - especially in the newbie stage when I spent $$$ and frustration trying to cover that shitbag with Stretch-n-Seal and Saran Wrap!!! No kidding, a handheld shower head... must've been a brain fart I was having back then, and I do not remember anyone suggesting this little tidbit of advice - kudos to you! 👏👏👏. jb

p.s. It took me a while to heed the brilliant advice of those with experience on this website to forget about covering it when showering and on change days JUST GO BAGLESS... To this day, such advice has proved to be well worth any membership fee!!!

Sarcasm will get you places, Hon. Keep it up, if that's how I read between the lines here.

You have good hearing. Thanks for listening. 😋

I have a urostomy bag, and if the flange isn't completely dry, it can lift and leak. A urostomy is always active, so it can be pretty crap if a leak happens when out… speaking from experience!

Absolutely no sarcasm intended… perhaps a failure to communicate… going for some humor… seriously though, I cannot believe I really, really never thought of a handheld shower head… in my defense though, when I first got my ileostomy, our shower head was not detachable, and my psyche was greatly traumatized… jb

You are forgiven😊.

This time.😋

No worries. Sometimes the simplest things are right in front of you.

Lowes and Home Depot have these shower heads paired that convert one top spout with an attached hose for the additional handheld. So you got the best of both water worlds.

Hubby may like his regular shower head on top. Stationary. Fixed.

And you got your handheld which has an adjustable flow dial built into it. Direct the water to where you want it, away from the bag. They cost between $50.00 and up; cheap ones will leak and not spray properly.

Go...get...wet...enjoy.

Just as a follow-up, I have had a dual-headed shower attachment for 3 years now - I have never used it though. I am now unafraid to get the old bag wet... we're both old bags, actually (that's a joke), as I am old. I just wanted to clarify so as to eliminate any miscommunication. jb

Then...go...get wet...unafraid. 👍

Also, on a lighter note, when using "duh," it could be interpreted in two ways, the way I see it.

Duh, as in "really, no shit, dumbass."

Or

Duh, as you used it sincerely, as "why didn't I think of that?"

Of course, I thought the former and acted on it, so yeah, slight miscommunication.

I read speech, and sarcasm in voice is very difficult to see, or "get."

If you ever watched TV or a show with captions, you'd understand.

They fill you in on the real meaning by printing (sarcastically), "no shit?"

And that reply, without hearing the voice behind it, would leave me clueless, thinking the former above.

Yep - written word is so easily misinterpreted….

This site is very special to me, therefore I try to be very careful in posting. I do not want to hurt any feelings. My intent is to try and be helpful or humorous… leave 'em laughing. I see you try to do the same….

Too bad my ileostomy cannot flush out sarcasm, as from time to time I get blocked up with that stuff - but truly have no intention of sharing it or any desire to do so. jb

Bag still gets wet using a handheld shower head.

Sorry to break everyone's bubble over that one.

There isn't as much direct water pressure on the bag using a handheld, but so is keeping one's back to the showerhead and washing the front using a washcloth.

The problem comes from moisture in the air; it condenses on the bag and makes it wet, much like it does on the mirror.

Waterproof tape the top of the barrier strips going around the wafer. Dump it, fold it up, and tape it. Take a shower keeping one's back to the showerhead. Start at your legs and work up, saving your upper body for last.

Get out, towel off, and while away from water, blow dry yourself and your bag off. It only takes a few minutes, and you feel so warm, dry, and comfy.

Try it, you'll like it. 😊

Guys, you can mess around all day doing all kinds of things to try and keep your bag dry. You don't have to.

Have your shower and don't worry if the bag gets wet, then when you get out, sandwich your bag between your towel and extract as much water as you can, then finish drying off and in no time your bag will be dry. Get over it. Regards, IGGIE

That’s what I do. I use a handheld shower and then dryer afterwards…