Everyone always talks about using wet paper towels, but it has to be the "right" paper towel. My fellow ostomate, Pat, told me right in the beginning that the best paper towel to use with our ostomies is Viva! They are super soft, so much better than the usual "rough" paper towels!
BTW—I celebrated my 6-year stoma-versary on 9/29! So yay me!
Thanks for the comment/suggestion on paper towels. I always welcome shared information on this website and -
yes!!! Yay for you for being a 6-year warrior! jb
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Do you use paper towels to dry the area around your stoma, or to dry your bag after a shower?
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I use tissues with no aloe vera added for cleaning the opening of my bag when emptying it, and I use Chuck cloths that come in a roll for cleaning around my stoma with warm water. I cut the Chucks into 2-inch squares. Then I dry it all off with the little eyelash dryer. Regards, IGGIE
Happy stomaversary! After I rinse my bag, I use tightly rolled-up toilet tissue to try to get the remaining water out. After a shower, I use my towel to firmly blot around the bag to help it dry. Of course, it doesn't dry it all the way, so it's left a little damp, but it dries eventually. To clean around the stoma itself during a bag change, I use sensitive baby wipes.
Unless those wipes are specific for using around stomas they may not be the best cause they may contain something that may lead to sticking issues.
Well they're not specific at all lol. But I've been using them all along and no problems at all. Like sticking to the skin? Or preventing the wafer from sticking? Either way, no issues, knock on wood. I do use a paste and barrier wipes before putting the wafer on, which of course help with protecting the skin and adding extra stick for the wafer.
I purchase the disposable soft cloths from my pharmacy home care...so soft around my stoma.
I use the "flushable" wipes when changing a pouch or appliance, and cleaning around the stoma. Usually Sam's Club special for a good price, but they have a pleasant scent and feel soft around the stoma, don't irritate, and don't contain any alcohol (like some baby wipes do). Since I use the sealed disposable pouches, I just throw the wipes away with the pouch and don't try to flush them.
When I change my appliance, and after I use the little packet of adhesive remover, I wet a warm paper towel to wipe off the excess adhesive remover (because if it's not all off, the new ring and wafer won't stick), plus it warms the skin a little bit too. Then I use a dry paper towel to dry the area, including my stoma. Then I put on the ring, the wafer, and I also put on a couple of adhesive barriers just to be on the safe side. Then, slap on the pouch and you are good to go :)
Actually, I use the "Kleenex Hand Towels". They are super soft. I cut them into squares (9 per towel). They can be hard to find. I get them at Target.
Congrats on your anniversary!
I use 1-inch double-layer gauze squares. I dry and clean up any moisture after my shower or during the bag change.
My son bought me a case of gauze, so I'm set for at least a decade, lol.
Yes. Most wipes have some sort of “moisture” added to them so it could lead to an issue of things sticking properly. There are wipes made specific for ostomies cause they are basically just moist from water with nothing else added in.
Congrats on your stoma-versary. On 7/3/23, I celebrated my 67th stoma-versary.
I use gauze and saline to clean and a hair dryer both to seal the adhesive to my skin and to dry the bag (if it's a covered bag) after a shower (I use Coloplast products exclusively). The hairdryer dries the bag in less than a minute and I can dress right away without clothes getting damp which feels really gross.
Hiya-When I get out of the shower, I just wrap a small towel around my appliance until it's dry--gets rid of the dampness issue-lol
