Soaker Blues - Is It Safe to Soak Bag-Free with a Stoma?

Hello ostomates. I found I prefer bag changes after a shower. The chance to shower bag-free, just me and the stoma. Good for peristomal health as well. I do, however, miss a good tub soaking. Is it okay to do that bag-free with the stoma fully immersed in water?

Yep. Stomas like to take a warm bubbly once in a while.

Every morning for me!!

I would not go bag-free with my ileostomy.

Ileostomies aren't known for being on their best behavior, so unless you have yours down to a science… your bath will probably be joined by some effluence 😉

Stories of Living Life to the Fullest from Ostomy Advocates I Hollister

Hi Rene,

The issue with taking a bath versus a shower is that in a shower the fresh clean water is constantly flowing over your stoma and surrounding area. When you take a bath, the soap residue as well as dirt washed off you and dead skin cells all float on the top of the bath water. If you let that sit around your stoma area, it's not the best thing. And as you get up out of the water, that residue will deposit itself on your skin as well. So at the very least, have a pitcher or large cup full of clean water and wash off the area around your stoma as you get up out of the bath water. Other than that... have a blast!!

;O)

That's why you rinse off with a quick shower after your bubbly bath, duh. 😁

Yes, I always shower before I change and give the stoma "a vacation." As for a bath, if you can time it right so that the stoma is asleep, then go for it, but I haven't had much luck with the timing. So when I take a soak, I do it with the bag on. But definitely shower well after you soak if you're doing it without a bag.

I am apparently the odd man out. I've never done the "naked shower" or bath. I have two ostomies, so there isn't really any way to do so without issues. You all have better-behaved stomas than I.

I always bathe bag-free; yes, sometimes the timing is wrong, but I don't care, I too deserve a soaking. I have always used an antiseptic (Dettol) in my bath. I find the soaking gets the skin clean in all the nooks and crannies that get missed from day to day.