Sleeping with a Colostomy Bag: Looking for Advice

My husband has had a colostomy bag since last December.

Since his surgery, he sleeps in a recliner.

He has not been able to lie in a bed. He tried using a wedge so he's upright but cannot get comfortable. Any suggestions?

Just throw a blanket over him.

I'm confused, why can't he lie in a bed, does he have some other health issue besides the colostomy?

And if he sleeps on the recliner and he's happy, then let him sleep on the recliner.

Hello Jrjmimi.
Thanks for reaching out to us on this issue.

I felt the need to sleep in a recliner chair for months after dislodging a few ribs in a skiing accident.
Apart from easing the pain, I found it also helped with reflux from a hiatus hernia and it prevented my CPAP mask from dislodging during the night. Hence, when I got a stoma I was already used to sleeping in this position and found it to be the best (for me) to avoid incidents and accidents with leaks etc. 
I looked around  and found a 'recliner' bed, which can elevate both the upper torso and the legs (together or separately) so that I am in a comfortable shape, which I usually describe as the 'hammock' position.
I understand that these beds are available through most bed stores in the UK but I bought mine through a specialist outfit for disabled people. 
I must admit that my motivation for purchasing the bed was more to do with my wife's desire for me to sleep in a bed rather than the chair. Personally, I couldn't see much wrong with continuing to sleep in the recliner chair (which is what my wife does for much of the evening). 
However, I believe that there is a saying that goes: "Happy wife = Happy life!" 
Best wishes

Bill

I also am not clear on why he can't sleep in a bed. Can you give a little more detail? Some ostomates have to adjust their sleeping position a bit depending on where their ostomy is located, i.e., some can't sleep on one side or the other.

Terry

How to Manage Ostomy Leaks with LeeAnne Hayden | Hollister

If he feels better sleeping in a recliner and he isn't hurting himself or anyone else, I don't see a problem with it. I understand that trying to sleep propped up in bed wouldn't be comfortable. Can he sleep on his side instead of being propped up?

Is there a reason why he feels he needs to be propped up?

I only spent 2 weeks in the hospital, the bed was rarely completely flat (and I only slept on my back). It was a challenge to adjust to sleeping on a flat bed when I returned. I only sleep (well) on my back or my right side with a pillow to support my stomach/ostomy.

If he is comfortable in the recliner, I'd just let him sleep for now.

Also slept in recliner after surgery for a couple of months. I was also struggling to stop vomiting twice a day during this period. Once digestion settled again, I was able to lie flat again comfortably. I was glad to get back to a normal bed once I could do so comfortably. May just take a while.

I guess because of where the stoma is located, and he says that he needs to be at a downward angle to keep the flow into the bag.

It's not a problem that he sleeps in a recliner, I just hoped he would be more comfortable. I suggested getting a bed that adjusts up/down, but he doesn't want that, so a recliner it is.

Does he have a lot of output at night? I have a colostomy, I don't—some do though.

Is it clogging the filter? Could he try non-filtered bags?

Just a guess and reading between the lines. Do you think your husband is worried he might have a bag leak in bed and he feels safer sleeping in a recliner chair? If it is, hopefully in time he will feel more confident to go back to sleeping in bed again.

Hi JR, welcome to the site. Has your hubby looked into or asked his doctor about irrigation for his colostomy? He may not have to wear a pouch. Check out videos on YouTube.

I think so, maybe in time.

Have you suggested he just give it a try? Usually, sleeping on one's back can be problematic as output can pool around the stoma, but sleeping on one side or the other shouldn't cause that. If he tries it for a while and doesn't experience any leaks, maybe he will rethink things. On the other hand, if he is happy sleeping in the recliner, I guess that's what counts.

Terry

Hello, I spent 21 days in the hospital, and when I got home with my colostomy, I did not have the hospital bed to prop me up, so I found sleeping very uncomfortable. I can't lie flat on my back because I feel like I can't breathe, and I could no longer sleep on my left side due to the colostomy. If I slept on the right side and my bag filled during the night, it was too much weight hanging in the wrong direction. So I was tempted to sleep in a recliner, but instead, I just used a few pillows to prop me up and finally adjusted. I think he should sleep however he feels most comfortable!