How I Updated My Bag Change Routine

Yes, I still dread the bag change day! (My colostomy was done in July). I want to do it early enough in the day that the stoma isn’t too active but I have that second cup of coffee to avoid starting. 

My newest routine involves getting in the shower with the old bag still in place. At the end of the shower, I remove the bag and place it in my prepared bin (a dog waste bag opened and standing in a flower pot). A piece of gauze for some cleaning goes in there too. Then I shower the stoma area. 

Another piece of gauze goes over the stoma while I dry off, just in case. I then use a hairdryer to speed the drying process around the area and use stoma powder on any redness and brush away excess. Then a skin barrier wipe on the whole area and use the hair dryer once more. 

And hooray, I finally have pre-cut one piece convex bags so I don’t have to cut them. I do  add deodorizer/lubricant to the bag. After sticking the bag to my skin, I start near the stoma and press, working out to the edges.  Then I press my palm over the whole area to heat up the adhesive for a minute and use the hair dryer again. I was heating a pad in the microwave for this at first, but seems unnecessary. And done! For hopefully 3-4 days. 

I’m still trying different bags, so far all one-piece drainable pouches. The search (like everyone else) is for a filter that works longer so the bag doesn’t balloon, but doesn’t release odor. Seems like if the filter is higher up on the bag, it works longer. The convex rings seem to have solved the earlier leaking issues, confidence comes slowly. 

And it  will take even longer to take “bag change day” in stride. Wonder what works for other folks?

Change is good, whether it is a routine change or a different appliance change - brand type.

Gotta do what you gotta do.

I can never have even my very favorite one cup of coffee before my change.  My stoma is pretty calm in the early a.m. - yes at the very time I want my coffee….however, for me, it’s coffee in coffee out post haste….so on change day my morning coffee is my reward immediately following change….☕️jb

It sounds like you are doing great, Ziploc (love the name), especially for a relative newbie.  I'm nearly five years in, and admit that 'change day' is not my favourite.  It's always a sense of relief when I get a new appliance in place and realize I've got a week ahead of me until next time.  I'm sure it's because I have an ileostomy, so my window of time is pretty small, and there is always a chance my stoma will surprise me and start performing.  You will probably learn to relax more as time goes on.  

Terry

 

Hello,

I'm 18 months post-op, gifted with a permanent colostomy. I have a mild parastomal hernia.

I use the Hollister 2-piece system. I used to change the wafer every 7 days. Then I experimented with 10 days. Between 10 days and 7, there was no difference in how my peristomal skin looked. My skin actually looked better at 10 days.

So, I just went 14 days with the same wafer. I changed bags many times. I showered with the bag on many times. Conclusion: My skin looked great. Looking at the used wafer, the flange seal with the moldable ring area showed no leakage marks. Stomach hair around the stoma was longer... but that made it easier to cut off with an electric pubic shaver and small precision scissors. I wore a hernia support belt the entire 14 days, all the time. I didn't suffer any compression damage around the stoma.

I'm going to stick to a 10-day wafer change interval. It's nice to know I can go 14 days with no negative consequences.

This will save me money on ostomy supplies and allow me to build up a backup supply.

Getting Support in the Ostomy Community with LeeAnne Hayden | Hollister

Sounds like you’re doing things pretty much right for you. 👍 My only advice, if I read your procedure correctly, is that I’d add the deodorant/lubricant after you get your bag on. If you accidentally get any lubricant under the sticky stuff, I’m guessing how well it sticks would be jeopardized. I add mine after I get everything on and attached. 

That's amazing. So the hernia support belt goes over your stoma with no negative consequences? And have you always used a two-piece system and prefer it to a one-piece?

Thanks for sharing.

Since my bag "snaps on" after the wafer is adhered to my stomach, adding deodorizer lube poses no risk to adhesion.  

Hello,

Yes, I've always used 2 piece Hollister.  I like it.  Bags can get fouled/soiled with output pretty quickly.  I like being able to drain the bag, snap it off.  Rinse it clean with water.  Then snap it back on.   Or.. if I'm in a hurry:   Snap off full bag, put it in disposal bag.  Snap on new bag.  Takes less than a minute.  This is very handy while traveling.  

I've taken multiple showers with the same wafer.  Fabric tape/wafer main seal remain perfectly adhered.  After the shower, I snap off wet bag, snap on a dry one.  Rinse out the wet bag, let it dry, reuse it.  The bag filter might not work as well....but that's what I use the deodorizer lube for.  Never had a complaint from the wife about noxious odors.  

On wafer change day,  I remove wafer and shower with exposed stoma, using Cetaphil soap.  When shampooing hair, I don't let shampoo/conditioner drip down my chest and stomach.

I have a colostomy.  In the morning it's inactive.  I take 2 paper towels into the shower.  1 to clean Mr Stoma, 1 in case the little beast kicks out turdlettes.  

Hernia belt tips:  My experience.  I used to cut the wafer hole per instructions.  Leaving a small gap all around between the stoma and wafer.  This caused discomfort, peristomal skin damage, and red lines around my stoma at the base.  Then I discovered the joys of using a moldable barrier ring.  Game changer.  I fit/stick the moldable ring around my stoma's base.... where regular skin meets stoma.  Cut the wafer hole larger, leaving an 1/8 to 1/4 inch gap all around my oblong shaped stoma.  This has speeded up my wafer changes.  No more discomfort, skin damage, or red lines on my stoma near its base.  I wear my Nu-Hope Corp. Support belts all day and night.

After my experiment: 14 days same wafer... skin/stoma looked excellent.  Hair growth didn't interfere with wafer adhesion.  I sweated, riding my bike multiple times.  I thought my skin covered by the wafer would be negatively affected... but it looked great.  

I spent decades in the aerospace industry building satellites.  One thing I learned:  always question the "status quo."  Many times I was told "won't work."  Till I did it... and it did work.

I change my pouch twice a week, always when my stoma is not active and always right out of bed. I always set out everything I will need the night before. Out of bed, I empty the pouch and shower. I always hang a dog poop pouch from my shorts under my pouch just in case the stoma does get active (in over a year this has never happened), making the pouch change take 10-15 minutes and I'm done. It's routine and works for me. Early on, I would take a spoonful of peanut butter and wait 20 minutes to promote stoma slowdown; it turned out that if I made the change in the a.m., I did not need the peanut butter.