Ostomy: Adapting to life after colostomy, ileostomy or urostomy

Having had an ileostomy for 50 years, I believe I've tried just about every skin barrier product known to man. My skin is allergic to almost everything except water. I also have a burst appendix scar above my stoma and a hernia to the right of my stoma.
For me the best skin barrier product is one made by Hollister (hollister.com). I wear their appliance for at least a week and usually for up to 10 days. And yes, I shower daily. I know this wear time is not recommended, but it works for me.
Before applying the appliance I put a slim O-ring over my stoma. When applying the appliance I hold it on the skin for approximately 60 seconds and then window tape it with a silicone water proof tape. Every tape I have tried eventually ended up irritating my skin, except for this silicone water proof tape.
Following on the products, mentioned above, that I use. Go to Hollister's web site for more product and description information. I hope this is of some help.

SKIN BARRIER RINGS SLIM 2" OD 2.3 MM THICK (10/BX) #HO8815
BARRIER 2PC CTF 1" CVX CERAPLUS XTDWEAR GRN FLNG (5) #HO15302
TAPE WATERPROOF 1"X 15FT SILICONE (1) LF #SNS57230

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I received my stoma 5 years ago and what has worked for me, since my skin is sensitive to all things that stick to my body, I use "No Sting Barrier Film". A few years ago I started to have the irritation. Figuring I was not cleaning the skin under the one piece pouch, I got out the "No-Rinse Foaming Body Wash", I was given when I was in the hospital. It works, I do rinse the Body Wash off. I also noticed that the tape was not sticking, which means I was not holding the pouch in place long enough (3-5 minutes) for the tape to "mold" to my body. If you do not have "hot" hands just use the hairdryer. If that fails try the rings, 3-5 days is a normal time for a pouch change. I have also found out that how many showers you take can tell you how often the pouch needs to be changed. (Water gets under the tape.) If you have hair under the tape you may want to remove it or if you sweat a lot these can cause the tape not to stick so the pouch has to be changed more often. At one time almost all Ostomy Nurses had an ostomy, now more people are going into the field. If you can, ask for an ostomy patient/nurse. I hope this info can help. Good Luck.
mlmcg

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When I saw colostomy, ileostomy, urostomy on Mayo Clinic Digestive Health I was so happy. I have so much I need to know and I can share some things. I then had this feeling that I was needed in the bathroom. I am not sure what can be worst than a full bag/pouch/appliance of liquid and air. I had to clean the front of toilet, the floor, the clamp, my hands, and change my clothes. At least I did not hit my shoes. I know we are to empty our bags when it is a third full, but I have not figured out when the bag is 1/3 full, when I have diarrhea my bag goes from empty to full in a matter of minutes.

My ostomy is the results of radiation I had on my lower abdomen over 30 years ago. It took that long for my sigmoid to die. I now have an ostomy, for life, and a third of my GI track is gone. I have not found anyone, yet, who has had lymphoma, with their sigmoid killed from radiation wearing a bag over their stoma.

Learning to clean and replace your bag, once you get home from the hospital, can be an experience, and one not for sissies. Poop is your friend. It is the food you put in your mouth that the body could not use. When we forget it is food we may become fearful of poop and do not want to look at it or willing to have it get on our hands.

What to eat and what not to eat is my biggest problem. With a third of my GI track gone I have to take lots of meds to make up for what my body cannot get out of the food I eat. I do eat a balanced diet and try new things. The diarrhea I am having now could be a reaction to a new med I am taking, but it could be from the new food I am trying out. I eat mostly veggies. I do have some chicken because I am unable to eat beans. Plain Greek Yogurt is my go-to food. Cheese is one of my other go-to. Ice cream is my only bad food, it takes a month for me to go through a quart. Canned fruit with yogurt is much better than fruit in your yogurt. I live by myself so I do not have to cook meals, any suggestions in what to eat would be helpful.

mlmcg

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I have 2ostomies. Food is a cautious area for me. I eat brown rice, appropriate fruit,peanut butter and Jif marshmallo. All in small amount. Wheaties for breakfast, dinner my husband is creative within guidelines. On my last visit to Dr. Connor Loftus (GI) at Mayo he came up immediately with 2 possibilities; microscopic colitits and small bowelovergrowth. His diagnosis was cleared by an immediate colonoscopy with 8 biopsies of colon tissue ( that was negative) . So, he started me on doxycycline for small bowel overgrowth. The diarrhea cleared up in 12 hours. I continued the med for 10 days. Note: while waiting for my annual appt. at Mayo I went to local doctors and not one mentioned either of Dr. Onnors’s diagnosis. He is sooo talented.

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