Ostomy: Adapting to life after colostomy, ileostomy or urostomy

I don't use any barrier cream mainly because I wasn't shown that possibility. I do use Skin Tac to keep the barrier/flange/wafer securely on and then on top of the edges Hollister's extenders. They are three pieces but easier to place on and wider than Coloplast's 2 pieces. I am a dedicated Coloplast old lady.

For anyone with a navel or other crater type problem...here's my solution. My surgeon put my stoma right beside my very deep navel and I started out using stick paste to fill it in and make it smooth and level. Ugh. Not fun. Messy. Hard to do. Unpleasant to have to clean all that paste out again. I happened to have in my stash of 'stuff I have no idea where it came from' some Convatec Duoderm Extra Thin Hydrocolloid Dressing 6" x 6". So I made a little cardboard template of a piece to cover said navel and cut it out of the Duoderm sheet. I can get 8 pieces out of one sheet. Voila! Problem neatly solved.

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@piki The self (husband)-cathing ended almost two years ago and I was given a urethral catheter. Then by accident (!) I learned of the suprapubic catheter which my NEW )March 2005) urologist gave me in April 2005...if I seem a tad bitter, well I am...I was basically hung out to dry by urologist #1... But then we could trade similar stories forever...

So now I have no liquid restrictions at all.

I have a stoma for urine removal i use a 2 piece coloplast ostomy bag with protective ring , barrier cream and ostomy belt. Been using same system for years with very little problems although I do have the occasional leak.
I usually change it every 4 days. Drain it often. Hope this helps. Foss

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In response to the post about showering...I simply take the pouch off when showering. It's never been a problem. I seldom shower before I've basically finished pooping for the day. Hey! I'm old (84) and retired.

Forgot to mention I use protection ring after barrier cream before putting on pouch. I use only Coloplast products. To me they are the best. Foss

# 1 when changing bag the important thing is to make sure you use barrier cream, I wash around stoma and use a hair dryer to make sure it’s bone dry then a thin layer of barrier cream wipe of access . Use dryer again till dry make sure it’s dry or you will get embarrassing leakage .
#2 when showering I use Saran Wrap enough to cover bag and use adhesive tape to tape top of bag. Have also used plastic bags and taped them at top also.
Hope these little tricks help you
Good luck …Foss

@foss I would love to hear your invented tricks. Please share if you want as it might help others in similar situations. I had a urostomy almost 4 years ago and have had a lot of issues with skin irritation. I too decided on the coloplast products.

@foss Thanks for the offer. I gladly accept and am interested in any 'tricks' you have come up with. I have both a loop colostomy and a suprapubic catheter (SPC). I use basically Coloplast products for both with bits and pieces from Convatec and Hollister.

I have had mine coming up 8 years now. I wear a ostomy pouch during the day and hook up to a overnight bag for bedtime. It holds 2 Ltr of Urine enough to last all night so you dont have to get up.
Within a couple of days I had no trouble changing it myself
As far as a brand I tried them all. They will send you free samples to try. I finally settled on Coloplast products and have been using them for years.
I have some little tricks I invented and would be glad to share them with you if you like. It makes it easier.
I go once a year to Sunnybrook hospital for a cancer scan and have been cancer free each time. Wearing a bag is better than the alternative. Hope this helps. Good luck…Foss

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Here is another gem I have learned and perhaps I am nieve and y'all already know this: I shower every other day when I do I take a plastic container with me, pour water into my pouch, swish it around and empty, makes me feel cleaner. Then I run the shower thru the drain for a minute or so.