Ostomy Issues

Ostomy issues-yuk! When a ostomy has an oops, it isn’t pretty!

I remember when the ileostomy surgery was explained to me. I was told I was would have an ostomy bag. I would just have to attach it, clip it properly, and all would be well. You know, I could jump in the swimming pool, go rock climbing, ride my horse off into the sunset. Since the surgery was a life-saving one for me, I accepted this pretty readily. Maybe I missed it, but I don’t remember any discussion of the things that can go wrong. It didn’t seem like any big deal. It didn’t even sound like it would change my lifestyle, except for a few minutes here and there for care.

I read somewhere that if your ostomy bag is properly “attached” and clipped no odor or “output,” as my medical care providers so delicately refer to the bag contents would leak. In reality, I am sure that becomes true for long-term ostomates as they learn the little tricks that help keep things in order. But, in the meantime, that quick search shows many of us that struggle, at least at first.

In this post, I plan to share a bit about what I have tried, what I plan to try, and what I have found on the net.

First, the obvious: Pay attention. Watch out for conditions that may cause problems and try to figure what caused any leak you experience so you can correct the situation. I monitor my bag and dressing often. I check to be sure the seal is firm and there are no signs of leakage. I double-check my clip and I am careful not to disturb it when I change positions since I had it slide open on me once. My supplies say to change the bag every 3 to 5 days. I noticed I rarely have problems on days 1 and 2, they usually start on day 3. So, I plan to change every other day. Just simple things like that.

Talk to your physician, surgeon, wound nurse, somebody that knows about this stuff and works with it all the time. I was having trouble with output that was so watery it was going right through the clip. When I had surgery, the surgeon said to use Metamucil to thicken the output and Imodium to get less output. The Metamucil was not working. He said to try the Imodium and that helped a lot. Such a simple solution! I was very glad that I asked.

I also have trouble with “blow-outs” along the side of the flange. I don’t recall this ever happening to me on day 1 or day 2. Perhaps there is something different about my skin and the adhesive just doesn’t hold quite as long as expected? I’m not sure, but will continue to change on day 2 from now on. This usually happens when something crimps the bag and the output can’t flow down to the bottom. It’s helpful to watch your sitting position and make sure that your clothes aren’t too tight over the stoma. I think the latest may have been caused by my seat belt resting below the stoma, so I will watch that next time I drive.

I have ordered a terry cloth ostomy bag cover. I am hoping that it will make the pouch a little more comfortable to wear, help absorb any little bit of moisture left after bathing and drying, and muffle some of my intestinal noises.

I definitely felt that there was an odor to my ostomy bag, especially after the first day of use. I use deoderant drops and they really help. They take care of any smell and are easy to use.

I was using the cheapest one piece ostomy bag that I could find. Since I have had some issues and I wanted to try a pre-cut version, I am trying a different one

I like that this website for nurses, always good to have a medical point of view. Check this article if you are having severe issues: http://allnurses.com/wound-ostomy-continence/leaking-ileostomy-any-145898.html

Disclaimer: I am not a medical professional. You should always follow the advice of your medical professional regarding any medical condition.

coronavirus update