Are Pre-Cut Pouching Systems Worth It?

Some people may want to consider pre-cut pouching systems over time, especially if you get older and the ostomy supplies are ore cumbersome. It also can leave you open for mistakes too. Are there alternatives to cut-to-fit pouching systems? There are, and here, we’ll go over it. 

Pre-Cut Pouching systems 

This is a great one for those that have normal round stomas. A lot of the big companies have different systems that are for pre-cut stomas, usually in both convex and flat styles.They offer a range of different sizes, up to a 2-inch stoma. 

The thing with pre-cut systems though is that the flange needs to be about an eight of an inch bigger than the stoma base. When it’s the same size, or a little bit smaller,  can cause trauma.  This is especially important if you have a convex flange, since they’re firmer than the flatter options for this. Depending pm the needs that you have, your stoma, and the like, this may be an easier option. 

Scissors

If you’re using scissors to cut the stoma opening, switch it out for a flange cutter. They offer cutters that do round or oval shapes, and they’re pretty much cookie cutters, where you cut the indentation into the flange. This is a lot easier to work with, and usually is better if you don’t have the motor skills to handle scissors, but you can use this on surfaces which are solid to make it easier and to reduce damage to this. 

Moldable technology 

This is a newer product, but a good ne to consider for ostomy needs. It’s a barrier that doesn’t need cutting, but instead uses pliable barriers on this, making sure that you get the right shape for the flange. Roll the inner portion of it outside until it’s the size that you need, and when it touches the stoma area, it will stick on there. 

This does create a smaller, softer feeling to the stoma as well, crating a cuff that will enlarge and shrink as well. Unlike the normal barriers that you have, you never have to worry about it possibly coming in place, and it actually will prevent trauma from hitting the stoma too, so it’s better for protection. 

This is only good for those who have a protruding stoma, since it’s hard to stop the rolled outer parts of the barrier from being unraveled. It also is only good for two piece systems, so if you have to like 1 piece3 systems more, this is probably not the right option for you. But, if you’re struggling to figure out whether or not you should use one type of service or another, you should as well ask them about the  best way to handle cutting a flange. 

If you want to use pre-cut stoma flanges, it may be good for you. There are also some stories and pharmacies that offer services for cutting a flange, and these can either be free or for a tiny charge. You can check the supplier that you get all of this from to see if this is the right option for you. 

You also can ask for friends and family to possibly help with this. If you’re in an ostomy support group, don’t be afraid to ask for help there, since there are a lot of people who know how to do it, and these people usually are also good at doing this sort of thing too, offering a better, more rewarding experience for you as well, especially if you struggle with cutting them yourself. 

What’s Next After your Ostomy Surgery

You may wonder what you’ll be able to do and not do after your ostomy, and the truth is, there is a lot of unanswered parts to this. Luckily though, we’ll be able to give you everything that you need to know about after your ostomy surgery, which will help you get the most that you can out of this. 

How much Does diet Change? 

This one is dependent of course on the types of surgery that you’ll have, whether an ileostomy, a urostomy, or a colostomy. At the end of the day, you should speak to the doctor to see what kind of diet you need, and any major changes that come along with this. 

Can I take a Shower 

This is again, dependent on the different types of ostomies that are there, and what you’re able to do and not do. It’s good to give your skin a chance to not be attached to a pouch and give the stoma some air. Do understand that it may cause slight leakage though.

You also should be mindful as well of the area around there and be mindful of getting too much water, or even smoke, into the stoma itself. Your body may start to get rid of waste whenever you do have an ostomy, so do be mindful of this, and try to do it when your bowels aren’t as active as well. 

Can people Tell

The short answer for that is no. Usually, people are able to hide this, and you may find out that people don’t’ even know that you have one unless you tell them. The goal of these pouches is to protect your body, and it is pushed against the stomach, and is made with materials that are odor-resistant. Unless you’ve told someone, it’s likely they won’t have a single clue either. 

Are there Support Groups? 

There sure are! You may feel like you’re the only one dealing with this, but there are thousands of people out there going through a similar experience as well, and that of course means that you’re indeed not alone here. 

There are tons of support means out there, and different support groups that’ll help you with coping and adapting to the way you’re going through life. There are tons of ostomy support groups both online and offline for you to choose from. The forums are good if you have questions you feel like your doctor or nurse aren’t able to answer fully, or maybe you’re too embarrassed to talk to them about it, whatever the case may be. 

Of course, it may feel a little bit embarrassing, but there are people out there that can offer emotional support for times like this, and also motivate and inspire both you and others. They also have a ton of information and different resources for you to check out. A lot of ostomates feel like sometimes they’re all alone but being able to answer the questions that you have will be able to help you in even the most awkward of situations. 

With that being said, you should talk to your doctor about anything that you feel ready about, and there are so many different ways for you to definitely get the most out of this. It does take some adjustments and changes to ultimately get used to this, but remember that, with this, you’ll be able to, with this as well, get everything that you can possibly need to get the most that you can out of this, both now and into the future as well too. 

How to travel with an Ostomy

The holidays are a time to travel, and for those who have ostomies, this can be a bit of a worrisome experience. How do you travel with an ostomy? Well, you’re about to find out, as we’ll go over exactly how you can travel with an ostomy, and how to do so without too many problems. 

Figure out the Supplies. 

The first step is to figure out the pouches, barriers, and a accessories that you will need every single day, and then multiply that by any days you’ll be away from the house.  The number should be the bare minimum, and you will also want to either double to carry a few backups just in case with this too. If you have nay unexpected problems, you definitely want to be pretty ready for this. 

Follow the 3-1-1 rule 

This is a rule that’s in the TSA guidelines, and it’s a limit on the aerosols, creams, gels, and paste, and you should make sure that you have everything that’s less than that, with one bag allowed. You should make sure that all of your ostomy supplies follow this rule so you don’t have to worry about potential problems at TSA. 

Carry Ostomy Scissors in Carry-On 

If you use ostomy scissors, you want to make sure that they’re in the carry-on and aren’t any longer than 4 inches. You may want to find moldable wafers and barriers in order to help make this easier, so that you don’t need to cut and trim it.  You want to make sure that you make this easy for you. 

Pack Documents About the Condition 

You want to let people know about the condition that you have. There are communication cards and you also can use assigned doctors notes to help ensure that you get the right ostomy supplies from this. It could be beneficial to communicate the needs that you have to flight attendants along with TSA agents and have these documents on hand when you’re flying for easy travel. You also should try to contact TSAS beforehand and try to make sure you won’t get bothered at checkpoints. 

Double Check and Pack 

You want to make sure that you do double check everything before you pack it, and you know how many supplies that you might need.  You definitely should accompany all of the accessories that are used currently. These can include scissors, pouches, barriers and wafers, paste, seals, cleaners and deodorizers, any belts or wraps, and pouch clamps. 

You should try to make sure that you keep these near you as well.  On car rides, don’t keep them in the trunk since this can make them too hot or cold, and that can be a problem. You can actually have these ordered to the place that you’re staying at if you’re going for an extended time period, and you can talk to someone to make sure that you get the most that you can out of this, and also make sure to have them on hand. Also don’t put these in checked bags, since they could get delayed or lost, and that’s a big issue. 

Avoid Anything that irritates 

If you know some foods and some drinks can upset the stomach or cause excessive gas and stomal output, you should avoid these when you’re away from your home. You should also empty out the pouch before you leave. With all of this said, always make sure that you have wipes, sanitizers, and deodorants and make sure to uphold proper hygiene during and after the trip as well. 

Tips to Adjust for Life After a Colostomy

Life after a colostomy may seem impossible, but it doesn’t have to be that way. Here are some tips to adjust to life post colostomy that’ll help you feel good about the newfound life. 

Give yourself Time 

First, understand that the recovery does take some time, and it does require healing both physically, and mentally too. It does take some getting used to, so just listen to the instructions that the ostomy nurse or doctor has for you, and don’t be afraid to ask some questions about anything you want to know more about.While you can have a life that’s active and healthy, you will want to spend some time getting used to this and recuperating. You should wait till the doctor says that it’s fine to get some exercise and other activity as well. 

Prepare for the Changes 

After the surgery, you will notice that bowel movements are a bit different, and your stoma won’t have the rectal muscles from before, so you won’t be able to control when the stool passes through. You may experience more bowel movements now than before, and it does take a little bit of time to get used to. But as you do so however you’ll predict the way the body reacts to foods and drinks, and you’ll know exactly how to empty out the pouch too. 

Have a Good diet and Watch the Meds 

After you have surgery, you may want to adjust to the diet, and if you see that there is a problem, try to eliminate the foods which are troublesome. You also may want to do meals that are smaller beforehand, and also cut back on anything that causes too much diarrhea, blockages, or even too much gas too. Over time, you’ll learn what you can and can’t have with an ostomy, and you also need to know that these are unique. You also may want to look at the different medications that are there too, since it does cause diarrhea and constipation, so you should also figure out what’s causing this, and then adjust it as necessary. 

Find one that Works for you 

If you’re wondering what kind of pouching system you should have, it’s ultimately what’ll work for you.You will want to make sure that you’ve got an ostomy supplier that is covered by your insurance and gets you the supplies that you need right away. You also may find over time that it takes a bit to adjust to live with this, and you may struggle with getting used to this immediately.But if you do plan on getting this, don’t fret. You should understand that the colostomy product may ultimately change over time as you start to live with this. 

Remember that there are suppliers that’ll deliver it to your door and you’ll also save yourself the time and the money by not having to drive to go out anywhere to get it. And if you want it, they do have options that cover everything that you need after your ostomy as well. Finally, with an ostomy, don’t’ hesitate to live the life that you have, and make sure that you aren’t afraid to adjust to this too. Remember that there are still a lot of hobbies and even activities that you can do, and you’ll be able to accomplish all of this too. When it comes to your ostomy, don’t be afraid to try out new things and just have a bit of fun with this. It’s not the end of everything because you have an ostomy, so don’t be afraid to try new things. 

How to improve Sleep After an Ostomy

If you recently had an ostomy, you may wonder if you can get a good night’s sleep. The answer is yes, you can, and here, we’ll give you the best tips for falling also after you’ve had an ostomy. 

Use Pillows 

Pillows help a lot with comfort but putting pillows around your body is good for another reason. It stops you from rolling onto the pouch and having it either come loose, or possibly impact the contents and spilling out. That’s something you don’t’ want to deal with throughout the night, since it can impact the way that you sleep. So put some pillows there as a barrier to you. You can use big stuffed animals and blankets too if you don’t have enough pillows for the job. 

Wear a Snug Shirt 

I’m not saying wear something that’s so tight that you can’t breathe, but instead, put something on that does hug the body a little bit. This will keep the bag in place as you go to bed and sleep.. if it’s too much for you, and you don’t think you can handle it, consider trying out the ostomy belt, and from there, see if that will help to keep everything in place. 

Sleep on the Back 

If you’re a side or a tummy sleeper, this is one that’ll take a bit of time to get used to but sleeping on your back is your best option. This does prevent you from rolling over and then sleeping on the pouch as you’re asleep and offers a more comfortable sleeping experience for you after you’ve had an ostomy surgery. Again, this may not be easy for you to do right away but putting the pillows all around definitely will benefit you from this. 

Check Pouch Condition 

You also should check how full or empty the pouch is before you fall asleep. Why? If it’s too much, it’ll leak out while you sleep, disturbing you, and it can be a little bit gross. The best way to prevent that is to do it right before you go to bed, just do it shortly after brushing your teeth and whatnot, so you’re ready for bed without the disturbances. 

Sleeping Arrangements 

You may need to start sleeping differently in most cases. For those who have an urostomy, you usually have drainage that happens throughout the night, and you can use a night drainage to help with this. Usually, you don’t need to worry about changing this, and usually, it doesn’t impact the water or the liquids that you have prior to going to bed as well. 

For a colostomy or ileostomy surgery, you might want to make sure the pouch is empty so there isn’t any overflow or leakage. You also may want to stop from eating anything too much right before bed, so that you don’t have to worry about too much output as you go to bed. You should also talk to your healthcare provider for any other tips that can help you go to sleep, and also any dietary and other liquid changes that go along with this. When you have an ostomy, it can be hard for you to get used to this and get the sleep that you deserve. But you do deserve to get on the proper sleep schedule that you can, and by seeing a professional to help with this and to make sure that you get the right sleep situation put in place, it can ultimately help you with doing this as well, especially down the line as well.