Ostomy is a medical surgery that creates an opening in the abdomen, making a new passageway of waste products of the body. The one that surrounds the opening is called stoma. It is where the ostomy appliance is attached.
This appliance can be called a bag or pouch. It will drain the bowel movement products or urine. This pouch is made to be convenient in a form of lightweight, thin and made to seal the unpleasant odor of waste products. With this the stoma will be covered and protected to lessen possible complications.
To prevent complications and infections you need to take care of the stoma, as well as the appliance attached to it. Taking care of this thing needs special attention and extra effort especially if you are just new to it. It will really take time to be comfortable with this attached to you.
Cleanliness is very important when you have this thing around you. Before you start cleaning the pouch, you need to prepare everything. Empty your pouch. Flush all the products bowel movement or urine. Clean the stoma first and then the skin that surrounds it with a clean linen and warm water. A soap may be used, but make sure that you are using a mild soap. Rinse and pat dry. Before attaching the new one, dry everything out to lessen the chances of having irritated skin. You may provide skin cream for extra skin care.
Do not forget to measure and check the size of it when replacing new one. A guide in measuring is included in a box. Check if there is a presence of swelling. The size and appearance of your stoma may be affected if it is swollen. Normally, when you touch it, you will notice some bleeding. But if you will notice unusualities like in its size, shape and discoloration have it check with your physician. The bag replacing can be in 3 to 7 days or as needed.
Adhesive wafer attachment can sometimes be irritating. You can apply some skin gel to avoid the skin irritation before you apply the adhesive wafer. Without irritating it, place the wafer properly and well fitted. It should be located in the center. Clip the bottom and seal it in place.
Managing your pouch disposal is easy as counting one, two, three. Empty the pouch or bag in the by flushing it in the toilet. Throw away the pouch, wafer, waste but do not include the clip. You can always use the clip. Seal the pouch in a garbage bag and dispose it just as a normal household waste. Although, there are also kinds of pouches or bags that are drainable that can be emptied and lessens your burden of disposing many bags.
Points for better life, take less or avoid taking in some food during the night to minimize your output. Place a towel when changing to catch the waste. Pay close attention to your physician as he give you some special instructions.
Living with it for the first time may be very difficult. But that does not mean you are not going to have a life. Most patients like you were able to enjoy after surgery and lived normally.
This appliance can be called a bag or pouch. It will drain the bowel movement products or urine. This pouch is made to be convenient in a form of lightweight, thin and made to seal the unpleasant odor of waste products. With this the stoma will be covered and protected to lessen possible complications.
To prevent complications and infections you need to take care of the stoma, as well as the appliance attached to it. Taking care of this thing needs special attention and extra effort especially if you are just new to it. It will really take time to be comfortable with this attached to you.
Cleanliness is very important when you have this thing around you. Before you start cleaning the pouch, you need to prepare everything. Empty your pouch. Flush all the products bowel movement or urine. Clean the stoma first and then the skin that surrounds it with a clean linen and warm water. A soap may be used, but make sure that you are using a mild soap. Rinse and pat dry. Before attaching the new one, dry everything out to lessen the chances of having irritated skin. You may provide skin cream for extra skin care.
Do not forget to measure and check the size of it when replacing new one. A guide in measuring is included in a box. Check if there is a presence of swelling. The size and appearance of your stoma may be affected if it is swollen. Normally, when you touch it, you will notice some bleeding. But if you will notice unusualities like in its size, shape and discoloration have it check with your physician. The bag replacing can be in 3 to 7 days or as needed.
Adhesive wafer attachment can sometimes be irritating. You can apply some skin gel to avoid the skin irritation before you apply the adhesive wafer. Without irritating it, place the wafer properly and well fitted. It should be located in the center. Clip the bottom and seal it in place.
Managing your pouch disposal is easy as counting one, two, three. Empty the pouch or bag in the by flushing it in the toilet. Throw away the pouch, wafer, waste but do not include the clip. You can always use the clip. Seal the pouch in a garbage bag and dispose it just as a normal household waste. Although, there are also kinds of pouches or bags that are drainable that can be emptied and lessens your burden of disposing many bags.
Points for better life, take less or avoid taking in some food during the night to minimize your output. Place a towel when changing to catch the waste. Pay close attention to your physician as he give you some special instructions.
Living with it for the first time may be very difficult. But that does not mean you are not going to have a life. Most patients like you were able to enjoy after surgery and lived normally.
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You can get useful tips on how to choose an ostomy appliance supplier and more information about a reputable supplier at http://www.ostousa.com/about-ostomy-appliance.html now.
