Do You Lie Down, Sit-Up, or Stand When You Change Your Appliance?

I sit on my knees in the bathtub when I change mine. My stoma retracts a little at night because I sleep on my back, so I always change the bag in the morning when it isn't sticking out too far.

i stand in front of the sink/mirror in the bathroom with a small garbage bag open with one side tucked into my pants(in case of any surprises)

When I had a colostomy it was more problematic due to prolapsing and had to rush in the morning to replace the pouch. Now I have a loop ileostomy and its much smaller and less troublesome which is great.

One tool I swear by is the stoma paste. If you don't use it, its great for preventing leakage. I also use the elastic belt as well(probably more for piece of mind)

I stand at the sink to take off the old bag and clean everything, then I go lay down on my bed to put the new appliance on. I never used to lay down, but it seems to be the only way to consistently keep this new stoma from leaking so I do it. Only two more months!

I stand in front of the bathroom mirror, tail of the bag in the trash bag. Then I peel it off slowly, cleaning as I go. Then I cove the stoma with a towel square, drop the bag, lay down on my back, pick the towel square up, put the new wafer on, cover with a clean towel square, press down for a minute, snap the bag on and stand up. After I stand up I reposition the bag, then use the hair dryer to heat it for a minute. Then put on my sureseal. I know that sounds complicated, but it only takes a few minutes and my stoma is never uncovered for more than a second, that keeps me from having output go out everywhere.

I'm surprised about how many people do it standing or laying. What do you do about surprises?

I guess I'm the only person who does it sitting on the toilet! I do that because then if a surprise occurs, I just lean foward and I'm good!

Stephanie, I try to avoid surprises w/time of day and marshmallows, but I keep a paper towel over my stoma and that's generally good enough to catch if a little comes out (haven't had a lot coming out since right at the beginning). I like the mirror to see that the eakin is on well on the bottom..... maybe when I can sit again, can try your way w/a hand mirror....

I am surprised that there are so many ways that work!

After having an ileo for 20 years have a change down to about 3 minutes so very rarely have accidents whilst changing but always have baby wipes and toilet roll there as use the baby wipes to clean the skin and toilet paper to wipe it dry.

Stephanie, I also sit on the toilet to change, found out it was the best place for me shortly after returning home. I was quite enjoying showering with the bag off to start with, but drying off became a logistical nightmare!
Anyone here manage to shower without changing their appliance afterwards? I use a one piece bag, and it starts peeling on the outer edge where water gets in, so I ALWAYS change after a shower.

I also stand in front of the mirror/sink with disposal bag open in front of me with extra wipes to hand if it decides to spurt! which it often does. Thank goodness for tiled floors!

Normally though I get everything ready, remove the bag, have a delicious bag free shower, then dive out sort of drying myself with one hand whilst holding a wipe over the stoma in case it spurts. Always stand up though to put the bag back on and use the palm of my hand to hold it down for a few minutes to get a good stick!

I manage to get about 2 days out of the bag then I'm ready for a change (using a one piece).

Polishdan... can I just ask what's with the socks??? did make me laugh ;-)

Blueglass, I will look into sure seals. I alternate between some tape called Ostofix and some half moon Hydrocolloid things, which the name of currently eludes me! I have to alternate, as both of them irritate my skin with prolonged use (despite Hydrocolloids being supposedly very Hypoallergenic). I can rely on neither product in the shower, the Hydrocolloids go "slimy" (to quote Polishdan!) and the Ostofix just peels away. I also like a shower good and hot, it's getting cold here in Blighty don't you know!

Questions:

1) What is Sure Seal?  My son has gotten into the habit of taping a storage baggie over the bag,  but the tape is getting expensive.  He uses the Coloplast Sensura Xpro Wafer and drainable pouch.  He showers every day and  has never showered without taping a baggie over the pouch and wafer.

2) Do those of you that use Barrier rings put them around the stoma before you put the wafer on?   Is it better to do it that way to make sure that you get a good seal?

Thanks!

 

I alwys stand when I change. I have done it lying down though.
I have also showered with the bag on and did not change the bag afterwards, but did haveto use a blow dryer to dry the bag, because I didn't have enough time to let it dry in the air.

Bluegrass: what is the advantage of putting the eaken on your skin and then the wafer? Doesn't it get damp from brushing on the stoma? how do you do that? I put it directly on the wafer and push it around the inside of the hole I cut, making a kind of turtle neck. Seems to work most of the time except when I complain here about a leak once in a while.