best way to clean bottom of drainable pouch?

I don't think that there is any magic to this... but you don't need half a roll of toilet paper xD

If you'd like, multitask by preparing 2-3 'toilet paper tampons' while you pee. They don't have to be that big - maybe 6 sheets each?

I usually use a few sheets folded over to clean the outside first, then 2 'tampons', then a few sheets again if the tampons pushed anything outside.

The coloplast I used before my current one had the little velcro tabs so that the flap was held back, my new one doesn't have that. I pinch the left side with my first finger and thumb holding the flap back and use my right hand to push everything out. Then I take a couple pieces of TP and fold it to look like a "V" then run it across the opening to get rid of anything left over. Flip the flap and roll it all up.

I used to squeeze the flap to force the opening and then I would wipe out the INSIDE - geebus that was just a waste of time! I think I got into that habit when I was in the hospital and was using a clip. I don't think it is needed when you have a roll/lock pouch.

     I use a squirt bottle too.  Just squirt water three or four times into the bag and swish around.  I use the Coloplast one piece which folds over a few times and has velcro. Simple as pie.  For stubborn poo which sticks to the corners, I use a small amount of toilet paper to get them off....ew...this is gross..lol.  Anyway, don't use your hubby's tooth brush to get it cleaned .

This has become pretty automatic with me so I had to go and count how many pieces of TP I actually use

''Four'' in a row folded in half and then over a couple more times until it is a little more rectangular than square.   I squeegee as much as I can out of the pouch using my index and middle fingers.  Then, I put the bottom edge of my pouch in the middle of my TP rectangle, so there is the same amount of TP on both sides and fold the sides up on both sides [the bottom edge of the pouch is in the fold].  I slide the TP back and forth a few times over the bottom edge of the pouch to squeegee the rest out into the TP.

I keep what is wiped off in the fold and then use my finger and put it in the middle of the folded TP and push that down inside the pouch opening.  My finger is surrounded by TP and I just circle it all around the inside the opening.   That is normally all it takes.  Sometimes, I may need to use an additional piece of TP to wipe the outside again.    I keep a small spray bottle nearby in the event that something is a little more stubborn.

I was using half of a baby wipe, but I couldn't flush them and didn't like having to dispose of them in the trash.   Silly me, I guess that is what they were originally intended for. 

     Yeah Steph, it will become second nature to you after awhile.  I only clean close to the flap.  It's pretty difficult to get toilet paper way down inside.  The swishing of the water gets mine pretty clean.  If only I could keep the poo from clogging up that so-called vent they have on top.  I have no idea what purpose that serves, maybe I am doing something wrong.

     I remember looking at the bag for the first time after my operation thinking..."I will NEVER be able to take care of this!"  It just seemed so overwhelming. 

I had forgotten this one.  I once read of someone keeping a small plastic cup or disposable paper cups in the bathroom.  She would put water in the cup and then dip the end of the pouch into the water after draining the pouch.  Then just dump the water right in the toilet and dry the bottom of the pouch with a piece of TP.   Sounds pretty mess free and I may give this a whirl.

If re-using a cup you might need a cup with a "skull & crossbones"  on it or make absolutley sure the family knew it was not for any other use  

I got my little squirt bottle at Dollar Tree and it was $1 in a set along with a pump bottle used for lotion.  I have seen the squirt bottles in Walmart for $1, too.

Christine, do your pouches come with the little stickers to cover the filters?  You can use tape or a piece of Sure Seal.  Duct tape would probably work like a charm for this, too.  All of my vented pouches came with stickers, but now I get the pouches without the vents.   Those vents create a vacuum right over my stoma and cause pancaking as my output is thick.

I've always found the bag gets all sucked in and tight right before it's going to pop off? Haven't had that experience for awhile and I use a colopast with filter/vent. Though lately when I wake up in the morning it seems as though the "vent" isn't working b/c I am puffed up like a birthday balloon. Wondering what it would be like to go with one with no filter/vent? Is there really that much of a difference?

I use pouches without filters. When I used pouches with filters, they would get clogged in a few hours and once in a while I would have a filter leak. Instead of filters, I use a product called an Osto EZ vent that you attach to your pouch and then manually open to let air out when the pouch starts to balloon up. These work really well for me. My pouch does look like a blimp in the morning though unless I wake up and let the air out. So far I have never had a blowout though.

Hmm. I never smell - I mean, you can't smell my output other than when I am emptying. The ONE time you could I think I had a bad filter because when I would bend over like to fold laundry or whatever I would get a wiff and be like "eww" and didn't think anything of it - checked to see if I had a leak and just went on my way. Then when my hubs got home I asked him to smell it (****!) and he was all "nooo, I am not - just go change!" And he eventually did smell it and was like - "oh yeah, it stinks" LOL! I asked if he could deal with it through the night b/c it only seemed to be stinky if I bent over or something and he said it was fine (I was planning to change the next morning and it was late). Next morning I was puffed up and the filter had leaked - not much at all, but it had leaked.

I have been using the Adapt deodorizer or whatever but after the first empty it's all stinky again - I guess I need to get one of those M9 bottles to carry with me - I guess at work it'll be like "oh, don't mind me carrying this bottle into the bathroom with me" hahah!

I use a squirt bottle that looks like those squirt ketchup bottles in restaurants. I works really, really well. After I've cleaned the tail, I also make a TP tampon and just gently wipe the inside end. Dab dry with a little more TP and I'm done all in less than 5 minutes. I'm only 2 weeks post op but am already very comfortable emptying my bag. Now changing it is a different matter and have only changed the bag three times on my own and all three times was when a Home Health Care nurse was with me.

I have a big fear of getting a leak that will result in skin irritation. Hopefully I will get over those fear the more changes I do. Still, it scares me. At least I have an excellent stoma who so far is easy to fit.

Currently I am using a one piece Hollister because that's what they sent home with me from the hosptial. Don't know if I'll stay with Hollister but so far so good.

I am a newbie to bags and cleaning them, but I always slip on a glove because we all know about the ewwww factor. When watching TV, I stock up on my TP squares for cleaning the drainable tail. I simply fold 2 squares of TP, tear and stack. To empty my pouch (holister 2 piece drain able with floating flange), i use the "One Pass Ostomy Draining Device" and I LOVE it for getting the pouch really clean.
Once I use the device to empty pouch, I wipe the edge with the TP square...then put some water in the end of the tail with a small plastic disposable cup, swish about, empty and use 1 or 2 TP squares on the inside of the tail to finish the cleaning process. It takes longer to explain the process then to do it.. Can have it all done in 5 minutes or less, depending on consistency of contents...I really like the 2 piece system because I can keep my stoma cleaner.

Is it common for folks to name the stoma?

seriously... I do not understand all the "to do" about pouch cleaning. If you have an ileostomy... the darn thing is pooping nearly 24/7. So no matter how much you wanted to clean the thing.. its gonna be poop filled in about 1 minute once you are done.

All I do is wad up two or three big wads of toilet paper. Wipe out the ends with it with my finger stuck in the middle of the wad. All of which I do while I'm peeing. (I empty the ileo before I pee). And then squirt a big gush of M9 drops in. Roll up and velcro the bottom and carry on with things. It all takes about 1/3 to 1/2 the time it took to wipe my bottom in my "coloned" days. One of the huge bennies of an ostomy. You get out of the bathroom way faster then if you had a colon, before it was diseases with UC.

also I prefer the coloplast sensura bags.. because they are wider opening on the bottoms and fold back in a better way to allow the 2second toilet paper wipe out clean. Hollister and convactec bags are really no good for that.

Post Edited (ddd45) : 11/26/2012 6:27:16 AM (GMT-7)