HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

Slowing Output for Bag Change... Strategies?

Support Forums
>
Ostomies
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 10/22/2012 10:55 PM (GMT 0)
Okay, I'm new at this (two and a half weeks post-op). I've done two solo bag changes at home so far, and Stella was spitting up on me both times.

The first time I tried doing it first thing in the morning so there would be no food in my system - no luck. Still spouting like a volcano.

I also heard applesauce can slow/thicken output, so this time I tried eating applesauce first thing in the morning before my change and.... She was spewing what was very obviously applesauce all over me, LOL. It looked pretty much the same coming out as it did going in. (In fact, the applesauce is STILL coming out many hours later... I know I didn't eat THAT much applesauce!)

I've heard marshmallows work... Will try that next time. For those of you who use this strategy - how long before the change do you have to eat them? And how many?

I also heard someone ate a full pack of Mentos to do the trick. Anyone else use this?

What other strategies have you found that work to slow or stop output for bag changes?
Posted 10/23/2012 12:13 AM (GMT 0)
I'm still trying to learn the tricks myself. I wanted to avoid marshmallows so soon after surgery though. The morning shower/change sometimes works for me. As in...I wake up, go to the bathroom, empty my pouch, shower, then put on a new bag. No eating first. It's worked about 50% of the time. Now that I've said that, Stewart won't cooperate tomorrow!

It's amazing..bag change can either take 10 minutes or 45 minutes depending on Stewart's cooperation level.
Posted 10/23/2012 12:38 AM (GMT 0)
Peanut Butter works for me.
Posted 10/23/2012 1:50 AM (GMT 0)
6 marshmallows 20 minutes before the change USUALLY (stomas are never that predictable) stops my output for about 30 - 40 minutes.
Posted 10/23/2012 5:01 AM (GMT 0)
One little thing that I do right before I get out of the shower is push a little bit on my stomach around the stoma. Whatever is right by the end comes out and it is less of a chance of coming out during bag change. Luckily I have my changes down to 3 minutes so nothing usually happens.
If my stoma is really active at the time then my little trick might not work.
Posted 10/23/2012 6:20 AM (GMT 0)
3 minutes!! Wow, you must be a pro! How long have you lived with your stoma?

It seems I could be much faster if Stella would just stay dry, but no matter how many times I pat or blow dry the skin around her, she seems to just ooze from all sides and get everything wet again.

But it would at least help if I could just stop output for the change. I'll try marshmallows next time.

Derillion - How much PB do you eat? Do you have it on something (like toast) or do you have to eat it straight for it to work well? I will try that too since I'm a fan of PB.

Maybe I'll experiment with some of these foods before my next change to see which one works best on Stella.

If anyone else has any more ideas or strategies, keep 'em coming. It would be nice to have a few different methods in my arsenal.
Posted 10/23/2012 9:54 AM (GMT 0)
The way Blueheron described how and when to eat mrshmellows - that's how I did it and it worked about 70% of the time.
Otherwise, I would just let Crazy Puppy do his thing, holding tp under to catch everything and throwing wads repeatedly into the toilet, and washing with water again if necessary. Until it stopped, which it had to do at some point, and it was very annoying but in reality it only continued for not longer than 10 minutes before a pause at least long enough to get on the new bag.
Posted 10/23/2012 12:03 PM (GMT 0)
The best time for me is late morning -- 10 or 11 am.... before I was back at work, I always changed then (and didn't eat before). Early a.m. I often have very liquid output w/the extra bile and it's not a good time.

It's a lot easier now that I'm faster at the process. I used to eat marshmallows and they helped, but I don't really like them, and I realized I could manage just by picking the right time.

I also try for a light, low residue dinner the night before.

Now I tend to change at 8:30 or 9 am, but it's OK.... I tend to get up at 5 or 6 though. I am also usually OK even if I eat some first.

Bananas seem to help too with slowing things down.

Unfortunately, your stoma hasn't settled down (and that's at the same time that you are learning to do the change).... gets easier.
Posted 10/23/2012 12:14 PM (GMT 0)
Eat a few marshmallows about 15 minutes or so before the bag change..... Worked like a charm for me.
Posted 10/23/2012 11:12 PM (GMT 0)
     Try not eating after 6pm and changing first thing in the morning.  This seems to work for me.  If it is active, there isn't much activity going on.

     It only takes me about three minutes too.  Hubby insists on helping me but I can easily do it myself. However, when he helps I am able to lie flat and I do have some irritation right around the stoma.  I use stoma powder for that and hubby is better able to apply it.  I use the one piece Coloplast Sensura bags.

     Funny you call your stoma Stella...that was my mother's name..lol.

Posted 10/24/2012 1:48 AM (GMT 0)
Bootstrap- Yup, 3 minutes. I've had my stoma for about 2 years. I normally lay everything out and cut everything before I jump in the shower. Right before I get out I step to the edge of the tub and dry a little bit so that if it starts going I am already still in the shower. Once I am ready I jump out, finish drying and start applying.
Posted 10/24/2012 7:27 PM (GMT 0)
I've had my ileostomy for 6 years and always changed the appliance first thing in the morning with very little problem. Sometimes there's a small discharge but nothing that really causes me a problem. I can also change the whole thing in 3 min or less. Changing just the bag isn't even anything I think about the timing of anymore - I just do it.
Posted 10/24/2012 10:08 PM (GMT 0)
Ha!  I have a Stella also!  She is called Stella 2.0 because of a revision, but Stella nonetheless.

Those first few weeks are so unpredictable with your body adjusting to all the new stuff going on.  Once you are further out from surgery you will have a better "routine" for your changes.

I try not to eat after 6pm.  I am up at 545, make kids lunches and get them off to school and then I do my change around 645-7am.  This gives whatever is leftover from dinner time to work itself out - I find that sleepy time for me = sleepy time for Stella and she doesn't do much overnight anymore.  Once I am up and around things start moving on the inside too.  So, I empty that out - take everything off and get in the shower.  Oh the freedom of showering "naked" I just LOVE IT!

HTH!

✚ New Topic ✚ Reply