bathing

Hello Artist

I have an Ileostomy so unfortunatly that means that my stoma is active on and off all day and all night. It does have quiet times though(usuely after breakfast) and I find it isn't vey active then until about 4pm. If you were having a colostomy and not an Ileostomy I think you would find that the stoma is only active at certain times. I think this is partley to do with the fact that what you lose from a Colostomy is a lot firmer than the more watery stuff that we Ileostomates pass through the stoma.

Most of the time I leave on my bag to Bath or shower and then change the bag after. At least once a week though I remove the bag to shower.I choose a time when the stoma is usuely less active, but that doesn't mean that it doesn't sometimes decide to misbehave. I never take a Bath without the bag though because I dont like the idea of any stray output floating in the bath,but taking a shower without it is fine because everything just gets washed down the plug hole anyway. I also have somthing called a stoma cup. Its a small plastic cup that is attached to a belt around the waist. I usualy put this on when I have finished washing around the stoma area and then I know that I can dry myself with a towel and not have to worry about any mess that the stoma might decide to throw at me.

No one person has the same routine with a stoma and you would soon find your own way of doing things.

All the best.

Sue

Sue,

I must say, you have the most interesting gadgets and know hows for that ileostomy of yours! What is a stoma cup, and by the sounds of it, I want one too, so where can I get one. I also agree with you about showering and bathing, sitting in a tub with stool floating around...not a good idea. My Doc also said you run the chance of a UTI, it's a slight chance, but why take it if you don't need to. I too shower with out the pouch about once a week, I am so raw around the stoma that I try everything to get it as clean as possible, and I'm thinking if I had a cup, maybe air drying wouldn't be so diificult. The ostomy nurses are thinking maybe the air could help heal the rawness around the stoma.I've tried all the creams, the powder, the "goopy stuff", you name it, I tried it...I think it's the position of the stoma. Hopefully we will be doing another surgery in Nov, due to nerve damage in the small intestines, and then we are also going to create a new stoma in a better position.  Then hopefull, if all goes well, in about a year I will have it taken down. But, for right now we are facing the possibilities of me being in Liver failure. I've been in and out of the hosp for past 2 weeks due to this, and all my tests so far are pointing in the direction of failure.  I know I'm rambling, so will shut it for know. Let me know about the cup, OK?!!!!