HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

Shower with your stoma exposed?

Support Forums
>
Ostomies
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
12
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 10/4/2007 12:40 AM (GMT 0)
I just wanted to see how many shower with their stomas exposed? Wearing no wafer or anything in the shower. Does the shower pelts hurt it? Can your stoma feel it? I understand you risk pooing all over if exposed but what is it like? Do you prefer to shower "bare"?

I would really love to shower bag free the next time I'm due for a bag change. I just feel like I would be getting cleaner better, but I'm just a little scared/hesitant.

Posted 10/4/2007 1:05 AM (GMT 0)
I always shower without ANYTHING on the days I need to change. It just makes me feel normal. On the days that I do not need to change my wafer, I shower with my wafer but not my bag. My stoma usually stays quiet in the shower because I try to shower early in the morning after my workout.
Posted 10/4/2007 1:09 AM (GMT 0)
Hayley,
This is unrelated to your topic, but how are you feeling? Are you able to eat some normal foods yet? Have you found a type of appliance that works well for you? Both of these were my biggest problems..oh yeah, and the weight gain..GRRRRR!
Posted 10/4/2007 2:18 AM (GMT 0)
Hey, I also shower with the complete appliance off on bag changing day. However, I have never showered with just the wafer. I shower in between changes with the whole appliance on ( soggy) I read somewhere that water on the wafer causes the seal to disentergrate. I use a convatec moldable wafer, and I usually try for at least 5 days.
NeNe 205
Posted 10/4/2007 2:26 AM (GMT 0)
Hi,

I shower with just the wafer on, and on the days that I change the wafer, I shower and remove it in the shower. No, the pelting water should not hurt your stoma as it has no nerves in it to feel anything. Try to keep your system empty of poop prior to the shower, this will avoid any messes if you don't want poop going down the shower drain. You might see a tiny bit of blood, just a tiny amount. Don't worry about it, it's normal, the stoma may tend to bleed a tad.

Here is a little online quiz, with the answers, to help you out and provide a bit of guidance.
http://www.geocities.com/mr-ostomy/ALittleOstomyTest.htm
Posted 10/4/2007 1:14 PM (GMT 0)
I also shower without my appliance on changing days. It's good to give your skin a little time without the wafer on it, and the shower is a "safe" place, lol. I always have my supplies layed out on the counter, ready to put on as soon as I'm finished, that way you lessen the chance of an accident afterwards. If you have old towels, lay them on the floor and they can be washed with the rags or thrown away if your stoma gets active before you can get everything on. I also have a hand held shower nozzle, which makes clean up much easier if there's unplanned activity.
Posted 10/4/2007 2:01 PM (GMT 0)
I am SO chicken to shower without anything but I would LOVE to feel naked! Seems my stoma is very active in the morning no matter what!
Posted 10/4/2007 2:04 PM (GMT 0)
So, let it be active!!! When you're all done, bleach your shower and move on.
Posted 10/4/2007 5:29 PM (GMT 0)
I shower bare on changing day, it helps remove the residue from the removal wipes and gives my skin a rest. I keep a cold wet paper towel on the edge of the shower and put it on top of the stoma if it starts acting up and it's usually only a little anyway. On days on don't change my bag I've been using the Glad Lock Press and Seal and wrap in around my bag to the plastic clip of the wafer and use surgical tape at the top to make sure no water gets in and my bag is completely dry when I remove the saran wrap!
Posted 10/4/2007 6:30 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Ev1 I'm with Judy I always shower without my pouch iI just pop it off hop in the shower, if it spout off I just clean shower when I'm done no big deal. Iv'e have being doing this for twenty years has not hurt me or my stoma yet.It do feel good on the days when i change it to shower without even the wafer, so I say go for it.
I really don't understand why you would cover your pouch instead of just removing it, unless it is a one piece appliance.
Posted 10/4/2007 7:05 PM (GMT 0)
Rachel,

I shower every morning with the bag on and just towel dry it afterward. On wafer changing days, I take everything off and enjoy a good scratching and cleaning around the stoma. I have the wafer cut and ready to go and put a washcloth over my bare stoma after the shower. It all works out quite nicely.

I took the bag off once to shower, but didn't like having to deal with the messy bag and all, so I just prefer to leave it on.

:) Cecilia
Posted 10/5/2007 12:30 AM (GMT 0)
Amey,

I been eating a soft bland diet. I try to get balanced meals in as I have lost 3 pounds since I got out. Down to 115. My norm before getting sick this year was a very healthy and muscular 130. I use to lifeguard. Now I am very skinny and unhealthy looking. Were you saying you are having trouble gaining weight?

As far as supplies, so far there is nothing really that I don't like. I've tried Hollister one piece, Convatec two piece in clear and tan. I have my first order on the way and am excited to see and try the new stuff I ordered. I go through Edgepark which seems to carry everything. even Coloplast.

Looking forward to Saturday now, I'm going to try a naked shower :)
Posted 10/5/2007 1:41 AM (GMT 0)
Hayley,
Have fun getting naked! It is quite refreshing. Are you going back to being a lifeguard? I have a really cute bathing suit from http://www.everythingbu***er.com/cart/customer/home.php?cat=460 . The suit has a buckle right over the place where my stoma lays so you cannot tell I am wearing a bag. Even when my bag had some contents, it was hard to tell. As far as weight, I am not having a problem gaining...I keep gaining and I am not sure why. I have gained 5 pounds and I exercise for an hour a day. I eat really healthy so I guess my body just wants to gain. I can't do anything about it so I'll just accept it.

I am glad you are able to wear different types of bags. I am bias to Hollister because I can change out the size of my bag when every I want. I wear a closed mini bag when teaching aerobics, a mini open ended bag during the day, and a regular 11" bag at night. Usually, the bags I wear are so short and small, I forget I am wearing anything at all. I tried Coloplast this weekend. I really like the feel of the Coloplast. They are really soft and comfortable. However, Hollister is more discreate so I am going to stay with them. I am glad you are doing so well. How do you feel about having the bag? Are you glad you made the decision to have the surgery?
Posted 10/5/2007 9:58 AM (GMT 0)
I change my bag once a week. On those days I shower completely naked (ie without a bag). Harriet, my stoma loves the warm water running over her and it gets her really nice and clean as well as the surrounding skin. Water doesn't hurt your stoma at all - it's used to much worse :)  It can't even feel the water as it hits the skin and in winter, I have some really hot showers.

If Harriet decides to 'spurt' while I'm the shower, no problems, it all goes down the drain anyway. As soon as I get out of the shower, I put a tissue over her so I don't make a mess on the bathroom floor, until I put first, an Eakin seal over her, then my one piece bag - that's all I use, no skin prep or anything (less is more!)

The rest of the week, I wear my bag. It has a cloth covering but I just hop out of the shower, pat it dry with a towel then let body heat do the rest. It only takes about 5 - 10 minutes (after I'm dressed) to dry which is nothing really.

Posted 10/5/2007 12:57 PM (GMT 0)
OK. I am convinced. I am going to have a total naked shower this morning. Wish me luck!
Posted 10/5/2007 5:20 PM (GMT 0)
BadBagGirl--So, how was your shower? :)

Amey--I've decided to retire my lifeguarding days. I have alot of work ahead of me to get back to anything close to good health. As far as the bag, well at least I can say I haven't pooped my pants since 9/23/07 :) I think I am definitely glad, relieved, and confident about the bag. I just am still a little apprehensive as far as learning to live with it. I'm going to start a new thread so us "newbies" can ask everyday questions or concerns.
Posted 10/5/2007 10:49 PM (GMT 0)
I'll stick to wearing a mini bag when I shower and change it afterwards. It wasn't pretty. My Crohn's is still pretty active ..... I don't need to say more. Just wish there was a time when the infant wasn't attached to me ;-)
Posted 10/5/2007 11:03 PM (GMT 0)

I'm with you, BadbagGirl...  I'll stick to showering with mine on as well.  Been doin' it that way since I got it.   Hard to teach an old dog, new tricks!!!  I don't like having to clean my shower more than I have to anyway.  I can "take care of business" pretty quickly and USUALLY without any spouting off, as long as I haven't just eaten a meal.  First thing out of bed in the morning works the best for me.

Posted 10/5/2007 11:35 PM (GMT 0)
yeah, but I would kill for a minute without it, and without it errupting. No matter what I do I do it always is active in the morning...
Posted 10/5/2007 11:43 PM (GMT 0)
badbaggirl: "yeah, but I would kill for a minute without it, and without it errupting. No matter what I do I do it always is active in the morning..."

Shower in the evening? Even if you are in the habit of morning showers, a nice evening shower without a bag? Just for the sake of enjoying a shower without a bag?
Posted 10/6/2007 2:16 AM (GMT 0)
poop in the shower goes the same place as poop in the toilet
Get a hand held flexable shower and have a ball. I shower with or without the flange on and just dry with a hair dryer
Posted 10/6/2007 11:07 PM (GMT 0)
I did it and it was the best 20 mins. I have had in last 2 weeks. Awww. It felt so good having everything off for longer than 4 mins. It actually behaved so well in the shower that I walked around naked a little extra longer when I got out just enjoying my new found freedom. I think I will make that a an every Sat. morning event for me to look forward too. A hot 20 min. shower without anything on.

badbaggirl--Hey I think redspout is on to something. I do love evening showers just for the sake of relaxing. Or maybe even I think I seen a plastic cup you can order and strap around you in the shower. At least that too would give your skin a longer break from the wafer and glue.
Posted 10/6/2007 11:28 PM (GMT 0)
Hayley...A plastic cup??? I bet I could create something here at home like that! Thanks for the idea.
Posted 10/7/2007 3:33 AM (GMT 0)
Aaaaaaah, nothing wrong with being naked a few minutes.....er.....hours longer.
Posted 10/7/2007 3:13 PM (GMT 0)
The cup may work for a very short period of time, but just remember that stool against your skin can really burn it. So if you use the cup (or whatever you rig up) make sure you empty it as soon as possible if your stoma does become active.
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
12