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Posted 6/16/2013 7:33 PM (GMT 0)
I recall being advised to purchase a device (camping section) that allows me to pee standing (mess free).  Now, I need to ask - for those of you who did this post surgery - did you stand to empty your appliance as well?  If not - how'd you do it?  Certainly don't want to miss the bowl and have a smelly mess  :)

Thanks!

Posted 6/16/2013 8:19 PM (GMT 0)
Post my first surgery (the proctocolectomy) I was able to kneel on one knee to empty (I got some gardening foam to protect my knee), and this is what I do regularly now. I find this easier than sitting ... something to do w/my height (tall) and build.

After my second surgery, to fix a complication from the first (this probably won't happen to you), I wasn't allowed to bend enough to kneel, so I emptied into a jug (a male urinal) and then dumped it in the toilet and rinsed it out. Not fun, but not a huge deal either (would have been much, much worse with original plumbing and bed pans and such).

A lot of people are fine sitting on the toilet right after surgery, but I wasn't.... just was the worst thing for the wound.

It is good to put some tp down in the toilet first to minimize splashing.
Posted 6/16/2013 8:47 PM (GMT 0)
You'll be emptying your ostomy into a beaker for the first couple weeks so you can measure your output and make sure you aren't in danger of dehydration. This can be done sitting, standing, even lying down -- remember that in the hospital especially! If you're resting and the bag needs to be emptied, an orderly can bring a beaker to your bedside to empty your bag, you DON'T have to get up. Don't let them bully you!

Personally I empty my pouch sitting. I sit back as far as I can on the toilet seat, spread my legs, and empty into the toilet bowl. Easy peasy. When I was still measuring output I held the beaker between my legs (above the toilet bowl) and emptied into that. I can understand that sitting on the toilet could be bad for the anal wound so standing or lying down into a beaker is probably your best bet post-op.
Posted 6/16/2013 10:34 PM (GMT 0)
blueglass - thanks! I think for me it may be different because i am having the "hole" sewn shut - no reconnect for me & my concern for the sitting to pee is with the healing of the wound. LOL.

Pluot - Thanks! Yes, I didn't think about the beaker after discharge from the hospital - that's why I should bring one home form the admission :)
Posted 6/16/2013 10:54 PM (GMT 0)
Lol, ya know of course (as was stated to me when I posted for the men only") that the opposite gender always has to peek at these single gender threads. i mostly empty my bag sitting like Pluot does but we men have an extra challenge-- not dirtying "it" (to use the Seinfeld euphemism). i cant tell ya how many times I have to clean poop off "it". You ladies are lucky in that respect re emptying, even if "it" is handy for peeing.

Post Edited (Probiotic) : 6/16/2013 5:06:06 PM (GMT-6)

Posted 6/16/2013 11:49 PM (GMT 0)
musicmaker, I had the "hole" sewn shut too. I had a complication with the wound which required another surgery 7 months later (as I said, probably won't happen to you)....

Pluot is right that right after surgery you have to empty into a container.... I am trying to remember how long until I could kneel.... I think it was about a week, but I'm not sure.

Probiotic, yes it is funny about the who reads the gendered posts.... nothing like "Not intended for you" to make you look at it. In any case, I pull my underwear and pants up before I empty kneeling, so I just have the bag sticking out. If we want to get highly gendered here, it keeps me from getting blood all over everywhere if I have my period and no tampon in, and when I had the wound, I had to keep a pad on it too, plus it just keeps me from getting all tangled up in my pants. I can imagine it would not be pleasant to dirty "it", but my method would keep things separate for males too.
Posted 6/17/2013 12:22 AM (GMT 0)
Lol bluegrass, I hear ya. Kneeling is not an option for a shortie like me, so it's either sit, stand or crouch for me, and usually I can keep "it" clear, but sometimes I accidentally swing the bag around whie squeezing out thicker mush.
Posted 6/17/2013 1:18 AM (GMT 0)
Probiotic - LOL! Yeah- I figured as such! Love that you mention it!

bluegrass - Oops! A week would be good :) I had a C-section and seems that the 1 week mark was a real turning point. But - I had some discomfort for almost 6 months.

Of course - I don't expect this to be as "easy" as my section - I expect it to be worse since it is a much longer procedure & involves the rectum/anus, it's much like a disembowelment. :/
Posted 6/17/2013 2:50 AM (GMT 0)
I didn't have to empty into a beaker or anything once I got home. I sure am glad, cause that was so gross at the hospital!
To empty I just do like Pluot does. I never could understand the kneeling thing. Seemed to me like that made extra work, and what do you do in public?
Anything, as for at first and the wound the thing that was hardest wasn't the sitting it was that the pee would burn sometimes.
Something that helps at home is that I have lowered the water level in my toilet so I don't have splashing. Obviously I can't do that out places but I just deal with it then.
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