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HINTS AND TIPS
FROM EVERYWHERE
Wear protection between the pouch and your skin to prevent a rash from
perspiration (especially in hot weather.) Leave a little bit of air in the pouch
after emptying and before clipping it shut. The air provides space for the
effluent to flow down into the pouch, rather than sideways or underneath the
adhesive wafer. Apply your pouch standing, lying or sitting; but, do not allow
abdominal wrinkling or this will break the seal when you straighten up. Do not
suppress a sneeze. If you seal your lips and pinch your nose while sneezing, you
create enormous pressure in your nose and throat, which can force infections
into your sinuses or ears through the Eustachian tubes. Don't put limitations on
yourself just because you have a stoma. Enjoy Yourself!
HINTS FROM HERE AND
THERE
Via: Kankakee IL
To keep urine acid, take two Vitamin C tablets daily, if it is all right with
your doctor. It also helps omit odor, be sure to drink lots of fluids. Bacteria
can't live in acid urine. Eating bran muffins a simple and delicious way for
colostomies to solve constipate problems. When the lock is broken on the
restroom door, a wad of folded tissue will sometimes hold it shut. Carry an
extra tail closure or rubber bank with you in case yours goes down the drain. it
could prove critical to your entire program. Don't be afraid to take a shower
without your appliance. Soap cannot hurt the stoma. Just rinse well. Ziploc
sandwich bags are useful for disposing of used pouches and taking care of odor
of used pouches. Three cups of tea contain the same amount of potassium as one
quart of ileal effluent. Coke and orange juice are also good potassium
replacements Gatorade is a good source of electrolyte replacement and is easily
obtained. Does your stomach gurgle? Try eating solid food first at meals and
then drink. But, be sure to get enough fluids too, so you don't become
dehydrated. Please note that the proper appliance will confine odor! Don't call
attention to yourself by using deodorants too generously. The less an ostomate
eats, the more gas he has, so don't skip meals before going out. In fact we
would be better off with six meals a day so we would never have an empty
stomach. Empty stomachs growl. After bathing with the faceplate off, hold a cold
compress over the peristomal area for a few seconds to close the pores before
changing. If your stoma bleeds during cleaning and appliance change, don't
panic. A healthy blood supply is what gives your "rosebud" a bright
red color. Tiny capillaries are easily damaged and just as easily repair
themselves. If bleeding continues long after the appliance has been changed,
cheek with your doctor. Use a hand minor for a better view of the stoma. It is
about the only way you can see under it.
COLOSTOMY HINTS
Metro Maryland & The Osto-mee News, Hamilton, Ohio
Save money by making your own elastic belts for holding your irrigation sleeve
or appliance. Save the end attachment from the old worn-out belt and transfer to
the new elastic. A cup of buttermilk in irrigation water can help control odor.
If you irrigate, try adding about 1/4 cup of Vaseline Intensive Care Bath Beads
into the irrigation sleeve when you are cleaning it. Rinse with clear water.
Odors will be gone and fecal matter will slip out easily. Water cans with long,
curved spouts are excellent for rinsing reusable appliances. If you notice a
persistent odor after changing your appliance, check to see if you have cleaned
the tail piece properly. It isn't necessary to clean the inside of an appliance
(as it is acting like the inside of your colon ), but the end of the tail flap
is exposed to the outside and will cause odor if fecal material is not removed.
A careful swipe with a piece of tissue will do the trick. Always carry an extra
appliance and an extra closure clip for emergencies. Check it periodically to
make sure that it is not showing wear and tear. When traveling, carry a
collapsible plastic cup for water, a packet of tissues, and a small plastic bag
for any other unforeseen need. Check your stoma whenever you change your
appliance. You want to make sure that you catch any possible problems early.
Look for changes in color, shape, or function. Also, look around the stoma for
changes in the skin. If you spring a leak while wearing your best "dry
clean only" winter whites, get them to the cleaners quickly. Explain the
nature of the stain. You can help educate the public and you have the best
chance of getting the stain out if you "come clean" as to what caused
it. If you can't eliminate odor from your faceplate, try taking an old
toothbrush and scrubbing the faceplate with toothpaste. If you find the scissors
sticky when you cut Stomahesive wafers, lubricate the scissors with KY Jelly or
clean the blades with rubbing alcohol. Try using one of those small seam rippers
(available in any fabric store) for cutting the size you need from Stomahesive.
It is quick and gives a nice smooth edge .... but be careful. Be careful with
zippers. The pouch can get caught in the zipper when zipped in a hurry. Be
careful with what you place in your pockets. Ballpoint pens, keys, nail files,
tooth picks, and other sharp objects could puncture the pouch. Before you leave
for travel abroad, call Intermedic, Inc. in New York City at: (212) 486-8974.
They can provide you with names of English-speaking doctors abroad.
UROSTOMY HINTS AND
IDEAS
Via: Green Bay Ostomy News Review
The stoma will shrink in the first few months after surgery and should
be re-measured as needed during that time. The appliance opening should then be
made smaller to fit the new smaller sized stoma. You will find a measuring
device and instructions in every box of pouches. If you gain or lose weight, you
may also need to recheck equipment fit. If you develop itching or a rash or
become sensitive to your adhesive, talk to your doctor or ET to help you clear
up your skin irritation problem. Individual body chemistry differs, so do
manufacturer's formulas for skin barrier adhesives. If your adhesive is not
giving you a good seal, ask for help in finding one that does. A poor seal may
let urine leak onto the skin. If your pouch begins to leak, change it
immediately. Some urostornates may have a high incidence of complications, some
occurring after 10 to 12 years. Most complications are gradual. The most common
is caused by an ill-fitting pouch. Urine that accumulates on the skin around the
base of the stoma may become reddish brown, with raised, thick, leather-like
areas. It is important to have a faceplate or pouch opening that fits to an
eighth of an inch of the stoma to prevent this and other long-term
complications. If the reddish brown growth is extremely bad, it may be treated
with soaks of white vinegar three times a day for three or four days. Vitamin C,
taken according to the directions on the bottle, may also be helpful to acidify
the urine. Alkaline urine on the skin is irritating. If these measures are not
successful, a revision of the stoma is an alternative. Encrustation or sand-like
deposits on or around the stoma are another complication. (Editor's note: At
each pouch change, check your stoma for color shape and function Watch for any
stoma problems such as swelling, retraction, stenosis (narrowing of the outlet),
prolapse (displacement of the stoma). Any stomal complications should be
reported to your ET nurse.)
HINTS FOR SUMMER
Via: Loraine County Chapter & Metro MD.
Do not expect to get the same wear time as you do in the fall, winter, or
spring. If your wafer or ring skin barrier melts out faster, change the pouch
more frequently. If wear time is very poor, have your ET nurse recommend a
different skin barrier. If plastic against your skin is uncomfortable or causes
a heat rash, purchase or sew a pouch cover. If you are wearing a two-piece
system and are participating in very active sports, use a 10" strip of
2" or 3" tape to secure the pouch and the barrier. Be sure to drink
plenty of liquids, unless contraindicated because of other health problems so
that you will not get dehydrated or constipated. For extra security during
swimming and water sports, use waterproof or "pink" tape to fix your
pouch. Monila is a common summer problem. This raised, itchy red rash on the
peristomal skin is uncomfortable and keeps the pouch from holding well. If you
suspect a monilial rash, contact your physician as soon as possible for a
prescription for anti-monilia powder. Osto-Tip! Skin barriers should be stored
in a cool dry place. They have an expiration date of 4-5 yrs.
HELPFUL HINTS AND TIPS
Sometimes a large teaspoon of bulk gelatin dissolved in
water or lemon juice will help firm up a loose stool. It should be taken
once a day. When ill with a virus and diarrhea, eat pretzels, it is something
which can be kept down and salt is good for you to maintain liquid balance. If
you use washcloths (as opposed to sponges) and you have arthritic hands,
substitute thin, inexpensive ones instead. They are easier to wring out.
Always take your ostomy supplies to the hospital with you. Designate
someone else to do this if you cannot. Let this person know where your
supplies are. If you have had serious medical problems, make up an
emergency “bag” to be grabbed at the last minute. When the ambulance
arrives is no time to do this. Always remove the cotton from pill bottles after
opening. Once you touch the cotton, it becomes contaminated with bacteria.
Place that cotton in a bottle of peppermint oil (available at the pharmacy).
Make sure the bottle has a good stopper. When changing your pouch, just
remove the bottle top and pull some of the cotton out. Works like an air
spray and has a pleasant odor that does not pollute the air. If it looks as if
you are allergic to a certain product, try one made by another company and patch
test it too. You will probably find one that works for you.
Allergies are not as common as is irritation caused by the faulty use of a
product. For this reason, always read the directions that come with a product.
When in doubt, consult your ET nurse or physician. For colostomates
if you feel that the last of the discharge has not been disposed of after
irrigating, blow your nose ten or fifteen times after you think you are through
and before putting on your little pad. You will usually get rid of the
last troublesome matter.A couple of drops of mineral oil or spray of Pam on the
inside of the pouch, spread around by rubbing the sides of the pouch together,
causes the feces to drop to the bottom of the pouch and not stay around the
stoma. Ileostomates in need of an antidiarrhea agent would do well to
consider Imodium rather than Lomotil. Not particularly new, Imodium has
become more and more the drug of choice in reducing volume of discharge in
ileostomies and colostomies. Its great advantage over Lomotil is that it
contains no atropine and anti-cholinergic. Urostomates who travel may benefit by
using two zip-lock bags (one inside the other) for night-time drainage. A
plastic wastebasket may be used to hold the makeshift container by taping the
connector tube to the inside of the wastebasket.
PASTE HINTS
Via: Raleigh, Via: Metro Maryland
Paste brand names available: Coloplast; ConvaTec (Stomahesive) Hollister
(Premium, Hollihesive and Karaya pastes). This product is often misused and , it
could be argued, misnamed, Pastes and should not be used as adhesives. The
purpose of paste is to fill in any uneven areas on the skin under the wafer to
make the area level, which will help to gain a good seal to the wafer. The
second function of paste is as a caulking material around the base of the stoma
to keep discharge from leaking at the base and getting under the wafer. All of
the pastes contain alcohol and therefore will sting some when applied to
irritated skin. This stinging will subside as the alcohol evaporates. If feeling
in deeper depressions in the skin surface, it will be better to layer the paste,
allowing 30 seconds between each application to allow the paste to set up.
Caution! Be sure to use a dampened, but not quite dripping wet, washcloth,
tissue, cotton balls or your fingers to tap the paste into place, or else you
will have the paste all over everything within reach. At this point, paste
becomes a cement which attaches to anything dry and you become frustrated. Recap
the paste tube immediately after use to prevent it from drying out.
HINTS & TIPS
Rounding off the square edges of a firm wafer, or skin barrier,
will decrease the chance of the belt catching on the corners. Male ostomates who
suffer painful collisions between the pouch tail clip and key organs, should try
angling the pouch toward a pants leg instead of pointing it straight down. Wear
briefs and pass the pouch through a leg opening in the brief to hold it in
place. To slow down stoma activity, before changing appliances, eat a tablespoon
of creamy peanut butter beforehand or eat four or five marshmallows, fifteen
minutes before changing. Spearmint is one of the gentler mints. A bit of
spearmint vinegar in a glass of water calms the stomach and digestive system. It
also relieves gas and adds a tangy zest to iced tea. Check your rubbing alcohol
if you are cleaning skin with ft. If it contains glycerin this will prevent
securing a good seal of the appliance. Alcohol should only be used occasionally
to degrease the skin. Stretch away tensions. When a headache begins, STRETCH. It
helps ease tense necks, headaches, and lower back pain. Stretching brings needed
blood to tight muscles and a feeling of well being. Stretch slowly, hold, do not
bounce or strain.
HINTS, OLD AND NEW
Spearmint is one of the gentler mints. A bit of spearmint vinegar in a glass of
water calms the stomach and digestive system. It also relieves gas and adds a
tangy zest to iced tea. To slow down stoma activity, before changing appliances,
eat a tablespoon of creamy peanut butter beforehand or eat four or five
marshmallows, fifteen minutes before changing. Vinegar added to fish dishes
helps to eliminate the traditional fishy odor, and also helps get rid of fish
smells at clean up time. Rounding off the square edges of a firm wafer, or skin
barrier, will decrease the chance of the belt catching on the comers. Skin Prep
rubbed or sprayed on the hands before using your garden rake, etc., can help
prevent blisters, and on mosquito bites will seal the bite and take away the
itch. Male ostomates who suffer painful collisions between the pouch tail clip
and key organs, should try angling the pouch toward a pants leg instead of
pointing it straight down. Wear briefs and pass the pouch through a leg opening
in the brief to hold it in place.
FOR COLOSTOMATES
Via: Spacecoast Shuttle Blast
If you use a Stomahesive wafer and cut your own center hole, save the leftover pieces and use them to fill in any skin indentions around the stoma underneath the wafer.
Spray the inside of your pouch with PAM to help the contents keep sliding down instead of sticking on the sides and top of the pouch.
Apply the pouch standing, lying or sitting down, but do not allow abdominal wrinkling or this will break the seal when you straighten out.
Colostomy diet is fairly normal. You will discover which foods may not agree with you by trying everything, a little at a time. If it doesn’t work the first time, wait a few weeks and try it again. If it doesn’t work then, leave it alone for a few months...or forever, if necessary.
If you have difficulty with constipation, a glass of apple juice every morning and the night before irrigation may prove helpful. If you prefer, you might try taking your apple juice heated. (Add a little cinnamon...mmm!)
Colostomates who take antihistamines during the sneezing season may find that these drugs have a tendency to slow down intestinal action and the irrigation process becomes slower. Some report relief from the drug reaction by increasing the fluid intake the day they irrigate, or eating laxative foods (in moderation).
If you are irrigating and having problems with leakage between irrigations, try using less water. Too much water may contribute to leakage.
Buttermilk will soothe an irritated digestive tract and will not cause diarrhea or constipation.
Some people find that a large teaspoon of bulk gelatin dissolved in water or lemon juice once a day will firm up a loose stool.
If you are a colostomate who uses a convex insert in your face plate, and the insert becomes gucky and sticky, try good ol’ Uni-solve to remove the guck. It really works great!!!
Especially in hot weather, wear protection between the pouch and your skin to prevent rash from perspiration. You can make a pouch cover with an old handkerchief, a baby’s bib, etc. Pouch covers can be purchased also.
If you are taking a bismuth preparation, try to stop taking it for one day before having an intestinal X-ray or tell the doctor, because it sometimes shows up opaque on an X-ray.
MORE HINTS & TIPS
Fats of all kinds should be kept at a minimum by most ostomates. Fats induce an
increased flow of bile into the intestines and make the body wastes more liquid
and harder to control. They also tend to produce gas. If you want medicines to
work quickly, drown ‘em. They dissolve and absorb faster with lots of water. Use
a hand mirror for a better view of the stoma. It’s about the only way you can
see under it.
HELPFUL HINTS FROM HERE AND
THERE
Write down the name of the ostomy supplier and the number and size of all your
equipment. This information should be kept in a safe place for easy reference.
When planning a trip, be sure to include the information in your ostomy
emergency kit. Some people find that a large teaspoonful of bulk gelatin
dissolved in water or lemon juice once a day will firm up a loose stool.
Butternut will soothe an irritated digestive tract and will not cause diarrhea
or constipation. The application of a couple of capsules of vitamin E oil broken
down and rubbed on sore and irritated skin around the stoma promotes overnight
healing. Drinking tomato juice will help eliminate odor and is a tool to retard
dehydration and keep the electrolytes in balance. Excessively oily skin can
affect adhesion of your wafer. Wiping the skin around the stoma with alcohol is
helpful, but be careful the alcohol does not contain glycerin, as this kind of
alcohol will hinder adhesion. If you are taking chemotherapy and your mouth is
sore, gargle with one teaspoonful of baking soda in a half glass of water.
TIPS FOR SWIMMING WITH AN OSTOMY
Via: Metro, MD.
Allow considerable time after changing a flange before
swimming (overnight is best, but at least several hours). Flanges with
waterproof tape built into the flange (flexible ostomy system ) work best. If
not using a flexible flange, “picture frame” the flange with waterproof tape
(that is, put tape around all four sides of the flange, as if you were putting
it in a picture frame). Some say the pink tape is most effective. Micropore and
similar paper-like tapes can be made more waterproof by covering them with Skin
Prep after they are in place. Cloth belts stretch in water, so wear a rubber
belt if you wear one at all. Swimsuits, with “busy” patterns camouflage the
appliance; solid colors reveal the appliance. Skirts, bows, sashes, ties, drapes
on a swimsuit can camouflage the appliance. Boxer-style trunks work well for
men. A tight garment under your swimsuit can help hold the appliance in place.
Try a lightweight two-way stretch panty girdle, the top part of old panty hose,
biking shorts, or sew a pocket in the lining of your swimsuit to support the
pouch. These are “unisex” ideas! Men can also try a pair of jockey shorts for
similar support. Mini, non-drainable pouches may be more comfortable and have a
lower profile under swimsuits than your usual pouching system. They may be used
over and over if you rinse them out and air dry after every use. Avoid pouches
with built-in filters for swimming. Water can get in, and water mixed with stool
can soil your clothing. Plan ahead for swimming. Try to calculate your transit
time (how long it takes food to get from mouth to pouch), and eat your meals at
a time that will allow you to have the least amount of output when you plan to
swim. For most people, the first few hours after getting up in the morning will
be the time of least output.
SOME HELPFUL HINTS FROM HERE AND THERE
A bit of spearmint vinegar in a glass of water calms the stomach and digestive system. It also relieves gas and adds a tangy zest to iced tea.
Trouble with itching under the tape or stomahesive? Mix 50% white vinegar and 50% water, apply gauze sponges and soak the skin for 5 to 10 minutes when changing your appliance. Be sure the skin is washed and rinsed well to remove the vinegar before applying the new appliance.
A good rule to follow—if it is safe to put in your mouth, it is safe to put in your pouch. Try GREEN MINT MOUTHWASH as a pouch rinse. Use CERTS if nothing else is available. PEPTO-BISMOL is an effective deodorant. Take one tablet immediately after meals. Its effectiveness is lessened the longer you wait after a meal. Eat parsley to eliminate odors.
You do not have to be a baby to discover the merits of Johnson and Johnson diaper liners. You may try them as a barrier between ostomy pouches and the skin. They come 60 to a box and cost under a dollar.
MORE HELPFUL HINTS FROM HERE AND THERE
Emotional pressures and over-fatigue can cause bowel upsets, especially when
traveling. Do not allow yourself to become over-tired. For hard-to-deal-with,
itchy, irritated skin due to tape burns, scar healing, pouch friction on the
skin, etc., doctors often recommend a cortisone cream or ointment. Two products
of this nature available without a prescription are: Cortaid or Dermolate. If
you like mushrooms, remember they don’t digest, so chew them well. Asparagus
generates a strong odor in the urine. Yogurt, cranberry juice, and buttermilk
help to combat urinary odor. Parsley is excellent in combating fecal odor,
besides being a good source of potassium. Keep grape juice in the refrigerator.
If you eat something that causes a blockage, just try drinking a glassful. It
really works. Never wait until you’ve used your last appliance before ordering
new ones. Keep a list of your equipment, complete with order numbers, sizes and
manufacturers. Let a member of your family know where you keep the list so that
they can get the necessary supplies in the event of an emergency. Use a round
clothespin to roll up your tube of paste. (Works for toothpaste tubes too.) If
you still have your rectum and have pain or a full feeling, you may have a
collection of mucus which should be washed out. Check with your doctor regarding
this. Buttermilk will soothe an irritated digestive tract and will not cause
diarrhea or constipation. Colostomates should not use water that is too cold or
too hot as it may cause cramps, pain or nausea. Do allow 45 minutes to one hour
for a complete return of water. Arrange to sit for comfort and relaxation. Do
not hurry through irrigation. Anxiety, frustration and spillage may result.
Getting up tight can cause little or no return. Rounding off the square edges of
a firm wafer or skin barrier will decrease the chance of the belt catching on
the corners. For urostomates, if your drainage tube is clogged, try soaking it
in a solution of Tide for about two hours. Then rub the tube between your
fingers, insert a baby bottle brush as far a possible, pull out and rinse.
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