Can you shower with a colostomy bag? You can leave your colostomy bag on in the shower or bath without a problem. The bags are waterproof, and steam and damp actually support the adhesive to stick even better.
What does this mean? If your stoma output is loose and watery for more than 24 hours nutrients, electrolytes (eg. Salt) and fluid are not absorbed properly.
Empty your pouch before swimming. Also, ensure your wafer has been on for at least an hour prior to getting wet. If you are nervous about output, eat a few hours before jumping in. If you use a filtered pouch, use a filter cover sticker on your deodorizing filter to prevent water from entering the pouch.
You can either bathe with the pouch on or take it off - there's no damage that will be caused to the stoma if you choose to shower with the pouch off. If you shower with the pouch on the pouches are waterproof, the water just sits on top of the cover and can be towel dried.
Having diarrhoea will often mean that the stoma bag needs to be changed much more regularly than usual. This can mean that you go through supplies much quicker and also lead to irritation of the peristomal skin.
Foods that are reported to help thicken the stoma output include apple sauce, bananas, buttermilk, cheese, marshmallows, jelly babies, (boiled) milk, noodles, smooth creamy peanut butter, rice, tapioca pudding, toast, potatoes and yoghurt.
Taking a Skin Break
Many people enjoy leaving their skin uncovered for 15 to 30 minutes after taking their pouching system off. This is called a skin break. Taking a skin break can help with irritation or keep it from happening. You can decide if you want to take a skin break.
To treat irritated skin around the stoma you can use stoma powder under the ostomy appliance. The powder is available from a medical surgical supplier. If skin has a red, raised, itchy pimply rash: If you have a rash this may indicate a yeast infection and you may use an antifungal powder (2% Miconazole).
Most types of exercise are possible with a stoma, including swimming, as all colostomy bags are waterproof.
The dry air can make your airways produce mucus. The mucus can collect around your stoma and get crusty. To protect your stoma and your airways, try to avoid: extreme temperatures.
Many companies design swimsuits specifically for those who have an ostomy. However, all swimsuits work just fine. You can wear a standard one-piece suit, a tankini, or a high-waisted bikini. A two-piece swim dress is comfortable, convenient, and easily conceals your ostomy bag.
Can you still poop with a colostomy bag? Pooping will be different with a colostomy bag. Immediately after your surgery, your anus may continue to expel poop and other fluids that were left inside. But new poop will now exit through your stoma.
Keeping hydrated with an ileostomy, colostomy and urostomy
You should try to drink 6-8 glasses of water each day along with any other drinks such as tea or coffee.
Drink sports drinks (such as Gatorade or Powerade) and oral rehydration solutions (such as Pedialyte). These drinks will help replace your fluid loss quickly, especially if your ostomy output is high. A high output is more than 1000 milliliters (about 34 ounces) per day.
Avoid drinks that cause bloating
There are certain alcoholic beverages which can cause bloating and ballooning of stoma bags. These include lager, beer, prosecco and any other fizzy alcoholic drinks.
After ileoanal pouch surgery is complete, the temporary stoma is closed. Stool and gas will leave your body through your anus, as they did before surgery. At first, you will have more frequent bowel movements, up to 15 per day. You may have mild bowel control problems and may need to wake up from sleep to pass stool.
The best position to sleep in when you have a stoma is on your back, or on your side. If you prefer to sleep on your stomach, this will be fine at the beginning of the night but increases the chances of leaks as the night progresses and your bag fills.
Use only plain, lukewarm water and dry wipes for cleaning your stoma (if you must use wet wipes, then make sure they are free from lanolin and fragrance as the skin around your stoma can be very sensitive).