Yes, the skin around an intestinal (ostomy) or neck (laryngeal) stoma should be allowed to air dry completely before applying a new pouch or device.
Normal exposure to air or water will not harm the stoma, and water does not enter the opening.
Stoma pouches and accessories need to be kept in a cool, dry place as the heat can affect the adhesive on your appliance. If you use any accessories such as barrier rings or flange extenders, they may not work as effusively if they are warm.
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.
Luckily, there are several ways to keep your ostomy pouch dry while showering:
The lining of the bowel will continue to produce mucus after stoma surgery, even though it is not needed anymore. Often people who have had stoma surgery can discover mucus-discharge in their pouch. As the mucus is mixed up with stools it's not always very obvious to see.
A sterile dressing keeps your surgical wound clean and dry while it heals. This bandage protects your incision, creating an ideal environment for healing.
Taking a shower is probably part of everyone's daily routine, and your stoma should not prevent you from enjoying this ritual. You can even choose whether you prefer to shower with or without a bag, both are possible and you will see that a shower cover or shower guard may not be necessary.
The most common signs of a peristomal skin infection include:
How often should a stoma be cleaned? A stoma should be cleaned each time the stoma bag or pouch is changed.
Ballooning occurs when gas expelled through the colon collects inside the bag causing it to inflate. Most bags have a filter which allows this gas to escape. Occasionally the filter will block and the bag needs to be changed. If this happens to you regularly, it may be worth trying a different bag.
Dehydration. Having an ileostomy makes it harder to stay hydrated. If you notice signs of dehydration such as fatigue, dry mouth or lots of poo coming out of your stoma, speak to your stoma nurse or another healthcare professional to get advice.
The type of stoma you have, may influence your decision. Colostomies function less often and with some predictability so it is a little easier to be able to time your shower without wearing your pouch, perhaps before you eat in the morning or later in the evening maybe the quietest and less active time.
Aim: Anecdotally, many ostomates believe that eating marshmallows can reduce ileostomy effluent. There is a plausible mechanism for this, as the gelatine contained in marshmallows may thicken small bowel fluid, but there is currently no evidence that this is effective.
If you normally eat later in the evening or soon before you go to bed, this could be increasing your night time output. If this sounds like you, then varying your meal times could help to reduce stoma bag leakages during the night as your stoma is less active.
you have lots of blood coming from your stoma, or in your stoma bag. you have signs of dehydration. poo has not come out of your stoma for much longer than is normal for you, or you feel uncomfortable. you have severe tummy pain.
If possible change your pouch more frequently, so the filter is working more effectively. Perhaps, getting in the routine of changing your pouch every 48 hours if you find ballooning is an issue. If you are wearing a drainable pouch it is much easier to empty the air out through the outlet.
If the stoma does not protrude above the skin, the stool may get under the pouch seal and cause leakage. A convex pouching system can provide some pressure around the stoma to force output to get into the pouch and not under the skin barrier seal.
Water will not enter your stoma whilst enjoying a soak without your appliance. Well secured, modern stoma equipment will not be affected by water and dries quickly, so showering and bathing can still be enjoyed with or without your pouching system. If you're showering without your pouch, remove the baseplate too.
You may want to avoid certain foods that are difficult to digest and may cause blockages, such as nuts, fruit and vegetable skins and corn. Most people can return to their normal diet. If you have any concerns, speak with your doctor or stomal therapy nurse and they can refer you to a dietitian.
Should I let my wound be open to air or let it dry out? No. Wound healing best occurs when the wound bed is kept moist and the healing cells can travel across the wound to close it. The purpose of dressings prescribed for you is to maintain just the right amount of moisture, not too much and not too little.
First, it is important to rule out the emergency setting; if the source of the fever is still unknown, that is when the “5 Ws” apply: wind, water, wound, walking and wonder drug. Each of the “Ws” is discussed, talking about the specific diagnosis, treatment and prevention.