How can you Use an Ostomy Pouch?
After the ostomy surgery, the most sensitive, important, and crucial thing is managing the ostomy appliances. Many patients face trouble while wearing a stoma bag. They do not know when to empty, drain, or change the pouch. However, the necessary point for every ostomate is to learn about it. They should know about all the types and styles of ostomy bags. Moreover, a patient should not get panic if they feel any leakage or abnormality. Therefore, a patient should always be ready for any kind of situation. A person should know about the care of peristomal skin and its importance for healthy stoma and life.
Therefore, the following are some points for the proper use of the ostomy pouch.
How and When to Empty the Ostomy Pouch?
This is one of the necessary points you should learn. It is you who should know the condition of an ostomy bag. Only a patient knows when to empty it. Therefore, you should learn the right timing for emptying your pouch. Right after the surgery, your nurse will drain your ostomy bag. She/he will guide you in detail when you empty it. Therefore, you should learn it there. You should learn self-management and care. You can drain the pouch while standing or sitting on the toilet seat. The position depends on your ease and convenience. Well, the essential point is that you should drain it when the bag is half full. Do not wait for its full. It will start leaking and put you in trouble. Especially, when you are in any public place, you should know how to handle the difficult situation.
How Frequent Should You Empty the Ostomy Pouch?
Well, it depends on the frequency of discharge of the waste. But, there are a few rules and guidelines for a patient’s comfort. A person should empty it when he feels it is one-third or half full. The ostomy bag should not be heavy to hold. Once it starts getting the weight of the waste, you should drain it. In the case of a urostomy, a patient should empty the ostomy bag five to six times a day. However, a person having a colostomy should drain it two to three times a day. Moreover, it depends on the condition of the patient. Some patients do not discharge too much while a few of them have heavy discharge; therefore, the frequency of the emptying of the bag depends on the heaviness and fullness of the pouch.
How to Change the Ostomy Pouch?
The next essential point is how to change your ostomy pouch. Well, you can learn it at the hospital. Right after the surgery, your nurse will empty and change the ostomy bag. Therefore, you can learn it there because you will spend a few days or a week in the hospital. So, before leaving the hospital, you can learn it from your doctor or nurse.
Before leaving the hospital, you should have pro skills in emptying and changing the ostomy pouch. You should learn drainage, cleaning, changing, and replacement of the entire pouching system. Moreover, apart from changing, you should learn the importance of peristomal skin. Despite stoma appliance, you should care about the skin around the opening. It is a vital part of the pouching system and care. It should be clean and healthy. The waste or discharge should not touch to the peristomal. You should examine your stoma surroundings regularly. It should not be red in color or itch. Otherwise, it can create trouble for the patient and the stoma hole. Moreover, use medicated or standard tools for the stoma and ostomy pouching system. You should have a medicated adhesive and remover for concealing and easy removal.
