Tips To Use An Ostomy Bag And Pouching System

You must learn how and when you will need to empty your pouching system to successfully manage your ostomy. This process also includes assessing and taking care of your stoma and the skin around it. You should also know what to do in case the peristomal skin looks less than healthy.

Emptying the pouch

Emptying your pouch is one of the most basic skills that you are going to have to learn after surgery. In the hospital, the nurse will teach you how to measure the amount of stool in the ostomy bag, and also how to empty the bag into a container. You can also empty the pouch into the toilet.

You may wonder when to change the pouch. You will need to empty it once it is one-third to half full. The aim should be to prevent the bag from becoming too heavy as it can undermine adhesion between the skin barrier and the peristomal skin. The frequency at which you need to empty the ostomy bag depends on the type of ostomy you have. If you have an ileostomy, you may have to empty your pouch five to six times in 24 hours. If you have a colostomy, you may need to empty your ostomy bag two to three times in 24 hours.

Changing the Ostomy Pouch

If your ostomy requires you to use closed-end ostomy bags instead of drainable bags, you are going to have to learn about how to change your ostomy pouching system. There may be several steps involved in removing and replacing an ostomy pouch. You may not be skilled enough to change the bag during the first few weeks after surgery, and it is understandable.

Again, you are going to have to learn the process of changing an ostomy bag from an ostomy care nurse. The nurse will tell you what is normal for your stoma and peristomal skin. They will also tell you about the troubleshooting process if things do not seem normal. The lessons you will get from your nurse will help you examine your stoma every time you change the pouch.

It is crucial to keep your ostomy care nurse and doctor on quick dial. You may think that you are fully aware of the process of changing the pouch because you are doing it daily, but you might never know about the occurrence of a complication that’s beyond your understanding. During that situation, an instant call to your ostomy care nurse can help you get rid of that complication.