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An Ultimate Guide on Caring for the Skin Around the Stoma

After having ostomy surgery, the skin around the stoma needs care. You can feel redness and irritation after some days of ostomy surgery. Thus, you should not ignore the skin problems. Some people think that itching and redness are normal after having the operation. It is typical for a few days, but after a week, you should not allow your skin to be red. Your skin around the stoma should be clean and usual. For that, you need to take care of your stoma. Your stoma liquid can irritate your skin. You need to clean the stoma bag and the skin around the stoma regularly. It will eliminate the redness and itching. Simply, your skin around the stoma should be clean and healthy.

Examine your Ostomy Bag and Supplies Every Day

After having surgery, you need to visually examine your ostomy system every day. Daily inspection and care of your stoma and skin are necessary for you. When you change your ostomy bag, you should visually examine your ostomy skin and stoma. You should change your ostomy system every day. However, in the initial days of ostomy operation, you will change your pouch after two or three days. At that time, you should inspect your skin around the stoma. In the initial days, you should take assistance from your nurse. You should ask him/her how to change the ostomy bag and how to care for the skin. Every day you should examine the flange, wafer, pouch, and barrier. The ostomy bag should not leak, or it should not release too much odor. If this is happening with you, you will feel redness and itching on your skin. You should clean and change the bag every day.

Dry your Skin Around the Stoma

When you feel leakage out from the stoma bag, you should remove it, dry your skin, and change the pouch. Keeping your skin dry is one of the best remedies to make your cuticle healthy and clean. Moreover, because of the adhesive, you can feel itching, you need to wipe your ostomy skin 3 to 4 times a day. For that purpose, you need to use medicated wipes. Moreover, after changing the ostomy bag, and cleaning the skin around the stoma, you should leave it for a few minutes. Do not wear your shirt just after cleaning and changing the ostomy pouch. Your skin should feel fresh after changing daily.

Use Stoma Powder on your Skin Around the Stoma

After having ostomy surgery, you will feel redness, itching, irritation, and leakage in your skin around the stoma. Such symptoms have appeared usually after the ostomy operation. If you do not feel redness or annoyingness on your cuticle, it can be a worse condition for your skin. However, you need to treat your stoma skin in both cases. When you do not feel any change in your cuticle around the stoma, you should consult your doctor immediately. You should not avoid any of the changes or zero change in your stoma skin. Thus, you should use stoma powder to reduce redness and keep your skin healthy.

The following are some tips to use stoma powder around the skin of your stoma.

You should avoid using beauty soaps or regular perfumes while using stoma powder.

Try to seal the powder around the skin of stoma. Gently dab the stoma powder that will heal the redness.

Do not use baby powder on your stoma skin. You can badly affect the adhesive of the stoma bag. Use a recommended stoma powder.

Use a powder that can absorb the leakage and moisture of your stoma pouch.

Always use a doctor’s recommended stoma powder, do not apply anything in your convenience.

If you feel no improvement in the redness and itching, immediately contact your doctor. And, ask for the change of products.

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How to Live with a Colostomy Bag?

I have told you in my latest blog that an ostomy is an artificial opening that is created by a surgery that allows leaving the waste in your bladder. The unwanted excess leaves your body through a stoma. The stoma has created in the wall of your abdomen. The surgery is called an ostomy surgery, which can be permanent or temporary.

Ostomy has divided into three kinds. The types are urostomy, ileostomy, and colostomy. In a colostomy, the large intestine or colon has removed from your body. The process needs an ostomy surgery. Therefore, the doctor will place a colostomy bag to your ostomy for the removal of waste.

Colostomy Bag

Colostomy bags have attached to the stoma. These bags will collect the waste of your intestine through the stoma.

In some cases, the stool is more resilient, and in some cases, it is in liquid form. For the frim stool, a closed pouch is a better choice, and for liquid stool, you will need a drainable ostomy pouch.

When you have a colostomy bag, you will live your routine with the bag all the time. Thus, we will discuss how you can live your life with a colostomy bag.

Colostomy Bag and the Changes in your Lifestyle

Ostomy surgery does not affect your lifestyle these days. As the modern colostomy bag and supplies are easy to wear and are discreet. Thus, you can continue your routine with a colostomy pouch. Nobody can realize that you are wearing a pouch on your belly unless you tell them. Therefore, you can continue your previous lifestyle with a colostomy bag. Moreover, you can enjoy your activities, as modern technology is friendly and safe.

Colostomy Pouch and Traveling

When you have a colostomy bag, you can travel where you want. A colostomy does not mean that you should stick to your bed. Though, some vigilant planning is necessary before going out. You need to pack your all colostomy supplies before setting off. Make sure you have belts, wipes, barrier rings, and all other colostomy supplies in your bag. Moreover, you should learn how to change your colostomy bag in a public restroom or aircraft lavatory. Furthermore, you need to be careful with your sitting posture and tying the seat belt.

Colostomy Bag and Office Routine

After having a colostomy surgery, going back to work is the biggest query. With a colostomy bag, going back to the office could be difficult. However, this is not true. Your official life depends on your recovery speed. If you can manage your colostomy bag, its cleaning and changing, you can go back to your work after some days of surgery. However, you need to lessen down the duration of your office timings.

Colostomy Bag and its Odor

The odor of the colostomy is one of the huge worries. Colostomy bags emits the odor which other people can feel. However, you can control the colostomy odor. You need to take food and liquids which have less odor. Therefore, try to eat food which emits less smell. Moreover, you should use air fresheners and deodorants. You can use odor eliminators at home to eliminate the smell. Apart from the roll-ons, you should wipe off your stoma skin and pouch two to three times a day.

Colostomy and Diet

When you have a colostomy, you should avoid the food that causes gas. The gaseous foods are cabbage, carbonated drinks, beans, onions, bananas, broccoli, dairy products, and radish. Moreover, you should avoid eggs, fish, and brussels sprouts.

Colostomy bag and Sports

When you have colostomy surgery, the best option is to give it some time to heal. You should not go to the gym, racing, football, or any other sports for at least 3 months. Moreover, avoid swimming for some time. You can join swimming after 2 months of surgery.