About

Most ostomy sites just explain what an ostomy is and what type of supplies you need to use. This is great and useful information. But, to me, this is very entry-level information. Yes, people need to know about their supplies. Yes, people need to know when to contact their doctor after surgery. But, it lacks a sort of frankness. It doesn’t really expose the day-to-day life of someone with an ostomy. Healthcare professionals are giving great advice on best practices for an ostomy, but they usually do not have ostomies themselves. Do you get what I’m saying?

One thing you need to know about is the company in which you will buy your supplies. You will really get to know this company and their representatives because you will be ordering a lot. And for good reason. Companies like ostomy supplies have a wide variety of products and variants of supplies. I recommend trying as many products as you want. Find what is best for you. Ostomy supplies always work best for me. Their wide range of products fits my every need.

Backsplash is a real thing when emptying your ostomy bag. I know, it’s kind of gross. But it needs to be said! To avoid this altogether, some people choose to empty the output in a cup before emptying it into the toilet for flushing. But it is so much more convenient (and less involved) to just empty the bag directly over the toilet. I like sitting on the toilet backwards and emptying the bag. I have also heard other people start flushing the toilet before they empty the bag to prevent backsplash.

Next, I recommend changing your bag in the morning, on an empty stomach. As you probably already know, we cannot feel when our intestines decide it's time for output. I usually can guess how long what I’m eating will take to output (you’ll be able to do this after so long), but sometimes I am surprised at an early or late arrival. So, to prevent any bowel movements when cleaning an exposed stoma, I prefer to clean and change my bag first thing in the morning.

Do a quick rinse of your bag after emptying. Most people opt for bags that are used for around four days. It is convenient to not have to change the bag constantly. But to keep the freshness of just having changed your bag, do a quick little rinse of the inside of your bag after you empty it. I just carry a little syringe in my little ostomy pouch and give it a few little squirts.