Caring For Your Ostomy
Caring for your ostomy is an important part of maintaining your quality of life. You will need to:
- Empty your pouch as needed.
- Replace your pouching system every 4 to 7 days. This may include measuring your stoma and cutting the barrier to size. For children and infants, the pouching system usually needs to be replaced every 2 to 3 days.
- Care for your skin and stoma paying special attention to watch for skin irritation.
You may also
IRRIGATE a colostomy, which helps you control when you eliminate waste. Irrigation requires your health professional's approval and guidance.
Colostomy irrigation is a procedure that gives people with a colostomy more control over the elimination of waste. Irrigation stimulates the intestine to function at a regular time and is generally done at the same time every day or every other day.
In this procedure, an irrigation cone and tube are connected to the stoma (the end of the exposed intestine), and irrigation fluid is flushed through the intestine to clear it of waste.
People who use irrigation may need only a cover or pad over the stoma and may not need a colostomy bag. Irrigation requires a health professional's approval and guidance.
