A Guide On Changing Your Ostomy Appliance

By Arline Bradley


You might have recently had an ostomy. If you had this, you would have to wear an appliance for this at all times. There are times where one would find it really frustrating. There would be times that it would feel really itchy.

Continue reading so that you will know what you have to do. The steps written in the article will teach one the proper steps on changing an ostomy appliance. If you do the steps, you will be sure that the surrounding skin will be maintained as healthy as it should be.

Before you start, you must have all of the materials you will be needing ready. One needs to prepare clean water, some gauze strips and paper towels. You also have to prepare a new bag. It should already be pre cut. One has to have to old one disposed so it would be better to have all necessary things ready.

Remove the shirt you are wearing. You have to place the paper towel in between your skin and underwear. It would make changing your bag in a much clean way. It will help avoid the dirt from being on the underwear and skin as you change.

To remove the old one, hold the skin down with one hand. Pull the bag away until the stoma is completely uncovered. Throw that away in the waste bin. Be sure that you always have a bin that will just be a reach away when you are changing so that you could easily throw that away. It is also best to shave away the hair around it. This would help the bag stick better. You will also feel less pain when you peal it away.

Soak those strips of gauze on water to wipe your skin. You have to pay much attention on the parts surrounding it. Wipe your stoma until it gets clean. Use the paper towel to have it dried. It is suggested that you use it as it is capable of absorbing fast. It will not stick on the skin too.

You may apply some lotion. This would help make the sore lesser. But, you have to think twice of applying it as it will hinder your appliance from sticking much better. Place the new ones. Be certain it sticks. You could use your palms in sticking it.

It is better to change in the morning. During this time, your stoma is smallest in size but still active. Those who have it do this during that time. How many times you would change would depend on the supply and behavior of it. There will be times you can change every other day. There will also be times that you have to change everyday. If that is costly, have it done in the morning.

A person could contact his doctor to help him in taking care of that. His doctor can suggest the best type of appliance for him. A doctor could also suggest stuff that will help to lessen pain when changing. Before doing all of those steps, see to it that your hands are clean. By making sure of that, you could avoid some infections.




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