You can select from a wide variety of stoma care supplies. In the start, your stoma doctor will most likely assist you in selecting one. You might want to test out a few various bags to determine which one is the most convenient and safe for you. Pouches can be sealed, open/drainable, flatter or convex wafer, 1 or 2 two-piece systems with a separate bag and wafer. While there is a variety of items available to assist safeguard your skin or enhance the reliability of your bag.
Among the most common bag kinds and accessories are listed here.
Closed Bag
Such bags, as the name implies, have no hole at the base and are typically used by people who have a colostomy and generate solid feces. The bag will thereafter be replaced one to three times each day as needed.
Bag That Can Be Opened and Drained
Such bags are typically used by people who have an ileostomy since the output is more liquid. The bags may be cleaned from the base as required, and they should be replaced every 3-4 days. When they have a high output stoma, some persons with colostomies may opt to utilize a drainable.
Bag for Urostomy
The base of these bags has a little tap that may be open and the urine emptied as required. Such bags should be replaced every three to four days, on average.
One-Piece Bag
Both the wafer and the bag are attached and must be replaced every time. These are somewhat flat against the body.
Two-Piece Bag
The wafer and the bag are two different things. The baseplate/wafer wraps over the stoma, and the pouch clips into place on top of it. That means you can keep your wafer on and merely replace bags. This can help to prevent skin irritation. These pouches, on the other hand, maybe a little more substantial.
Wafers/Bags with a Convex Shape
A convex wafer is convex to push out such an inverted stoma that is hidden inside the skin folds. This may aid in the prevention of stoma leakage.
Stoma Plugs and Caps
If you have a colostomy and use irrigation, you should think about switching from either a pouch to a cap or a plug between those irrigations. Such caps and plugs are tiny circular patches with an inbuilt filtration that may be placed over the stoma and enable you to be free of a pouch. Those with a mucous fistula can also wear these hats.
Sprays/Wipes for Removing Adhesives
Those may be used to swiftly and painlessly extract the bag from your skin. There are a variety of companies and brands to choose from, including scented and unscented options according to on your preferences.
Rings and Paste for Barrier
Barrier rings or paste could be used to block any spaces, fissures, or wrinkles surrounding your stoma, preventing any output from slipping beneath your bag and causing leakage or hurting your skin. Likewise, there are several varieties to choose from. These will be available from your ostomy supplies provider.
Barrier Sprays and Ostomy Powder
Several individuals like to use a powder or spray to their skin after cleaning and drying it to prevent any adhesive discomfort from the wafer or any harm to the damaged skin. If your skin is moist and damaged, they can also assist your bag stick better. These will be available from your ostomy supplies provider.
Drop and Spray with Aroma
The bags’ filtration should keep any odor from leaving while you’re using them. The only moment you smell something is when you take the pouch out of the bag. Several individuals like to use aromatic ostomy drops or a spray into the bag to neutralize or conceal any odors within the pouch for added confidence.
Extenders for Wafer
All those are thin adhesive patches that overlapping around the exterior of your bag to form a bigger wafer surface and add extra bag safety. They come in a different shapes and sizes. These are helpful whether you’re going swimming or want to lengthen the period you may wear your shoes while you’re out and about. These will be available from your ostomy provider.
Belt for Ostomy
If you have a hernia, or if you want to avoid getting it, such belts can assist. They provide extra abdominal stability by attaching to the rings on each side of the wafer on a two-piece pouch.
Your stoma doctor can tell you if one of these belts will be beneficial to you and can assess you for a proper fit.