Common Issues Related To Ostomy Bags

To check whether or not an ostomy pouch fits your requirements well is to see if the use of it results in uncomfortable issues. Those issues include leakage, bleeding, and irritation.

Leakage

An ostomy pouch should form a seal with the skin barrier for a predictable amount of time. It means that it should not allow any leakage to occur between the time when you connected the skin barrier with the skin and the time when you are going to have to take it off. Some common reasons for leakage may include the following.

• If the opening of the skin barrier is too large, the stool can come in contact with the exposed part of the skin, allowing leakage to occur under the skin barrier.
• Sometimes, you might face a problem setting the skin barrier on the peristomal skin. That can lead to the creation of pockets between the skin barrier and the skin. These pockets can compromise the ability of the adhesive to form a proper seal. As a result, leakage can occur.
• A stoma must protrude above the skin by a few centimeters. If there is no protrusion, it can result in the skin barrier’s inability to cover where the skin and stoma meet. This problem can be fixed with the help of convex skin barriers.

Skin problems

The skin around the stoma should be similar to the skin on the rest of the abdomen. If there is a difference, you are likely to have a peristomal skin issue. Apart from pain painful, skin problems can also compromise an ostomy pouch’s ability to adhere nicely to the peristomal skin.

It is necessary to address the root cause of the problem. You will need to see the reason behind the skin problems. Once you find out the problem, you can fix it with the help of an ostomy care nurse. They may suggest you some skincare products to treat your problem.

Next, you will need to make sure that the ostomy pouch you use fits around the stoma. The skin barrier should settle nicely on the peristomal skin.

Bleeding

There can be varying reasons for the bleeding to occur. First, you will need to determine where the blood comes from. You can press that spot a little and clean the area with a dry, clean pad. It will solve the problem in most cases.

If there are spots of blood in the stool, you need to contact your nurse for guidance. Heavy bleeding means a bigger problem. It is something you cannot afford to ignore.

How To Minimize Ostomy Odors And Gas

The occurrence of odors and gas after ostomy surgery is one of the significant concerns for ostomy patients. You can prevent such issues from happening by using the right products and making a few simple changes to your routine.

Ostomy odor

The ostomy pouches that you can purchase these days come with an odor-barrier film. This film prevents the odor from coming out of the pouch. The only time you may feel odor is when you change your ostomy bag. If there is odor at any other time, you need to check if the pouch seal is compromised.

Here are the ways you can prevent odor leakage from your ostomy pouch.

• Remember to empty to the pouch when it is one-third to half full. That might mean emptying the pouch 2-3 times a day.
• The best time you can change your pouch is in the morning before having breakfast.
• Whether you have to drain or change the pouch, make sure that you are doing it regularly to avoid the ostomy bag from becoming too bulky to cause the skin barrier coming off the skin.
• Your diet has everything to do with the odor of your stomal output. Make sure that you have developed healthy eating habits.

Ostomy gas

You might feel gas in your ostomy bag if you have a colostomy or ileostomy. Your intestinal ostomy starts producing gas as soon as your bowel starts functioning. The amount of gas and how frequently your GI tract produces it may vary. It becomes bothersome when the gas deposits anywhere in the intestinal tract. Excessive gas can also cause the pouch ballooning, which might lead to the ostomy pouch coming off the stoma.

The significant reason for gas is your diet. Swallowing air can also cause gas. Several habits, such as  chewing foodsm smoking, chewing gum and drinking carbonated beverages,with your mouth open can increase the amount of gas produced in your GI tract.

If gas is becoming a concern for you, you can consider using an ostomy pouch with filter.

• The filter allows the gas to leave the pouch, but not the odor.
• A filter doesn’t let the ostomy pouch to become a balloon.
• Filters work best when the stool is more firm, but you may also be able to use them if your bodily waste has a paste-like consistency.

The bottom line

Using ostomy supplies that help you deal with the gas and odor is just a precautionary measure. The best way is to avoid gas and odor by paying attention to what you eat as well as your diet routine. Appropriate physical activity can also help you to keep the gas at bay. If you have a medical condition that results in too much gas in your GI tract, you need to talk about it with your doctor.