Shakespeare was wrong. The key question for us colostomates is “To Drain or Not to Drain”. The purpose of this article is to help you make an informed decision on the wallet method sooner rather than later
Many harvests
After my colostomy I was introduced to a two part drainable bag in the hospital and have been using it until recently. If you use drainables, you know how tedious the process can be.
I quickly learned that multiple bowel movements are necessary to avoid a complicated toilet. I learned in the toilet tissue in the toilet to reduce the sound. Sometimes it doesn’t work.
I don’t like it this way, but I’m not sure what else to try. I had heard from others that the wallet was quick and easy to use. They said, “Just pop off the old wallet, delete it at the port zone, and pop the new wallet.” I assumed important details were missing from the explanation. It could not be done easily. I was afraid to try it, since I reluctantly used to carry backpacks and each breaking session lasted 12-15 minutes.
Turbo Help
What made me reconsider giving my backpacks a try was the Florida hurricane. My neighbor’s water service was interrupted when he broke a water pipe outside. If we were unlucky this year, how could I blush after each emptying to avoid the secret? I simply couldn’t get enough of the red pile of water so often.
I thought of the disposables as an alternative, because only one blush is necessary. I asked for free samples of the progress and anxiously examined them. A surprising result. Happy actually.
Get out soon
The arrangements are easy to remove. They have a tab to hold them, which resonate without being attached to the abdomen.
Any stool accumulated in and around the stoma is easily removed by pinching with a toilet brush or q-tip.
The eviction pad is easy and easy. I start with a square dry toilet-paper to clean the landing zone, then, if necessary, moisten another toilet. square with plain water to clean any sticky saddle from the thrust zone. Never use more than two or three squares of toilet paper to wash the port area. TOILET TISSUE Another square one to dry the port area and I did.
This process is so clean that you don’t need to wear gloves. Do not defile your hands. I admit that I use gloves for peace of mind. In a pinch the change could actually be done without a toilet at all, just a plastic bag or baggie for waste.
Place, Press, and Go
A freshly disposed bag in the landing zone seems easier, less alarming, than an impregnable purse. I’m not sure why.
After placing the bag, I firmly attached the seal to the bag and I was done. I untimely process. The old drying method took me up to 15 very annoying minutes, depending on how full the bag was and how many ectyps and reds I had to make each. The new method takes me three minutes.
And there is more
There are other benefits besides speed and convenience. The whole process is less unpleasant, not to mention smelly. A pocket is used to roll in on itself, which seals the inside of the bowel, so that there is less space for air to receive harm. If you share a bathroom with someone else, that’s a big bonus. I put the used bag into one of the long plastic bags that are used for newspaper, tie a knot and place it in the kitchen trash. There is no smell at all.
I’m not afraid to leave the house in the morning (my stoma is usually active after breakfast) because I feel more in control and use the public restroom or airplane< /a> is less dangerous and could be done faster than before with drainables.
I have daily access to my stoma and can have it cleaner and healthier around the skin by not allowing stool to build up in the days between emptying pouch changes.
I no longer have the skin rash under the bottom end of the bag that I did when I got the drainables. Sometimes he let the tail drop from the end of the tail, especially when he was sleeping. It is also easier to sleep without a tail, so that you can curl it under your body. Gas exhaust also works much better because there isn’t enough debris available to slow down the vents. I don’t have to “burp” my bag to release the trapped gas.
Free trial
In short, my switch to disposables has made my life easier, less stressful, and reduced my procrastination factor by hundreds. I’m sorry I didn’t try it sooner.
I urge you to give it a try. Manufacturers will send you free samples. If you have Medicare, it pays or pays for 60 per month to arrange. If you use drainables, and the flow of the stomach allows, you will probably end up trying. I don’t die like I do. Try it sooner. My guess is you will be glad you did.
One reason
One caveat: Disposables are not for everyone. They are useless for ileostomates and urostomates as their flow is almost constant. Colostomates whose surgery was “deep” will have a more constant flow in their colon and will also have difficulty managing to use it. For the most acute, drainable stomas, they can be emptied as many times as necessary.
