Bathing, clothes and never running out

Bathing

You can bathe or shower as usual with your bag on. When your wounds have healed and you feel confident, you may wish to bathe or shower without it. The tips are short and mostly reassuring:

• Water cannot get into your stoma.
• Warm water may stimulate your bowel.
• If you use bath oils or talcum powder, make sure you remove the oil and powder from your skin and dry well.
• You may find it easier to change your bag before you bathe.

Clothing

You should be able to wear your existing clothes without changing style or type. Men may choose high-waisted trousers, or braces, to position the waistband above the stoma. Women may continue to wear support garments with adjustments made to incorporate the appliance. Some find stockings more comfortable than tights, and leisure wear comfortable immediately after the operation. The one thing to check: your beltline should not restrict your stoma output.

Supplies

Stoma bags and accessories are available on prescription. A pharmacy will order equipment for collection, usually within 24–48 hours, or you can send prescriptions to a dispensing appliance contractor who delivers to your home. Some pharmacies and DACs will customise bags from a template — though it is recommended you make that template with your stoma care nurse to avoid incorrect sizing, and best to wait until your stoma size has settled, since it is likely to change in the early days after surgery.

Disposal

It is sufficient to empty the contents into the lavatory, then tie the bag in a plastic bag before placing it in the dustbin; some wrap it in newspaper first. Disposal units originally designed for nappies can be bought at some pharmacies and retail stores. And one instruction that is printed in bold for good reason: do not attempt to flush a used ileostomy bag down the lavatory — it will become stuck in the S bend and block the drainage system.

Away from home, disposal works much the same way. There is a key that opens many accessible toilets around the country, which are also equipped with washing and disposal facilities; there is usually a small charge for the key and the directory listing the sites, though some local authorities supply them free of charge to people with long-term conditions. Disability Rights UK has more.

Getting supplies right

Two details are easy to get wrong early on. Some pharmacies and dispensing appliance contractors will customise bags from a template — useful if you cannot cut your own or have an irregularly shaped stoma — but it is recommended you make the template with your stoma care nurse to avoid incorrect sizing. And in the early days after surgery your stoma size is likely to change, so it is worth avoiding the customisation service until it has settled.

Pharmacies and dispensing appliance contractors also supply complimentary wipes and disposal bags as part of dispensing your prescription, which you can use when changing. Some GP surgeries in rural areas hold a licence to dispense stoma equipment directly; your stoma care nurse or surgery can tell you.