How I manage my stoma deliveries and supplies | by Rachel
Managing your deliveries can feel like an extra burden you don’t need when you have a stoma. It isn’t quite like having a new tablet to take. It comes with a lot of things and you need to think about storage, and keeping track of it all. With whoever you use as a dispensary company, you need to know they will deliver on time and at short notice should you run out of supplies.
Organising deliveries
Your stoma nurse should explain to you how delivery and ordering works post-surgery. Normally there is a company that serves all patients in the area as recommended, but remember you can switch if you are not happy with your provider. At a minimum you should expect:
- Excellent customer service
- Deliveries sent on time
- Excellent communication channels
- Short waiting times to receive call backs, if needed
- Help given if supplies are needed short notice
Most technological ways of communication are utilised by companies these days, including a text service, email and even an app. If phone calls and speaking to someone is what you favour, that should be an option too. Do what makes you feel most comfortable and what fits into your daily life. Some people love being able to do orders quickly on their phone. Others will prefer talking to someone to go through things and check everything is in order. I know I felt that way after surgery, when you are relying on a company you have never dealt with to send you medical equipment you simply couldn’t live without!
Organising supplies
The most important thing to do is contact your stoma nurse and alert them of the problems you are having. They may well have found other patients experiencing the same and should be able to advise you on what to do. If getting hold of your stoma nurse is difficult, your delivery company can also contact them. Being with Respond, I know if there is any issue they are more than happy to call the stoma nurse and work with them to find an alternative to send out. They will always need to consult your stoma nurse before releasing a product but having both yourself, and them, make contact should help quicken the process. It is important to keep trying and not accept negative changes such as skin breakdown and a bag not sticking. You deserve better!
Stock rotation
Stock rotation is super important. These products are not meant to last forever and they have storage instructions and expiration dates printed on them, or in the literature they come with. Make sure to recognise this information and follow it. This is most important with the change of seasons which can affect where and how you store items. Some can not be in direct sunlight, some need to be within certain temperatures. Carrying out efficient stock rotation each month will ensure you are using the most recent products first. If there is a manufacturer’s fault, the company will need batch numbers and codes to identify potential issues. With this in mind, make sure to keep boxes or just a note of numbers.
Having bag change kits ready and waiting in key places such as your mode of transport, place of work, bathroom, or other key areas for changing is important to set up as soon as possible. Nothing gives me more reassurance to know that I always have something on standby should I have a bag leak.
Finally…
It can seem overwhelming at first. Lots to remember and organise. With Respond, once you have the first order placed and you have your staple products that you want each month on repeat, you simply reorder the same and it gets a lot easier. Should you have any problems with deliveries or items, they answer the phones very quickly and find solutions quickly. Make sure the company you choose provides the same. Life with a stoma can be unpredictable and heavy – your deliveries don’t need to be. We have had the same delivery man for nearly 10 years, and seeing George each month knowing he is always there is so lovely and reassuring!
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