How my stoma routine has changed over time | by Rachel

When you first get a stoma, you’re often shown a routine and told, “this is how you’ll manage it.” But what many people don’t realise is that stoma care is rarely static. Over time, life changes and so does your stoma. From motherhood, to body changes, and everything in between, my routine has had to adapt more times than I ever expected.

Life, and the many curveballs it likes to throw at us, means our stoma has to roll with the punches. It is very rare that someone can go the entire duration of having a stoma sticking to the exact same products and routine. If this is you, count yourself very lucky!

While it is not advised to change anything in your routine if it is working, you may find that luxury taken out of your hands, forcing you to look at other options. Research and development mean we have more options than ever before. We all deserve the best quality of life, and by working with your stoma nurse, who should always be consulted with any change, that is more possible than ever before.

How my routine started

How it changed

How it’s going

My takeaway