My stoma care routine | by Louise

The next biggest hurdle we face after stoma surgery is how to change our appliance and time it when our stomas are less active. I have my stoma care routine down to a two minute change. It’s a really small part of my daily/weekly routine.

My change routine

I typically change my stoma bag one / two times per week. I tend to change on the days I shower. I follow the same routine every time.

I set up what I am going to use then I jump in the shower, wash and dry off. Then I change my bag. 

• Two dry wipes soaked with hot clean water that I wring out
• Two dry wipes, one for making sure my stoma site is completely dry and the other to apply my barrier cream
• Nappy sack for my soiled bag and dirty wipes
• I always cut my baseplate just before I change
• Adhesive remover and barrier cream on the sink 
• Bag and barrier ring always on the window ledge

My routine for changing

• Adhesive remover sprayed and soiled bag removed and placed into the nappy sack in the sink
• Two wet wipes to remove any adhesive remover and clean my stoma and site
• Dry wipe to dry my peristomal skin
• I check the site is dry and apply barrier cream on the skin around my stoma
• Apply my barrier ring which I mould to my stoma size
• Apply stoma bag, clear away the rubbish and wash my hands

I find that changing over the bathroom sink helps if my stoma is misbehaving as I can easily clean any output that has escaped and this always means it avoids getting on any clean PJs or knickers I am wearing at the time. 

I, for the best part, have mastered my changes over the last decade and for me now it’s a small part that takes a few minutes a time for me to change. For the most part it’s an auto-pilot action as it’s heavily embedded within my routine of life.

See my change routine here!

As always,
Many thanks for reading
Louise
@crohnsfighting