Know The Time When To Change Ostomy Bag

Let’s get right to it. When to change an ostomy bag is a very important question. You are very new to having an ostomy. You know very little about this whole thing.

You will be looking at this question from probably one of these two points. Either you had the surgery to receive a stoma as an almost emergency situation or this was a long term planned out an option to treat an ailment that you had been living with for an extended period of time.

My Ostomy Came In Treatment For Cancer

Like I was stating it is for one reason or another that you now have an ostomy. My reason is that I was diagnosed with stage 3 colorectal cancer. This operation was a step and a part of a whole package which was designed to heal me from cancer. Thankfully, that plan worked for me.

Now I have a stoma. I deal every minute of my life now with an ostomy. So whatever your path to this lifestyle you have needed to settle on the fact that you have a stoma. You use ostomy pouches and all of us have much in common from this point onward.

When I Change My Ostomy Pouch

I have over time have developed a great feel for when I need to change my ostomy bag. Let me cover how it works for me. Remember as well that your story may be different and what I do just may not work for you.

I have measured time period when I know I should be changing my ostomy bag. I changed my pouch on Saturday, now I go 4 days wearing and using my current pouch. When my 4 days are up, it’s time to change out my pouch.

Why do I do this? Because I know myself and I know that if I go 5 days or 6 days, I will be inviting problems.

Planning Out Changing My Bag
For more information on how to plan out when my bag is due to be changed and also other great changing your ostomy bag thoughts you can go to another post I made, When to Change an Ostomy Bag Brings Much Anxiety.

Other Ways That I Know It’s Time To Switch Out My Ostomy Bag

Here’s a list of other tale-tell signs that maybe it’s time to switch.

• When I am emptying the pouch it is getting soiled. Its appearance is one of being worn from use.
• I am starting to feel that I really want to itch it, are close to or under where my pouch is adhered to my skin. Itching is never good. BEWARE!
• Inside the pouch it is getting a worn look, plus it is starting to have a large odor from using it.
• I can see that I need to shave close to the adhered area. This will mean it is also getting hairy underneath the adhesive area. This will cause irritation as well.
• It has been warm and I wash down because I having been perspiring much more than normal. Again irritation happens in this situations very easy.
• If I have been disruptive with increasing bag activity from different foods I have eaten or if I have been extra gassy, then I will need to change my bag more often.

Other Ostomy Special Situations To Be Ready For

A long road trip will require extra preparation, and you will need to be on an increased alert. You may think it’s all good, but maybe you just aren’t ready.
If you get into eating some food you are not used to eating in your normal diet, then you may experience a couple of things. You may end up going to the bathroom many more times than normal, or you may be gassier than normal, or worst of all you may be experiencing diarrhea more than normal.

I know from personal experiencing these all will wear down the effectiveness of the pouching system you are using. So be aware.

Last But Not Least-Dealing With When to Change Your Ostomy Bag

I guess the elephant in the room is this. There are so many choices of what you will find comfort in using, and ease in using for your pouching system.

I personally use a Hollister pouching system. I have been using the following system for over four years now. It works for me, I am, comfortable with the system and best of all it performs always at a very high level for me.

I believe my percentage is well below 5% of the time I may experience any problems with it. That is very good I believe.

I use the Hollister #14104 Skin Barrier Floating Flange and Tape, This has the center which features Forma-Flex.

I also use the Hollister #18114 Disposable pouch that is a Lock ‘n Roll pouch. Here are a few photos of what I currently use.

The key reasons I use this set is that I found out early in the discovery process that I really disliked using the cutaway plastic centers on the wafer-flange.

I was introduced to the forma-flex center choices, by my ostomy nurse. I find it is much more effective for use by me as well it is much easier to change, more convenient you know.

Like I have been saying, you may need to try different pairings, and/or different company’s products to see what works for you.

Factors that may make difference to you may be things like your weight, your sex, your age, your ability to handle what is involved with changing your ostomy pouch on the schedule you set up for yourself.

Also I have been told people have there ostomy’s set up in different areas on the abdomen area. Some are on the left, some on the right, some are not the same as the others because of the type of surgery they have had. So you will need to work this whole process out for yourself.

In Summation

I believe I have presented enough evidence that you know now that this whole thing called Change Your Ostomy Bag is a very individual process.

When to change an Ostomy Bag-it needs time, hard work and persistence, but I know you will find your groove. What works most effectively for you.

God Bless and Good Luck!

Read More About The Ostomy Pouch and Needs That Come With It-View Related Posts Below

Ostomy Every Day Life
This is my view of my journey so far since the colo-rectal cancer treatments and surgery. The new every days of my life are explored

When to Change an Ostomy Bag Brings Much Anxiety
I have found that planning out when to change an ostomy bag helps me the most with the upkeep of having an ostomy.

An Overcomer

George writes from first-hand experience about having a stoma and living with an ostomy. As a former cancer patient and a survivor of colon cancer, you can draw from his experiences. His goal is to help you as he shares the realities of living with an ostomy.

myostomyis.com

When To Change an Ostomy Bag Depends On Many Things

So life is every day. It is still every day when you have an ostomy. You now have to remember when to change your ostomy bag.

When I change my ostomy bag and when you do will depend on a number of variables. There are a few things that have changed for you

What I have found over my 4 plus years is that it even varies for me and the routine schedule I have set up for myself. Here is what I am talking about.

My Views-When to Change An Ostomy Bag  

As I have lived longer with my ostomy, I have developed certain views on many things in relation to my ostomy. I do know that you should set up a bag change schedule for your ostomy. I also have found that the bag change schedule can be seasonal. 

Let Me Explain

In the summer the warmer season It seems I have my skin get irritated a bit easier and more often than it does in the winter, or colder season.

So the conclusion is that I am not changing my equipment as often in the colder weather season.

As an example, like today, the top part of the wafer seal just started itching like crazy. This, as I found out, was because a little leak along the top of the wafer seal was a bit bothered by a small area of dried on fecal matter. This caused the itching.

Now if I had itched it, it would probably take me three cycles to get it healed up again. But what if I was on my normal change the bag every four days schedule, then I would be changing things on day three, not day four.

As we have discussed in our post, Who Pays for Ostomy Supplies, you are most likely paying for your ostomy supplies so this type of thing could cause you to be paying more for your supplies in the long term.

I have found the skin that is covered (almost 100% of the time) is and can be very sensitive to things like this.

Ostomy Bag Change Schedule As I Do It

I figured out that I needed to establish an everyday routine. One that was dependable, so that I could have a normal life again. In many ways it has worked out well.

You will need to figure out for yourself if this would be beneficial for you. Maybe a regular routine will make it easier for you. You will find that not having to always be concentrating or worrying about your new circumstances, will be good for your daily life.

Believe it or not, I have found that my ostomy works in unison with my emotions and what is going on in my life. If you can work out the anxiety from it, you will be much happier with your life.

I figured out that I needed to establish an everyday routine. One that was dependable, so that I could have a normal life again. This is good. If you can work out the anxiety from it. You will be much happier with your life. In many ways, it has worked out well.

Now you need to apply to your life. You will need to figure out for yourself if this would be beneficial for you.

To have a routine will make it easier to not have to concentrate or worry about your new circumstances. So I like to set up my scheduled dates on my calendar in my office.

It is a simple process that you may adapt to your lifestyle and it works. Simple, easy and it works. Here is a video I made to help you see what I do exactly.

My Ostomy Bag Change Routine Looks Like This

My routine is: I have set up this routine, and it works for me.

A Word of Warning: what works for me may not be what will work for you

What I do I as a regularly scheduled is that I will change out my equipment every fourth day. I change my ostomy bag every 4th day as a regular routine.

What this means is as an example, (this day that I am writing this), Wednesday, July 4, I have changed my equipment this afternoon. The last time I did the change was on Saturday evening June 30. So today is the fourth day since I last changed it.

My next day to change will be Sunday, July 8. Barring any unforeseen consequences, this will work for me. An unforeseen consequence is anything from the following items that could come up or appear, that you need to deal with.

• A break out while sleeping. Yes, this has happened before. (this is a major big time leak)
  
• A leakage, which causes an extra odor to my sense of smelling?. I can tell if something is different than normal.
• Much more activity than normal. Everything is getting rattier than normal wear. It’s a good idea to go with a new set.
• The wafer just has not sealed up properly. This does happen occasionally. Rare but it will happen.

You never can tell for sure what will happen but these situations will cause you to make the change earlier. Thus your schedule is different. You need to be flexible.

You Learn to Be Very Flexible

But you also need to remember about your set up schedule. I set up my calendar at my desk, with penciled in scheduled days. I also will write on the two supply boxes when I change them last. I find this is beneficial because 4 days go by really fast and you will need to check.

You will tend to forget without reminders and keeping records. Use them as a guideline for remaining problem free. Ah normalcy, for an ostomate as they call us is heaven on earth.

Some days I really have a sad day?where I just wish I didn’t need to deal with this anymore, BUT guess what, That does not make it go away. So, I personally need normal routines.

For most human beings, If you need to go pooh, then you just go. Basically no thought, you just find a bathroom.

❓❓❓For us it has a much larger anxiety curve. Questions like these come up in my head❓❓❓

My List Of Anxiety

1. Will I be able to get to a restroom, before it gets filled up near too much?
2. Will the bag and wafer hold, not have a blowout or a leak develops. This may happen from sitting scrunched up in a car traveling. This has and could happen again for me
3. Do I have a fresh set (a wafer and a bag) readily available to change to, If I need to do this?
4. Do I have a clean set of clothes to change into, if the need arises?
5. Will the bathroom allow me to do what I need to do, to effectively work with my emergency situation?
6. Can I successfully deal with this emergency situation? No two situations seem to be the same. Some much worse than others.

So When Do I Change An Ostomy Bag

To summarize everything we have been discussing, basically, everything will be fluid for you, until you set up some type of natural rhythm with your body and how your ostomy interacts with you. There are some common guidelines, but yet you are also an individual. Then the guidelines will be big for you.

I have several usual things I can count on for me.

• I know that the wear and tear on a bag for me is maxed out at 5 days. with the bag getting ratting looking, plus the inside having been soiled for several days, I am more comfortable with changing my appliances every fourth day, as I said.
• That works best for me, and I usually get through 4 days totally problem free.
• I know that as long as I eat a steady diet of foods that I have figured out work best for me, my schedule as planned will work out as well.
• Furthermore, if I have done my job during the changeover, then the seal will last me four days and beyond. I know when I plan out my expenses that I can count on myself for making any changes be good ones that will not cause any problems for me and my ostomy bag.
• If I am on a fixed budget, this helps to know my expenses are properly controlled by not having many accidents, or slipshod personal care.

Care Enough To Take Good Care of Yourself

Early on in my ostomy life span, my home care nurse, Barb, relayed to me the message that good personal hygiene, is a good idea for my long term health. She told me, that she had cared, for ostomy patients in the past, who didn’t learn to take care of themselves.

This did in turn lead to infections, hospitalizations, escalated medical bills, etc… Not a Good Look!

Now that you have this ammunition of information I would like to suggest even more insights from my post titled When to Change Ostomy Bag-An Answer Will Come With Time, you can read more by going to that post by clicking here.
 

Take Good Care Of Yourself It Is Worth It For You and Those Around You.

An Overcomer

George writes from first-hand experience about having a stoma and living with an ostomy. As a former cancer patient and a survivor of colon cancer, you can draw from his experiences. His goal is to help you as he shares the realities of living with an ostomy.

myostomyis.com

Time For an Attitude Check Up

Hello and thanks for stepping into my world for a couple of minutes.

My desire is to be able to help lift someone out of their despair, or anger, or whatever else you may be feeling about your ostomy.

Or on the positive side you could be very upbeat and excited about your continued trip that you are living now. From my experience my cancer and my ostomy were looked at as interruptions in what my plans were for my life.

What I still didn’t get was that, maybe I didn’t have any control over what I wanted, but that I needed to adjust and be grateful for everyday from here on out.

So with that said, I do believe that your view of where you are, will either be a good friend of yours or it could be your worst enemy. You Choose!

My Ostomy is Everyday

Just like with everything in life many, many things are or will become part of your everyday life.

Since you were a child you have probably just added to the list. Until maybe you are on the backside of life.

As an example of this, while my wife and I were raising a family of the three kids, the biggest stretch was when the oldest was a senior in high school. The other two were following behind with their events.

That was I believe when we were most stretched out. How could you fit anything else in the schedule?

As we look at the totality of everything involved, all of the emotions, to the coverage of all kid related activities, to all of the family activities. Yep that was when we were maxed out.

I know boy were you busy, you wonder now how you kept up with all of it. Remarkable wasn’t it.

Now you have a whole new set of every day things to deal with.

What’s Involved in Your Ostomy Every Day

Here is my list of Top 5 Ostomy Every Days You Deal With

• I must maintain the diet that I have discovered works best for me now that I have the ostomy
  
• I must always be aware of my ostomy’s needs
• I must always be prepared for the unexpected to happen
• I never really have control-it’s(the ostomy’s) actions are involuntary
• Never forget who the new you is

Reviewing My Top 5 Ostomy Every Day Experiences

First On My List
Maintaining the diet that you have figured out works best for you, may be difficult to stay with. You have spent a lifetime eating the foods you enjoy, and the diet you have now is a big habit for you. You may need to make changes in it.

Here is what I found after my surgery. Many foods I had eaten before, could cause me added problems now. I discovered that bowel movements were not the same as they had been.

Well when you think about it, how could they be, with so much having changed with your intestinal tract and body waste parts and disposal.

What you will need to do is keep track of the foods that you believe are causing you some problems.

You will need to learn to eat other similar tasting foods that will not cause you digestive situations.

Once you do that, you are better served in your everydays with an ostomy not dealing with any sudden unexpected happenings with your ostomy.

Second On My List
You need to become intuitive to what your ostomy needs are today. What I mean by this is that today may be the day you need to change your equipment.

OR

Possibly you may be getting sore or the skin may be itching excessively, all of which you will decide needs your attention now.

OR

Some days your activities may cause some stress in your ostomy area. Things like extra physical activity may cause extra perspiration in the amount that you perspire above what you normally do. This could cause stress on the skin area of your ostomy.

Changing your equipment, cleaning everything up and starting fresh may be an answer for you. Prevention is always better, than putting the fire out.

Third On My List
Even though I don’t need to worry everyday about the third item on my list,

it is vital for you to be prepared. What I am talking about is being ready for situations that may come up for you.

The kind of things here that I am talking about are having an emergency bag ready and on your person when you leave the house.

You also need to have stock on hand of the supplies you will need in and around your house.

For more information on preparing an emergency bag for an ostomy owner, please go to our article, titled Preparing An Ostomy Emergency Travel Kit

The following or some form of these items are needed everyday by you. You don’t want to be up the proverbial creek without a paddle,  without them.

These are a few of the items I am talking about.

• skin cleansers-protectant skin preps
  
• paper towels
• toilet paper
• air fresheners
• a stock of your daily supplies (the equipment you may need to change out)

This will include your bags and your matching wafers. Remember it’s a two part system, have plenty of both items on hand.

&

Medline Wipe Protectant Skin Sureprep, 50 CountBounty 92979 Basic Select-A-Size Paper Towels, 5 9/10Cottonelle Ultra Toilet Paper, Bath Tissue, 12 Toilet Paper RollsFebreze Air Refresher, Spring & Renewal 9.70 oz (Pack of 3)Febreze 9.7 Oz, Hawaiian Aloha, Air Refresher – Pack of 2Febreze Air Refresher, Lavender 8.8 oz (Pk of 3)

Do not allow your supply to get too low. You may be delayed in getting your supplies when you order them.

It does happen. You order from your medical ostomy supply company and it ends up taking ten days to arrive at your home.

In fact the other day, I was down to only three sets left to be used. I was getting a bit uneasy, until my new supply arrived.

Fourth On My List
One of the first things I picked up on in the first month with my ostomy is that you can never really know when your internal intestinal system decides it is time to expel the body waste from your physical body.

You may hope and pray that when you go to a social function that you will not have to be going to the restroom every twenty minutes or so, but you really have no control over what your ostomy does and when it does it.

So prepare yourself mentally for having to excuse yourself to take care of it’s needs when it calls. Before the ostomy you sort of had control to a point, but now you do not.

You can change your eating but just be ready for it. It seems to have a mind of it’s own most of the time. Patterns and changing your eating, (when and amounts you are eating) that can influence some control but just do not totally count on it.

Fifth On My List
When I say never forget who the new  you is, I am talking about your need to know what limits you have on your self now. There are many things that have changed for you.

Learn to live with them, and embrace them, prepare for them, but never forget there are new things about you.

As an example I have always been a stand up, and stretch person.

Since my childhood I get up after I have been sitting for an hour or two hours and it is natural for me to raise my arms and just get on my toes and breath deep and stretch everything.

But I can’t do that anymore, I will almost always experience severe cramping in the ostomy area of my lower abdomen.

It can be very painful and usually I need to lay down flat out on my bed for 20 minutes at least, before I am back to normal again.

Yikes, like I said you will have things that just aren’t the same just always remember daily, things are different now.

Treat Your Ostomy Great Every Day

The best thing for you to do is figure out these areas and if you do and remember the lessons learned, you will have a great every day life again.

However if you don’t you may have a troublesome time, and I promise you will have some days that will not go well for you.

Read More About My Ostomy and Daily Life-View Related Posts Below

When to Change an Ostomy Bag Brings Much Anxiety
I have found that planning out when to change an ostomy bag helps me the most with the upkeep of having an ostomy. learn how It makes it safer for me and guarantees that I am keeping up with the health of my ostomy. Important for my overall health.

What I Eat-How Food Affects My Ostomy Pouch
How Food Affects My Ostomy Pouch is a personal detailed list of foods I eat every day. Using this list I comment on how each food affects my ostomy pouch. This list will help you understand your own ostomy better.

An Overcomer

George writes from first-hand experience about having a stoma and living with an ostomy. As a former cancer patient and a survivor of colon cancer, you can draw from his experiences. His goal is to help you as he shares the realities of living with an ostomy.

myostomyis.com