MY OSTOMY IS – Page 2

When to Change Ostomy Bag-An Answer Will Come With Time

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.

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!

Care For Mental Health of a Colostomy Patient-Two Sides to Examine

You Need To Be Prepared to Care For Mental Health of a Colostomy Patient

I had my colon cancer surgery in December of 2013.

The mental health of a colostomy patient was as far from my thinking as the east is from the west. It just never occurred to me that the mental health of a colostomy patient was that big a deal.

I look back now and it didn’t take but a couple of weeks after I got home, for me to realize fully that there was a whole side to this situation that I wasn’t entirely prepared to handle.

The Two Sides of Mental Health of a Colostomy Patient

Caring for the colostomy patient is largely a mental health issue. Having a stoma can lead to depression as well as all the other second thoughts, and doubts you start having.

Side One: From Thanksgiving 2013 through to my release from the hospital following my surgery which was Monday Afternoon, December 16, That time period was controlled by the doctors and nurses that were involved in preparing me for the surgery.

I simply followed directives and I was places I needed to be when I needed to be there. But then once I got home It was only a little over a week until Christmas.

Side Two: You will find out there are things in your mindset that will take more than a few months to effectively work through. These things are self-doubts and fears about how you are perceived by family, friends, and strangers from now on.

Some of these things I still am working on even after 4 years. Mental health for a colostomy patient is important and needs to be taken seriously.

Now I Was Home, the Changes Started to Work On Me

We were bustling with Christmas activity at home. So while I was recovering from my 6 hour-plus major surgery, I still didn’t have very much time, by myself where I needed to be thinking about nor, was I doing much of anything that was directed as my own choice. The family was doing this, we needed to go here etc. You get the picture.

So I would say that by roughly January 4, 2014, I was fully in the mode of “What to Heck has just happened to me”.

I was now involved in a really different life with changes that were totally brand new to me….. I was struggling with many things by then. I finally figured out that this was going to be a real mindset challenge. Unlike anything, I had thought about previously.

One Month After Surgery-Psychological Impact of Stoma

So next I am having to start preparing for the next steps the doctors had set up, to get me healthy again.

Next up was healing of surgical incisions, my surgery to have a Medi-port placed in my chest, and the chemo treatments were getting planned and set up.

My job was healing and now I was realizing my biggest job was dealing with the following mental side issues. So I am experiencing the psychological impact of having a stoma.

Here is my list as I saw it.

I needed to find the right set of pouching. The size and style that I was comfortable with.
I needed to create a travel bag for myself.
I was working with my wardrobe. What I would wear now, and how I dressed now to be effective(to be able to get to my pouch easily)and also be comfortable wearing the clothes
I was leery of traveling away from the home. I lacked confidence in my ability to deal with the actions necessary to take care of myself in a foreign setting
My self-image had taken a whipping. I felt as though everyone noticed my ostomy
I was really concerned about how my wife would view me now, with the big changes to me physically

These are a few things I was dealing with mentally. Over and over again in my mind. It seemed that everything was full of uncertainty.

I would also like to interject at this time, that the practical side of caring for your ostomy is covered in my blog post titled, “Colostomy Maintenance My First Job‘ which is about my first month, to a month and a half, after I get home from my surgery.

You may go here for this article about my experience.

Stoma and Depression-I Felt That I Was Very Alone

I did feel all alone, like I was on an island. I didn’t know another soul who had an ostomy. You think you are a freak. The stoma is new to me so having a stoma and depression made perfect sense to me.

You are so different than most people, but truthfully, they don’t have any clue you are different, and you are thinking that they see you that easily, or thatyou stick out like a sore thumb.

I hope that makes sense to you. Sounds kind of crazy right?I was feeling lost and depressed at times.

As I moved on, and chatted with my home nurse, my wife, and my family, I was realizing that most of all of these things were all in my head. Other people around me, didn’t notice, didn’t care or whatever. You fill in the blank….

This Article Is Written Because a Meme Struck Home

I was looking at my Facebook account last night and the following meme was published (shared) by a friend of mine. Now realize no ill will is intended by this meme, but a point of how badly people spell words today is the point here.

So after looking at this meme you can see why it is going around and being shared. It is kinda of light-hearted humor. But It smacked me of just how easily, sometimes…. maybe someone can smell my colon.

That is a real possibility. But Why Did I almost take offense to this? Well, because to a person with an ostomy, none of this is funny.

It is one of things that we most worry about, all day, every day.

No matter how good we have gotten at taking care of ourselves, something could happen. It really could. Then What?

Well if you have an ostomy you understand. Other people don’t know, and they don’t even know this exists.

Yes caring for mental health of a colostomy patient is a real thing, and not to be taken lightly.

Here’s is a real scientific research study where they do show that there really is a mental side that is big and really does need to be addressed by the ostomy owner.

Study Proves Mental Changes Are Necessary

A study entitled “Adjusting to bodily change following stoma formation: a phenomenological study” was conducted by Gabrielle Thorpe, Anthony Arthur, and Maggie McArthur from the University of East Anglia in Norwich, UK in 2015.

In this study here is the official conclusion statement. “Stoma formation can undermine an individual’s sense of embodied self. A concept of embodiment is proposed to enable the experience of living with a new stoma to be understood as part of a wider process of re-establishing a unity between body, self and world.”

Furthermore they concluded that “In defining a framework of care, individuals with a new stoma can be assisted to adapt to and accept a changed sense of embodied self.” Okay so in reading the study they found out what I am telling you from my first hand experience.

A person with a new stoma, can and will feel out of the ordinary. They are very self conscious of themselves, and they are now searching for a new identity where they can be comfortable again. And this does take time, to define, and to adjust too.

So if you are struggling then you are normal. You will struggle, but others are here for you. You Will Find A new identity and comfort level with yourself.

So in examining the results of this study on 12 stoma recipients over a twelve month period of time following the surgery for stoma formation.

Who Pays for Ostomy Supplies

You Want to Know Who Pays For Ostomy Supplies

Having an ostomy requires ostomy supplies. So naturally, the question who pays for ostomy supplies comes up.

So back a few years ago when I was waiting to get discharged from the hospital I realized that I wasn’t really sure how much I was going to be paying for the ostomy supplies I had to have from then onward.

Or maybe I wouldn’t have to pay for the ostomy supplies?

Well, I figured that we had better find out who pays, and who pays how much if it is a split responsibility.

My First Exploratory Steps To Deciding the Products For Me

So when I arrived home, I first relaxed and I have to tell you openly I was very happy to be home. I am sure you would have been as happy as I was.

As things settled in, by the next few days, I had a visit from my home care nurse and I realized that I needed to investigate other supply companies and what they had available.

The nurse talked to me about what other patients used and things that they have done that helped them out. We talked about the types of bags and wafers. Especially the bags there is an enormous amount of selection to choose from.

She even gave me a few company samples to see and use. That would then help me out in figuring out what would work for me. What I was comfortable using, as I would be the one dealing with and using the equipment.

Determining the Cost: the Steps to Take

During my first few weeks the equipment I was using was some ostomy bags and wafers the hospital nurses gave me when I was being discharged.

At that time I was paying little attention to the whole thing. I just wanted to get home after 6 days in the hospital.

Now I was paying attention. I decided from my sample examples what worked for me, (at that time), I say at that time because things will change for you, the more experienced you are, and the more you see what your needs are.

I called a supply company that was recommended by my colo-rectal surgeon’s office. We got an account set up, and I found out what my co-pay would be on each order.

Now that part was done. I now had an idea what my per month cost was going to be as I planned out when I was going to change everything, and then how long my supply would last for me.

Where the Payment Responsibility Lies

Your order will usually arrive at your home within a week. Once It does you will have an invoiced cost, and then I checked in week number two with my account with my supplier online.

Usually by the 8 to 14 days after your order has been shipped and processed with your insurance then you will be billed by your supply company for the part of the order the insurance company did not cover.

That then will be your cost and your responsibility. So that is how it works for me. It may work differently for you as everyone’s insurance situation will probably not be the same.

So there will be some payment that you personally will need to pay for. They are treated under insurance programs as what is determined to be a medical device.

Since I am now on government mandated (because of my age) Medicare, I know that Medicare covers these supplies as prosthetic devices.

Difference Between a Prosthetic Device and a Medical Device

So a Prosthetic Device is defined the following way: “Referring to a prosthesis, an artificial substitute or replacement of a part of the body such as a tooth, eye, a facial bone, the palate, a hip, a knee or another joint, the leg, an arm, etc. A prosthesis is designed for functional or cosmetic reasons or both”

So as you can see an ostomy is an addition to my body that now serves the purpose of a normal body function. This body function used to be that my normal functions are the same for well over 99% of the population, but having an ostomy puts me in with a very small minority.

Probably one in a hundred thousand people will actually have an ostomy

For more information, if you are coming up on 65 years of age and Medicare you may go to the Medicare page for what and how ostomy supplies are covered by going to this page, CLICK now for Medicare.gov.

So is an ostomy bag and the wafer that is part of it considered a medical device? Great question.

Actually the FDA the federal Drug Administration has deemed an ostomy bag a medical device. See this page for this description, go HERE NOW for the FDA Description.

All of this to say with each insurance company they may have your ostomy supplies list as either covered or not covered and the percentage of coverage will no doubt be set up according to how they list these supplies under your present medical insurance policy.

Ostomy Supplies and Choices

So it’s in your court as you can see. It is up to you how you wish to keep your ostomy in operation. What type of bags do you choose to use? Here are a few of the choices. Some are more economical than others.

There are a couple of Ostomy supplies companies that will give you some choices in name brand products that you trust for quality ostomy supplies. They are Convatec and Coloplast. I personally use products manufactured by Hollister. That is so because I was exposed to products that matched my need.

You may also like to take a look at a few of my suggestions. They are three of my favorites and the good that I found in them.

These three are all from the manufacturer Hollister. These are from the product lines that I personally use and have extensive experience with.

Premier 1-piece Drainable Pouch Cut-to-fit 1-1/2″, Lock N Roll, TransparentClick Here For Today’s Price Premier 1-piece Drainable Pouch Precut Barrier Opening, With KarayaClick Here For Today’s Price Premier 1-piece Drainable Pouch W/ Flextend Barrier, TransparentClick Here For Today’s Price

Can I Use a Hot Tub With an Ostomy

Key Things You Need To Know About Using a Hot Tub With an Ostomy

This is my hot tub. I went almost 10 months after I received my ostomy before I decided I would try entering my hot tub with my ostomy.

Why you ask yourself, would I wait so long? Well, I had my reasons. Here are my reasons.

My Ostomy Hot Tub Fears

My biggest fear was that the ostomy bag would come off in the hot tub. I just didn’t need to deal with that I thought.
I thought the heat would destroy the wafer’s seal and the ostomy bag would come loose.
I knew the water would ruin the bag and the wafer I was using. This would cost me another bag. I figured out the cost of another set(one bag & one wafer) and what the cost in $ and Cents was going to be for me.
It would be embarrassing to have to go through the mess it would create. So my trying to use the hot tub would create a mess that I would have to clean up. No Thanks!

Nothing Bad Happened??

So I went ahead and tried it one day, and guess what, it was fine.

I even did it in day 3 of the 4 day cycle I use when my equipment gets normally changed.

I knew I had a good seal with my wafer, and everything was fine.

The only thing that happened was that I enjoyed myself. Go Figure!

Other Ostomy Hot Tub Findings

My report is: As we heated up the water, around 98 degrees to 102 degrees, (pretty warm I think) the seal remained good. No leakage and no sign of anything melting, or the bag, the seal held up fine.

The doctor and a couple of nurses had encouraged me to go swimming, it should be fine they said, and the exercise will be good for you. I wouldn’t go swimming because that would be a public confirmation but my hot tub I could use that in the privacy of my own home.

So What Did Happen

I got to relax and enjoy the water again. Ahhh Yes!!!
I enjoyed time with my wife that we hadn’t had in some time.
The wave action didn’t do anything but make my pouch float around in the water. At first it was embarrassing, but my wife wasn’t bothered by it. The conversation, relaxing and time were more important.
My Hot Tub
I did notice the warm water did take a little bit of life out of the wafer and pouch but it didn’t cause a need that same day to change the set then. Probably a great idea to do the hot tub in either day 3 or 4 of the equipment change cycle.

Most of My Fears Were Irrational

In looking back on my first experiences of using my hot tub after receiving an ostomy, I realized that most of my fears were unfounded.

The worst that has happened was that I needed to change out my bag and wafer a day earlier because they were getting that used look (Looking rattier) quicker that they would have without using the hot tub.

I realized that most of my fears concerning my ostomy where unfounded in the midst of the lack of knowledge about the truth of having an ostomy.

There is freedom in being armed with good information. I had blown it up to unrealistic things happening and they were 95% bad. So yes It didn’t happen, but what did happen we can take a look at.

Bag & Wafer Change: Information on a Need To Know Basis

It is important for you that you would know about this (the cycle). The date when you are scheduled for changing the ostomy bag.
This will allow you a better control and better cost efficiency of using the ostomy supplies.
So this is something I wanted to give you a heads up on.

You can read about the two subjects on my other posts titled, Who Pays for Ostomy Supplies and Let’s Discuss When to Change an Ostomy Bag

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