Ostomy

Here are the steps for irrigating your stoma.

Here are the steps for preparing to irrigate your stoma.

Here are the steps for sizing the opening of your stoma.

Here are the steps for caring for your stoma and the skin around it.

Learn what an ileostomy is, why you may have one, and how the waste from what you eat will now come out of your body through the stoma.

Learn what a colostomy is, why you may have one, and how the waste from what you eat will now come out of your body through the stoma.

Learn about the different components of the ostomy pouch system, the difference between a one piece and two piece system and choosing the system that is most comfortable for you.

Learn the process of emptying a 1 piece pouch system, including three different positions to use, depending on what is most comfortable.

Learn the process of emptying a 2 piece pouch system, attaching a new pouch to the wafer and cleaning the area around the wafer and stoma.

Watch and understand how to properly change your 1 piece ostomy skin barrier.

Watch and understand how to properly change your 2 piece ostomy skin barrier.

Learn everyday steps to take to make sure your stoma and the surrounding skin stays healthy. Also, understand that you can still live a normal and active lifestyle with an ostomy.

Understand the process of reversing an ostomy and that for some people it may be an option, depending on the reason for having the ostomy.

This program explains how a colostomy works, and the different kinds of products available to collect waste. Learn how to empty, dispose of, and replace a colostomy pouch.

Watch this to learn how to take care of your G-tube.

There's a lot to learn about caring for an ileostomy, from proper cleaning to pouch choice. Watch this program to learn how to drain, dispose of, and replace an ileostomy pouch.

A urostomy is a surgically created opening in the abdomen for urine to pass through. This program will teach you how to drain, dispose of, and replace a urostomy pouch.

You need to empty a drainable pouch when it gets to be about one-third full. To empty your pouch, follow the steps described here in order.

Your healthcare provider showed you how to change your pouch in the hospital soon after your surgery. This sheet helps you remember the steps you need to follow to change your pouch.

You don't have to eat a special diet just because you've had a colostomy. Most foods, chewed well and eaten slowly, won't give you problems--unless they did before. But you may need to be more aware of foods that cause gas or odor and foods that make your stool too runny or too hard.

You need to take care of your stoma and the skin around it (peristomal skin). That means keeping the stoma and the skin clean. It also means protecting the skin from moisture and contact with stool. This helps prevent skin problems and odor.