Many people call our customer advisory service for help and advice about stoma care in general. Listed below are some of the most frequently asked questions. This is not an exhaustive list but it will give you information, tips and hints in a number of areas.
If you have any additional questions or areas you need advice on, please do not hesitate to call our customer advisory service on 0800 0360100, or contact your local stoma care nurse.
What can I do about pancaking? A difficult problem which many ostomist's complain of. One tip is to blow air into the pouch, which will help to stop a vacuum occurring. A drop of oil opposite the aperture can some times help the output to slide to the bottom of the pouch. Whereas many people find that rolling up toilet paper to form a cigarette shape and dropping it into the pouch helps. Top
I suffer from sore skin. Can you give me any tips? Sore skin is very often caused by wearing the wrong size pouch. This allows output to seep onto the surrounding skin. If this occurs the stoma should be re- measured and the correct size obtained, before replacing the pouch, a moisture absorbent powder can be put on the wet skin to help the pouch adhere securely. Top
I find odour a problem what can I do? There are many sprays and drops available that you can put in your pouch or spray around you when changing your pouch. We have a citrus perfumed spray which helps to eliminate odour called LiMone, if you would like a sample please call 0800 0360100. Top
I often find it difficult to get my pouch to stay on my body. Make sure the skin is completely dry before applying the pouch, do not use creams on the skin as these can interfere with adhesion. It is also important to ensure your pouch fits snugly around your stoma. If you are still experiencing problems contact your local stoma care nurse. Top
What can I do if I experience a skin reaction? It is very rare to have a reaction to a pouch as the materials that are used are constantly tested and evaluated for skin friendliness. If you have suffered from a skin reaction the first thing you should do is check that you have not used something different in your normal routine ie. change of soap or barrier wipe. If there is no difference in your normal procedure, you may have to change your product and see if the problem goes away. Top
My stoma is prone to bleeding, can you give me any advice? The most common reason for a stoma to bleed is due to you being a little rough when removing, cleaning and replacing your pouch. Extra care should be taken if you are susceptible to bleeding but on the whole it is nothing to worry about. If you see blood coming from inside the Stoma, then you should see your GP. Top
Can I swim whilst wearing my normal pouch? You do not need a special appliance to go swimming, although some people like to wear a smaller pouch for this, if you wear a pouch with a filter this should be covered by a filter cover to stop water spoiling the filter. Top
What should I do if I experience phantom rectum pains? These very often occur when the rectum has been removed, although uncomfortable, they are nothing to worry about and will soon settle down. Top
How can I help settle down excessive wind? This is a problem that most Ostomists have at some time or other. There are a number of foods you can eat which should eleviate it: yoghurt, charcoal biscuits (these are not only for dogs), fennel tea, and peppermint oil capsules, all of which help to settle down flatulence. Top
Are there any foods I should avoid eating? Most ostomist's can eat a very varied diet, leaving out only the things which upset them as individuals. As a general rule however, Ileostomists should avoid things which could cause blockage, such as sweetcorn, mushrooms, celery and nuts. Top
I have a hernia. Is there any special advice I should take? A hernia can be a real problem as far as keeping the pouch on. You could try a pouch with an oval flange as this can offer a little more flexibility. Many people with a hernia find that wearing a belt helps as it will offer extra support and push the hernia back into place. Top
My stoma is retracted. What should I do? This is sometimes a difficult Stoma to manage. Try and avoid sore skin through leakage. Many stoma care nurses will advise wearing a convex pouch to encourage the stoma to protrude. Top
Can you offer any advice on night drainage systems? Many urostomists like to use a night drainage system which can either be on a floor stand or clipped to the side of the bed, using this kind of system will eliminate the need to get up during the night. There is only one urostomy pouch on the market that will fit to a number of night drainage systems: Silhouette Uro, for samples and a list of the night drainage systems it is compatible with please telephone 0800 0360100. Top
I am going on holiday, can you offer any advice on what supplies I should take and what to expect when it comes to disposing my pouches?
Extra supplies: The golden rule is take enough, double the usual amount used in any given period, Colostomists should also take a supply of drainable pouches just in case of diarrhoea. If you are going to a hot climate make sure you take Diorolyte* which mixed with water will replace the salts lost if you have diarrhoea. Imodium* will help to stop the diarrhoea.
* Both available from your local pharmacy/chemist.
Disposal: Please do not worry about disposing pouches whilst you are on holiday. Most toilets have a disposal unit for sanitary towels, drain the pouch into the toilet and wrap in a disposal bag and put in the unit or an available bin. If you are a colostomist there is a pouch with a toilet disposable liner available called IMPACT. If you would like to try a sample or require any further information or advice, please telephone 0800 0360100.
Flying: When you are flying to your holiday destination wear a pouch which has a filter and avoid gassy drinks to discourage the pouch from inflating. Top
What can I do about an odd shaped stoma? There are different shaped flanges which can accommodate an odd shaped stoma, such as Ovation which comes in vertical and oval flanges. If you experience any difficulty in applying your pouch , please contact your local stoma care nurse. Top
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