Bowel disease: Caring for your ostomy
Introduction
Caring for your ostomy is an important part of maintaining your quality of life. You will need to:
- Empty your pouch as needed.
- Replace your pouching system every 4 to 7 days. This may include measuring your stoma (the exposed section of intestine) and cutting the barrier to size. For children and infants, the pouching system usually needs to be replaced every 2 to 3 days.
- Care for your skin and stoma and watch for skin irritation.
You may also irrigate a colostomy, which helps you control when you eliminate waste. Irrigation requires your health professional's approval and guidance.
Wound, ostomy, and continence nurses (WOCNs) are available in some medical centers to help you learn how to care for your ostomy.
This Actionset covers care for a colostomy or ileostomy only. It does not cover care for a urostomy.
What is an ostomy?
Why do I need to care for my ostomy?
How do I care for my ostomy?
Where to go from here
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| Author: | Monica Rhodes | Last Updated: October 24, 2006 |
| Medical Review: | Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine Arvydas D. Vanagunas, MD - Gastroenterology | |
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