Thousands each year are given the option: Get stoma surgery and use ostomy appliances, or continue to suffer tremendously from digestive illness, such as Crohn's, ulcerative colitis, colon cancer, etc. It's a choice that's not hard to make in the situation, but it also means life-changing consequences.
Thankfully, regardless if an ostomy is temporary or permanent, you should rest assured there are thousands of others living out rich, fulfilling lives free of worry of their stoma. This is due to ingenious modern medical inventions that make ostomy care easy and as convenient as possible. With the right tools, you'll live just as you did before your Stoma, thinking less about your ostomy and more about living life.
Here is a list of some lifestyles and considerations for Ostomy appliances:
The Active Lifestyle
Closed Ostomy Pouches - Get a good adhesives for waterproof protection and a closed pouch offers waterproof protection with a pouch that has no risk of emptying on accident. Perfect for runners, swimmers, and athletes of all types.
Mini-Pouches - For bathing suits or something "out of the way", a mini-pouch will fit the bill. Combine a mini-pouch with a swim suit that goes over your stoma and you'll have a pouch that can fit under the pouch.
Adhesives - Strong adhesives are necessary for active individuals; you'll want adhesives that are strong against sweat and moisture. While most skin barriers have adhesives, you'll notice that certain brands will work better for your particular stoma size, shape, and conformity. Along with strong adhesives, you'll want a strong remover to go with it. Adhesives can leave skin feeling "tacky" and should be removed entirely before a new appliance is placed on the stoma. All major brands including Hollister, Coloplast, and Convatec provide these products.
Ostomy Supplies for the Overweight
Those with some extra padding around their stoma know that the extra skin can fold, adding more moisture and sweat to the epidermal layers of the skin that can weaken the hold of a skin barrier. This is a downward spiral since a weak hold creates leaks, which further weaken the adhesion and can cause skin problems such as irritation, rashes, and more. There are products and applications for those with extra weight around the stoma to avoid this from happening. Here are some ideas:
Ostomy Pastes - Pastes such as Stomahesive, Hollister Karaya Paste and Adapt Paste, and Coloplast Ostomy Paste help prevent barrier leaks by smoothing out creases and folds in the natural surface of the skin, helping to keep out leaks and increase the adhesion of wafers. This increases the wear time of the barrier, saving both money and time changing appliances as well as the comfort of the wear.
Ostomy Powders - An ostomy powder is placed on the skin before an ostomy appliance is attached to the skin. It helps dry up unnecessary moisture so the adhesive sticks well as soon as it touches the skin.
Conformable Skin Barriers - Everyone's stoma is a little different, and there is no shortage of sizing options for skin barriers / wafers. Some options are more flexible and conformable to the skin, such as the SUR-FIT Natura from ConvaTec (which also include Stomahesive mentioned earlier). These barriers adjust to the contours of the skin, sticking soundly to the surface.
Moldable Seals - These small, cohesive barrier seals fit between skin and appliances to help prevent leaks before they start. They can be molded into any shape, making them perfect for those with difficult stomas. They're large enough so you can cut and mold them to the shape you need before applying them to the skin.
Handy Ostomy Supplies For Pediatrics
Sometimes children are born, or quickly need surgery for an Ostomy. This is a difficult decision for a parent to make, but it can be a life-saving one. A child with an ostomy is an unfortunate extra challenge that many parents face.
Children should be allowed to be children; playing, jumping, and exercising. Children have smaller stomas than adults, so mostly, pediatric products are simply scaled down versions of adult ostomy products, designed to fit smaller stomas and smaller bodies. The three largest suppliers of Ostomy products all provide lines of pediatric ostomy products:
Pouchkins by Hollister - Pediatric ostomy supplies from Hollister are called Pouchkins, which are small sized pouches and barriers for children ranging from newborns, infants, to youngsters. They include ComfortWear panels that Hollister is known for, which are soft enough for a baby's gentle skin.
Little Ones by ConvaTec - ConvaTec is known as the "Cadillac" of ostomy supplies to some, and Little Ones is their line of ostomy products that offer all the benefits of their adult counterparts. Pouches can fit the contours of a child's body, sit gentle on the skin, and ConvaTec offers options for post-operative appliances, colostomy, illeostomy, and urostomy supplies. They also come in colored prints for kids.
Coloplast Colokids - Coloplast has a similar approach for their ostomy products, but most of their children's ostomy products use the Assura Adhesive Coupling system. This coupling system makes sure pouches can easily attach to the barrier. Coloplast conveniently provides both 1-piece and 2-piece ostomy systems for kids.
Ostomy Supplies for Intimacy
Extra Small or Mini Pouches - Since mini pouches are smaller and closed, they don't last as long as other ostomy products. These tiny pouches are about half the size of a regular pouch, or sometimes smaller, and they're designed to keep the pouch out of the way. They're perfect for special occasions where you want your stoma and appliances less invasive and noticeable, providing extra discreetness from a standard or large pouch.
Pouch Covers - There are vendors and ostomates who create custom pouch covers, or you can make one yourself, that looks more attractive than the medical look of ostomy pouches. A cover for your pouch simply slips over the appliance and ties around the circle between the pouch and barrier for a boost of self-confidence and intimacy without the medical appearance of the pouch.
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