Taking a shower with a otosmy bag

[Shamrock4806]

Well I usually just waited until a bag change to take a shower but got a little ripe after 2 days and with a good hold on the bag decided to take a shower.

Combining my experience of not taking too hot and too long of a shower less I sweat the bag off I gave it a shot.

Took the belt off and stepped backwards into the shower so the water was running off my back.

Washed everything except my ostomy area and saved that area for a wash cloth area cleaning and wiping.

Turned off shower and towelled dried, put the belt back on and I was back in business.

WHY DOESN'T ANYONE TELL NEWBIES THIS NEAT TRICK?

Now I can go back to showering daily. Hurray!

[Mara]

Well, I think it's unfortunate that you thought you couldn't take a shower!! Did someone tell you that after your surgery? Maybe because I had mine so long ago and I was in my late teens I just did what I wanted...

[NEskier]

As Mara and I have figured out, we have done this so long we don't think much about the ostomy. And we got them pre-internet so there were no forums like this to tell us what we could/couldn't or should/shouldn't do! Like weight lifting .....

I can't believe no one said you could shower with all the gear attached. Good thing the nurse who showed me how to set up and care for the ostomy told me to go take a shower and see how that worked for me. HEAVEN after a few days in the hospital post surgery! You can also swim, hot tub or pretty much anything. Some people find the heat is a problem. I'd say the only time heat gave me a problem was on a ski trip where the group hung out in the hot tub for at least 45 minutes. And I know better than that being a good idea. Oh well, sometimes even old dogs need reminders!

Continue on your ostomy journey. IMHO it gets easier with time.

[steiconi]

I take the pouch off, rinse it and the wafer, and take my shower with just the wafer. Hang the pouch to dry and put on yesterday's pouch (or a new one) after the shower. Been doing that for 9 years, no issues.

[Mysticobra]

I just fold it in half.
Tape it to my skin.
Cover it with cling wrap.
Tape the too and sides with waterproof tape.
Get in and shower
Now I only change once a week.
That's when I strip it all off and take a shower with no appliance.
It works for me.
I hate a wet bag. And I use convetec wafers with the white tape..
We all have our way of doing it that works for us
This may not work for others
But I was given no advice from a ostomy nurse
Seems she was not interested and just moved on.
I just figured out everything on my own.
And in the end it was better.
Richard.

[Shamrock4806]

Well I was rushed to a trauma hospital that had absolutely zero after care nor handled cancer. Just dumped my arse home and promised to send a nurse that never showed up.

Wound up going back to same hospital a few more times because I was so helpless, then went to the best hospital and they took good care of me then. Almost anyway.

[NorthwoodsLynn]

I have had an ostomy for almost 5 years...would always take bag off and just shower with wafer...now, as I irrigate I just shower with no bag or wafer...am using the coloplast one piece mini ostomy pouches...no more wafers, which used to cause skin issues

[Shamrock4806]

To improve on my shower method, I now shower with the belt on, being careful as not to generate too much water and heat near the appliance less I sweat it off.

After drying off I place a dry towel on the bed, lay down and switch with a dry belt. Then use a dry wash cloth under the bag to adsorb wetness.

As I use a one piece, I rinse on the toilet using a water bottle filled partially with antiseptic mouth wash and water. Sometimes going back to laying down to get it all the way up to kill smell caused by bacteria. Seems to work well.

[JerryNYC]

I had found out years ago that repeated showers over several days would erode the outer edges of my wafer and the wafer would begin to peel off. But this doesn't happen with "Sure Seal Rings" (Active Lifestyle Products, Inc.). It covers the edges of the wafer and protracted it from water. These are also useful for swimming. And I have found that this helps to press the wafer to my skin and makes it more secure. I would have a hard time managing without these rings.

[JerryNYC]

Oops. The work "protracted" in my comment should have been "protected".

[JP66]

Anybody using or tried this product?

AquaGuard Shower Sheets

I bought a pack of 10 x 12 sheets to try.

[ron in mich.]

Hi all i shower every other day and i wear a flat wafer and tape around the edges,i dry the pouch off with tp and a blow dryer on warm and i,m good to go.