UOAA Discussion Board

Had my permanent colostomy done June 30. Initially my major bowel movement would be sometime between 1:00 and 3:00 PM. The time would slowing get later and later in the day. Now, I find I have my major movement after I go to bed. This creates a problem. I use closed end pouches because it is impossible to avoid a mess with so called drainable pouches. Friday, I went to bed with a pouch that had a small amount of poo in it. It had been almost 24 hours since a major bowel movement. So, when I awoke about 2:00 AM I notice my pouch was full. As I walked to the bathroom, I discovered my pouch had detached from my stoma. There was poop on my hernia support belt, my T-Shirt and a blob on the carpet. By some miracle I avoided getting any on the bed. I have to take 4 stool softeners and two caps of MiraLAX each day. Usually in the morning and about 5:00PM. Is there some way to change the time of my major movement to a time when I am awake?

Are you a candidate for irrigation? That would give you a lot more control.

There's a board for that...
viewforum.php?f=12

I would also recommend looking into irrigation. I've been doing it for about a decade now, it was life changing. Besides the odd triggered output (odd foods, health stuff), I rarely have any output at all between irrigations. I typically do then Mon/Wed/Fri mornings or as needed. I could take my bag off right now, no output in it at all. Liberating.

I am also an irrigator. Darick is correct, it's life changing. Gives you back some control. Check out the irrigation page.

David

Thank you. Unfortunately, it is all but impossible to consult with my HMO's stoma nurses. Nice to know that we can share information among ourselves.

None of the stoma nurses near me had even heard of irrigation. I did my own research and trial and error.

I learned to irrigate on YouTube, never talked to a nurse about it at all.
It's pretty simple; fill the irrigation bag with warm water. Hang it up.
Snap an irrigation sleeve onto your wafer and seal the bottom.
Insert the irrigation cone into your stoma, and let the water infuse.
Remove the cone, allow your stoma to drain into the sleeve, empty into the toilet.
Wait a while to be sure it's done.
Takes me about an hour. I read or internet while waiting for water to go in or out.

Lee, I have the exact same procedure.