Getting your ostomy pouch to fit comfortably can make a big difference in your daily life. Here are some tips that might help:
- Choose the Right Size: Make sure your pouching system is the correct size for your stoma. You can get a custom fit by measuring your stoma and using a template to cut the pouch opening to match.
- Use a Barrier Ring: Barrier rings or strips can help create a better seal between your skin and the pouch. They can also help fill in any gaps or uneven areas around the stoma.
- Check Your Skin: Make sure the skin around your stoma is healthy and free from irritation or infection. Healthy skin helps the adhesive stick better and provides a better fit.
- Consider Pouch Shape and Style: There are different pouch shapes and styles available, such as flat or convex and circular vs D-shaped. A convex pouch may help if you have a recessed stoma. A D-shaped appliance may be preferable if you have adjacent anatomy that you would like to avoid.
- Use a Pouch Cover: A pouch cover can provide additional comfort and help the pouch stay in place. It can also help with discreetness.
- Regularly Change Your Pouch: Keeping your pouching system fresh and clean can prevent leaks and irritation.
- Consult with a WOC Nurse: A Wound, Ostomy, and Continence (WOC) nurse can provide personalized advice and solutions tailored to your needs.
If you’re experiencing persistent issues, it might be a good idea to talk to your healthcare provider or a specialist for further assistance
The D-Ostomy system is created to allow room to avoid overlap of these incisions when an ostomy appliance is placed to minimize pain, leakage, and other complications that can result from an appliance overlapping a wound or scar. In the same way that the straight edge of the D-ostomy appliance can be used to avoid incisions and scars in the immediate post-operative phase, it can also be used to avoid scars, rolls, folds, other dressings, drains, second ostomies, bellybuttons and anything else that may be nearby to your ostomy long term.