Bowel Disease: Caring for Your Ostomy

Overview 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 as needed (usually every 3 to 7 days). This may include measuring your stoma (the exposed section of intestine) and cutting the barrier to size. 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 doctor's approval and guidance. Wound, ostomy, and continence nurses (WOCNs) are available in some medical centres to help you learn how to care for your ostomy. This topic covers care for a colostomy or ileostomy only. It does not cover care for a urostomy. How do I care for my ostomy? Proper care for your ostomy includes learning how to empty and replace the pouch and knowing what to watch for. Some people choose to irrigate a colostomy. Irrigation is a procedure in which you stimulate and flush the intestines at...