Colostomy care mainly involves how to empty, change, or clean your ostomy appliance. It will be imperative for you or your caregiver to learn the basics of ostomy care before leaving the hospital.

When to call a doctor

While at home, you may need to contact your doctor if you face the following problems.

• You have a persistent fever.
• A foul odor emits from the colostomy bag you are wearing.
• Your skin around the stoma is irritated and red.
• You are vomiting and having an overall discomfort.
• Your stoma is not passing stool regularly.

Emptying the pouch

• First of all, wash your hands well.
• See if your ostomy pouch is one-third to half full. That’s the perfect time when you need to empty it.
• Let the bottom of the open end of the pouch face the toilet bowl, and remove the clamp. It will allow waste materials to flow out of the bag and fall into the toilet. Place some toilet paper in the toilet bowl before emptying the pouch to avoid splashing.
• After emptying the pouch, clean its end using toilet paper or a moist paper towel.
• Put the clamp in place to seal the end of the pouch.

Changing the ostomy appliance

Your healthcare provider will tell you how often you need to change your ostomy pouch depending on the type of colostomy you have. We will share general information here regarding changing a colostomy appliance.

• The amount of time you need to wear an ostomy pouch depends on the type of colostomy pouch you are using. Some ostomy pouches can remain in place for three to seven days, and some can last for weeks. Your healthcare provider will tell you what type is the most appropriate for you.
• Wash your hands before the procedure and put on disposable gloves.
• If you are using one-piece ostomy pouches, you will need to change the entire appliance. Remove the ostomy appliance by pushing the skin at the edges of the skin barrier, and, at the same time, pulling the skin barrier using the other hand. After removing the pouch, clean the skin around the stoma. Before wearing the new pouch, make sure that it has an opening that is 1/8-inch larger than your stoma. A too-large opening will let the stomal output get in contact with the skin at the base of the stoma, resulting in skin irritation. You may want to use skin barrier products to protect your peristomal skin and ensure a tighter seal.
• If you are using two-piece ostomy pouches, you will have to detach the pouch from the faceplate. It will make it easier for you to remove the faceplate or flange. To remove the flange, push the skin around the skin barrier using one hand, and pull the skin barrier using the other hand. Do it gently to prevent any injury to the skin. Clean the skin around the stoma using warm water. You may want to use an adhesive remover if the previous skin barrier has left a residue. Place a new skin barrier with an opening of the size and shape of your stoma. You may have to use skin barrier products to ensure a tighter seal.

While changing the ostomy appliance, look at the stoma and the skin around it. Check for any signs of complications. If there are any, contact your healthcare provider to get timely treatment.