March/April 2006
Page 2

1. Make your own elastic belts for holding your irrigation sleeve or appliance. Save the end attachments from the old worn out belt and transfer them to the new elastic.
2. Make your own pouch covers. Use an old t-shirt, or get a remnant at a nearby fabric store. Your pouch will serve as your pattern.
3. Night time urinary drainage bottles can cost anywhere $20. The next time you need a replacement, save your plastic milk container, buy some rubber tubing at your local hardware store (they have various diameters to choose from). Make a slightly smaller opening than the diameter of your tubing in the plastic container, up near the neck of the container. This will make the tube fit snugly and keep it odour tight. To clean, Just remove the lid and the tubing and wash everything with soap and cool water. Vinegar will also help control urine odour.
4. Squirt bottles, to clean the inside of drainable colostomy pouches can easily be obtained by saving any bottle that has a push-pull top or pop top spout shampoo and dish soap bottles).
5. Tape - to secure your appliance. Locally, a roll of tape (1 inch paper tape) costs on an average $5. Instead, buy a box (12 rolls per box) of same tape through an ostomy supply catalogue. This way you save.
6. If you have a milk skin irritation that is sore and slightly weepy, a good way to soothe it is to apply an antacid. Most households have Maalox, milk of magnesia, etc. Put a small amount on a cotton ball and wipe over the cleansed irritated area. Let the antacid dry completely and brush away the dried residue. pouch as normal. If your irritation is due to an improperly fitting appliance the is will not correct the problem, but it will soothe the area until a correction can be made.
7. Deodorants in general cost $7 and up. Most don't really do much to the odour. Try mouthwash in the pouch, it's cheaper and about as effective. Remember, try yogurt and parsley as natural deodorants.

Source: Jill Conwill, RNET, Corpus Christi, TX; via Montreal, QC; Metro Halifax News, February 2006 ,via Inside Out On-line March/April 2006.