March/April 2006
Page 10

• Is it hard to manage a seal on your two-piece appliance? Try soaking the pouch in very warm water and the ring will become flexible and easier to handle. (John Pelkola, UOSG)
• Urostomates: Train yourself to shut the pouch vatve as soon as you empty the pouch. Gallon botttles of white vinegar and cheap liquid detergent make the daily wash up inexpensive. Change your pouch first thing in the morning. A five-gallon paint pail with a metal handle is a great night bottle and a safe way to carry to equipment the bathroom in the morning. (Eugenia Parker, Metro Maryland)
• Some ileostomates have watery discharge and this is normal for them. This is not to be confused with diarrhea.
• Try making a template of your stoma shape by making a paper one, tracing it with a felt tip on a white plastic container lid, cutting it out. No more measuring.
• If you are looking for a mild soap to wash the stoma area, try No More Tears baby shampoo.
• Try mixing your expensive liquid pouch deodorant half-and-half with water. Just as effective and you can use as much as you want.
• Your loose stool may be caused by an antibiotic or other medication. Check it out.
• A hernia belt especially made for ostomates can be a great help if you have a stomal hernia or just cannot avoid heavy lifting.
• When you go swimming, make a little frame around your wafer with micropore adhesive tape if you are using a tapeless pouch for reasons of allergy. This is a paper tape which causes few people problems.
• Eat a little something before going out to dinner. It will help to control gas from an empty stomach.

Source: Ottawa Ostomy News; via Metro Halifax News, February 2006, via Inside Out On-line Mar/Apr 06