September 2008
Page 7

Ostomy Procedures That Can Backfire

• Using alcohol to clean the skin surrounding the stoma; Alcohol is a powerful drying agent. Prolonged contact with the skin can have serious consequences.
• Wrapping the drainable pouch tail around and around the clamp before closing it; This will not make the clamp work better. All it will do is spring the clamp out of shape, which will ensure that the clamp will be less likely to work for future applications.
• Snapping the pouch off the face plate ring to expel gas. This procedure does not do much for odor control. It is better to hold the tail of the pouch beyond the clamp with a tissue with deodorant on it. Then hold the pouch up so that only the gas is at the clamp, open the clamp and push the gas out through the tissue with deodorant. Then use the tissue to clean out the end of the pouch and replace the clamp.
• Wearing the appliance for as long as you can until it leaks; The object is to change the appliance before leakage occurs. This way your skin gets the best protection and care.
• Washing pouches in the washing machine and using the same pouch for months; Eventually, the plastic of the pouch is saturated with the odor of the chemicals and no amount of washing will get rid of it. Throw the pouch away when throwing the face-plate away.
• Trying every new pouch and new product you hear about; Although it is fine to experiment with new appliances, especially if you are unhappy with your equipment, you will generally get the best service from the equipment you have the most experience and practice with.
• Ignoring skin problems. All skin problems are easier to treat if they are found early.
• Letting the pouch get full before emptying it; Excess weight will separate a two-piece system and will put excess weight on the face plate, resulting in early failures. Empty the pouch when it is one-third full.
• Not using seat belts in a car; A well-placed and adjusted seat belt should not interfere with the stoma function or damage your stoma. True, in an accident, your stoma may be damaged, but it is a lot easier to repair a stoma than a crushed skull.
• It is not a good idea to try to live with a condition you can't correct yourself. When in doubt, see your friendly Enterstomal Therapist (ET) or your doctor.

SOURCE: The Right Connection; The Re-Route 0n-line, Evansville, IN, August 2008, via Inside Out On-line Sept. 2008.