It will be very helpful if you can establish a routine for changing your ostomy pouch – a good rule of thumb is to change your pouch at a time when your ostomy is relatively inactive – many find that first thing in the morning is a good time. Frequency of changes depends on many things such as amount of output, output consistency, location of the stoma and wear time. You must always change your ostomy pouch if you feel itching or burning from the skin surrounding your ostomy. Typically, you should change your pouching system at least twice a week.
An ileostomy bypasses the large intestine (where water is absorbed from the stool to turn it solid), thus the output will be more liquid. You should empty your pouch when it is 1/3 to 1/2 full or more often if you desire. If your pouch is too full, it can get heavy causing the barrier to pull away from the skin and emptying can be more difficult.
Is changing or emptying the pouch difficult?
The first few times, it may seem difficult, but it should get easier.
Take your time, it may take a few times before you get it right. Make certain the first few times you try emptying or changing the pouch, you do it somewhere you feel safe and comfortable. Eventually, changing and emptying your pouch should become routine for you.
Information from Coloplast Care is for educational purposes only. It is not intended to substitute for professional medical advice and should not be interpreted to contain treatment recommendations.
You should rely on the healthcare professional who knows your individual history for personal medical advice and diagnosis.
