DIY for Ostomy Bag Cover

Sometimes wearing an ostomy bag may cause skin displeasure and discretion but these issues can be resolved by DIY of ostomy bag cover. In this project, you can choose any color of your choice and this project uses soft fabric. It will take your two hours and interposed sewing skills to make this. A vital advantage of sewing your cover is it fit perfectly to your size as you make it by yourself. Instructions are given below that will guide you on how to make an ostomy bag cover for any size and shape.

Tip

If you have a belt, join snaps to the back of the bag cover and the belt to hold the bag cover in a spot. Also, think about creating a tube of material to cover the belt and join the bag cover.

All You'll Need

Equipment / Tools

• Marking tools

• An ostomy bag to trace

• Scissors

• Measuring tape

• Iron and ironing board

• Pins

• Sewing machine

Materials

• Paper or other pattern-making material

• A fabric that has made of silk is optional for the second layer of the front portion

• Double-fold bias tape

• Matching thread

Instructions

1: Firstly you need to make a pattern for the ostomy bag cover

Construction of front design:

First of all, if you are using impoverish pouch, keep the bag leveled, close the bag, and trace the border onto your paper. Attach 1/2 inch to the whole border of the tracing. Also, trace the rim opening, and put on 1/8 inch to the external border of the traced opening.

Cut out the design section around the external border only. Don’t cut the rim opening, you need to use this marking to make the back-design section as well.

Construction of back design:

Trace the external border of the front design. Calculate 2 inches from the bottom border, then draw out a line across the design section. Modify the calculation if suitable for your bag. You will need plenty of fabric to make the bottom of the bag, with an opening that’s sufficient to the drain so you can have it without detaching the whole cover. The line should be over the drain part of the bag. Cut out the design chunk on the line you made.

Trace both these chunks onto the paper. Put in 1 ½ inch to the freshly created line area of the design. Join the new line to the design sections, keeping the body intact by tracing the border of the actual design chunk to the recent line.

Trace the rim opening onto the top back design piece. Cut out the opening.

Bend the length of each design section in half, aligning the borders. Draw a linear line on to fold. You will use these fold lines as your grain lines to layout the design sections

Now separate the design Pieces

Expand the material level in one layer. Lean on the material if needed.

Lineup the design sections, utilizing the selected grain lines to keep the material grain leveled. Nail the design sections in place, and then separate them. Separate the rim opening by tracing it or by utilizing the design as an adviser.

Stitch the Flange Opening

Balance the border of the flange opening by sewing enough to the corner or by sewing like a zigzag corner of the opening.

You need to encircle the flange opening with double folded tape. Gather the end as you come to where you have started the stitching and enclose the initial point with the folded end of the tape. Maybe you want to hand baste the bias tape in place before machine stitching. The tiny the flange opening is, the more cooperative it is to baste first.

What Is Stoma Irrigation?

Stoma irrigation, also known as colostomy irrigation, is a way of regulating your bowel movements by emptying your colon every day at the same time. The procedure involves instilling a stream of water into the stoma to stimulate bowel muscles to trigger a bowel movement.

The amount of water you have to use during the irrigation process can be 500-1500mls. This process results in colon contraction, which promotes waste evacuation from the stoma. It is an ideal bowel emptying process if you have a sigmoid or descending colostomy.

It is necessary to repeat this process daily at the same time. It will take approximately 6-8 weeks for your bowel to become well-regulated. As a result, your colostomy will not spill stools between the irrigations. This process will also help stave off constipation.

Who is the right candidate for irrigation?

People with permanent sigmoid or descending colostomies are good candidates for colostomy irrigation. Ideally, your stoma should produce semi- or fully-formed stool. Due to the equipment required during irrigation, you should have good dexterity and eyesight.

You can start irrigating your colostomy two to three months after colostomy surgery. More importantly, you should feel well and healthy enough to start irrigating your stoma.

Stoma irrigation is not for everyone. That is why it is necessary to discuss this option with your nurse. You will be offered stoma irrigation in the clinic if he or feels you are a good candidate for this procedure. At the clinic, the nurse will guide you through the entire irrigation procedure.

Who is not a suitable candidate for this procedure?

You will not be able to irrigate your stoma if you suffer from ulcerative colitis or Crohn’s disease. You will also not be able to perform this procedure if you suffer from irritable bowel syndrome or diverticulitis. You will not be successful in irrigating your stoma if you tend to experience diarrhea.

Your healthcare provider will recommend you against irrigating your colostomy if you are receiving chemotherapy or radiotherapy.

Stoma irrigation will be difficult if you experience complications such as prolapse or tightening of the stoma or hernia.

Advantages of stoma irrigation

There are plenty of advantages of irrigating your colostomy. Some of them are the following.

    • You will have greater control over your bowel movements.

    • You will be able to lead a confident and much better life.

    • It will help you control your winds or gas.

    • instead of wearing a large ostomy bag, you can wear a small bag or a stoma cap.

    • You will not have to worry about keeping too many ostomy supplies.

    • You will be able to have a more relaxed diet.

Disadvantages of stoma irrigation

    • You will need to be committed to the procedure and allocate a fair bit of time to learn and perform it.

    • Since this procedure can take an hour, you will have to be determined throughout the process.

    • If you experience an upset stomach, you have to stop irrigating your stoma.

If you want to avoid complications, be sure to discuss stoma irrigation with your ostomy care nurse. Ask them about any situations that may restrict you from continuing with this process.

Tips To Unblock a Stoma

The thought of a stoma blockage can be pretty frightening if you have an ostomy. This blockage is also referred to as bowel obstruction, which prevents passing out of all or a significant amount of the stool. It usually happens due to inflammation, food blockage, twisting of intestines, or the development of scar tissues.

This blockage can result in some specific symptoms. The good news is that you can deal with most of them at home. In this article, we will discuss how to check for blockage symptoms and their treatment.

 

How to know if the stoma is blocked

The most prominent sign of a stoma blockage is the slowing down or stopping of the stomal output. There are two types of stoma blockages: partial blockage and complete blockage. A partial blockage is when the stoma only produces strong-smelling liquid or mucus. A complete blockage, on the other hand, produces nothing at all.

A blockage may remain persistent for several days if you have a colostomy. Initially, you will feel constipated. So, you might not even have the idea that you have a blockage. A blockage can happen fairly quickly and there might not be any constipation in case of an ileostomy. Since an ileostomy produces stools throughout the day, seeing it quiet for a few hours can be quite alarming.

 

A few signs of stoma blockage include are the following.

 

· Nausea

· Swollen abdomen

· Swelling or change of color in the stoma itself

· Reduced urine output

· Dry mouth

· Vomiting

 

How to deal with a blockage at home

If you think you have a stoma blockage, the first thing you should do is speak to your ostomy care nurse or healthcare provider to get instructions on what to do. The good thing is that you can treat even some of the severe blockage issues at home.

 

· First and foremost, increase your fluid intake. Water and hot tea can help significantly.

· You can gently massage around the stoma to work the blockage to its way out.

· Having a hot bath or applying a heated pad can help relax abdominal muscles, promoting bowel movement.

· If the stoma seems unusually swollen, you may need to check whether its hole has to be cut a bit larger.

· You can try lying down and lift your knees to your chest. You will then have to roll them gently from side to side.

· If you have a colostomy, your healthcare provider may recommend you some laxatives to promote bowel movement.

· Make sure to walk around quite a bit more to promote digestion and reduce blockage.

 

If you have a stoma blockage, you may have to reduce what you eat. However, you should increase your fluid intake.

 

Remember, if home remedies fail to produce results, you must consult with a healthcare provider or an ostomy care nurse. You can speak to your doctor for a medical appointment. Having a stoma blockage is not just irritating but also life-threatening in some cases. So getting it treated promptly is a must.

What is Colostomy and Colostomy Irrigation?

A colostomy is a type of ostomy surgery that helps a person to discharge stool through an artificial process and path. When a person cannot excrete solid waste through the original path, they need an incision that can play the role of the anus. The colon, rectum, and anus are essential for the excretion and digestive system. They absorb the necessary nutrients and send the waste solid material out of the body. Collectively, all these parts are called the large intestine. A person cannot hold the waste material in the body. They have to discharge it out. However, in some cases, a person is not able to discrete through the anus. Thus, they require an opening in the belly that can connect to the large intestine and pass the feces out of the body. The hole or opening is usually on the left side of the tummy having a specific name, called a stoma. This incision needs something to get covered and collect stool. Thus, the bag is paramount for the collection of ostomy discharge. The entire bag and other accessories are called ostomy pouching systems. It needs some more tools to get attached and stay for a longer time. It has flanges, wafers, adhesives, pouches, and some other appliances. Thus, an ostomate needs complete training, passions, and components for the application of a stoma bag. Moreover, a patient must know about the exact timings to change the used pouch. 

Why Does a Person Need Ostomy or Colostomy?

A person when has some digestive and excretion disorders needs a colostomy operation. Sometimes, a person cannot discharge the feces through the anus due to some defect in bowel movement or the large intestine. After the treatment of cancer or having bowel or rectum cancer, a patient has to face colostomy surgery. Moreover, as a result of the blockage or an injury in the large intestine’s section, you will need a colostomy operation. Some people met a road accident or a serious fight, then they have had injuries and blockage in the bowel. Thus, doctors suggest them colostomy operation. It helps an ostomate to expel the waste of the body. Having solid stool in the body for a long time can be dangerous for the health of a person. Moreover, for emptying the bowel on time, a person may need colostomy irrigation. 

What is Colostomy Irrigation?

This is an artificial procedure that regulates bowel movement by emptying the colon at a specific or prescribed time. The irrigation process becomes necessary when an ostomate is the patient of a permanent colostomy. Or the person is having descending or sigmoid portions of the colon. Regular bowel movement and functioning also need the colostomy irrigation process.

This process flushes out the stool from the colon without the functioning of the rectum and anus. A person can discharge the feces through the stoma in the tummy with the use of an irrigation system. It can empty the bowel at the scheduled time. In this case, an ostomy person does not need to wear the stoma pouch. They will empty the colon and solid waste through irrigation. They know the exact time of discharge and bowel movement; thus, at the prescribed time, an ostomate will empty the bowel. However, it needs awareness and time responses. Moreover, once you know and decide the time for colostomy irrigation, stick to that. Sometimes, a person eats something unusual and the stomach got upset, due to which they will need to wear the stoma bag. It is only necessary in case of frequent and liquid discharge. In this process, you need to instill water and wash the area. Moreover, through the irrigation system, a person will not have to suffer constipation.