Do you have all the right accessories for guaranteeing proper stoma care? 

There’s more to managing your ostomy situation than just the pouches. Optimal health maintenance for ostomates should include the use of ancillary items like barrier rings, wafers, ostomy paste, extension strips, odor eliminators, and so forth. This article will delve into how to use ostomy paste and barrier rings.

Which Works Best? Ostomy Paste or Barrier Rings?

Ostomy paste is like a sealer substance or caulking that binds the pouch system together, whereas barrier rings are pre-formed rings that hold things tight like an O-ring for plumbing.

They both serve a similar function, so you may choose one or the other. The decision may come down to personal experiences after trial-and-error practicing, or contingent upon which pouch system you like best. It’s entirely up to you, but there are certain advantages to either approach.

Benefits of Using Ostomy Paste

• Despite its name, it’s more like a glue or caulking, but it’s perfectly safe for direct skin application. Some patients do it either that way or by using it on a wafer and adhering it to the pouch system.
• Ostomy paste is often more cost-effective than barrier rings and other seals.
• It only takes about a minute or two to apply, wait to dry, and walk away with an almost leaker-proof pouch.

Benefits of Using Barrier Rings

• There’s far less mess involved with barrier rings.
• By browsing through our selection of Entrust barriers, you’ll find ways to mold and apply them to fit your particular size, shape, and skin conditions.
• This may be the safer option for handling either high liquid output, thick and heavy output, or an unpredictable combination of both.
• It’s also possible to use our barrier rings together with ostomy paste.

Tips for Applying Them

There are a few things to remember when applying ostomy paste or skin barriers.

For ostomy paste, clear the surrounding skins of any other obstacles or residues to ensure sturdier adherence. It’s best to avoid soaps that leave residues altogether. Then, make sure you dry your skin effectively after showering or sanitizing.

For barrier rings, you should also focus on getting the skin dry. Then, you can decide whether to apply them directly to your skin or to a wafer (either method is acceptable). You’ll also find that the material is pretty stretchable, which can work to your advantage when you’re new to all this.

Don’t forget that you can reach someone at Fortis Medical Products anytime if you have questions regarding ostomy paste, barrier rings, or any other ostomy products. We hold over 25 U.S. and international patents for the pouches and accessories we create. Contact us anytime to inquire about samples or application steps by calling 855-550-2600.

It’s essential for ostomates to pay close attention to the condition of the skin around their stoma. Otherwise, you risk suffering from redness, irritation, and even infection. It’s not too difficult to keep your stoma area clean and healthy, provided you follow these important self-care precautions.

Inspect Your Stoma Everyday

Nothing beats monitoring your skin (at least once a day) with a mirror in a well-lit area. This prevents you from ever being caught by surprise. Check both the skin around the supplies and your ostomy supplies. If the flange has a wrinkle or crease in it, then it’s not positioned properly, and creating friction with your skin. Furthermore, it’s even more important to inspect for leaks or stomal output. Both are a significant problem and will irritate or infect the surrounding skin.

Carefully Changing Ostomy Pouches

First, always make sure you don’t go too long without changing pouches. Most ostomy products aren’t designed to go beyond three to five days without replacing. Sometimes, the condition of the supplies themselves may give you a clue regarding your stoma skin health. Then, you’ll also want to be sure to clean off the old adhesive substance before applying new pouches.

Take Advantage of Accessory Items

Stoma skincare is so much easier with the liberal use of wipes, stoma powder, and other must-haves for ostomy care. Stoma paste is another key item, which will make it faster to find and correct leaks/gaps, and handle tough spots, scars, and uneven skin. Finally, don’t forget to keep an ostomy product cleaner handy. It should go without saying that sanitizing your supplies and applicators is rudimentary for stoma skin health.

Get a Professional Opinion Once in a While

The skin around your stoma is no different from any other healthcare matter. Sometimes, it doesn’t hurt to seek a second opinion from a physician. It’s wise to ask the doctor to evaluate your skin condition when you visit for follow-ups every so often. You can also speak with fellow ostomy patients through various support networks. They’ve undergone the same procedure and have to endure similar skin challenges.

Those are the basics of caring for the sensitive skin around the stoma.

Fortis Medical Products is proud to offer first-rate ostomy supplies, the industry’s safest even if you have to deal with complications or scarring. They protect your stoma, keep everything sanitary, and are easy to apply/change with less leaking. Contact us anytime to learn more about our medical innovations and products by calling 855-550-2600.

The ostomy condition does not have to hinder daily routines when you have reliable supplies and take reasonable precautions. While it may have been a greater hindrance in the old days, modern ostomy products make managing a stoma much simpler for work, recreation, and leisure. In this post, we’ll explain how it’s still easy to thrive without panicking over potential ostomy bag calamities all the time.

Learn to Troubleshoot Your “New” Digestive System

In a certain sense, the ostomy procedure presents patients with a new way of digesting and handling food. Instead of viewing it as a handicap, the best way to cope with everything is to imagine it as something new; a different skill to hone. We might analogize it to switching from driving a car to work to riding a motorcycle. The day-to-day dynamics, feelings, and routine will change somewhat, but you’re still accomplishing the same essential task.

The most tangible example probably involves meal preparation. Ostomy patients may not have the luxury of relying on fast-food restaurants for takeout in a pinch (since it’s unhealthy and hard to digest). Therefore, you’ll need to have meals ready for those scenarios when you’re in a hurry, but don’t want to burden a more fragile digestive system with poor nutrition.

Then there are several examples of how to approach exercising. If you were an avid weightlifter and used to perform heavy squats and deadlifts, you may have to temper your expectations or try alternatives. Patience, caution, and discovering what does/doesn’t work is an essential strategy.

Accidents Will Occur - Plan Accordingly

Accidents do not have to be a source of shame or loss of self-esteem. Even in the smoothest, post-operation circumstances there are bound to be problems like leaks, gas, and other unexpected trouble. The most important thing to remember is to always keep back-up pouches and other ostomy supplies with you wherever you go. 

Don’t Forget to Find a Network of Other Ostomates

You’re not alone with the burden of managing ostomy pouches, making dietary changes, or eating slower. The range of Americans believed to live with an ostomy condition falls somewhere between 500,000 and 1,000,000, including folks of all ages. You don’t have to isolate yourself when you can network and befriend others with similar circumstances. Consider exploring ostomy support groups, which are easy to find on the United Ostomy Association website.

Those are three ways to take a positive approach to managing colostomy, ileostomy, or urostomy. If you’d like further assistance with specific concerns, consider reading our previous articles, like this one on swimming with an ostomy bag.

Fortis Medical Products makes reliable, comfortable, and easy-to-use supplies and accessories for patients living with any of the three ostomy procedures. Contact us anytime to learn more or ask about sample items by calling 855-550-2600.

Are you an avid swimmer and want to discover how to resume your hobby after ostomy surgery?

The good news is that it’s easier than you think, provided you know how to guard your ostomy pouch system while in the water. As long as you’re healthy enough to resume physical activity, nothing has to inhibit you from enjoying the water again, if you follow these helpful tips.

Get Effective Swimwear

Arguably the most essential element is a reliable swimsuit, one that’s snug without becoming too constrictive. Women should purchase a snug, one-piece suit, whereas men need a high-waisted pair of swim trunks to cover everything. Also, if you intend to swim laps or do other rigorous exercise, it’s often better to select a convenient one-piece drainable pouch system before doing so.

Consider Ostomy Belts

Besides having strong swimwear, you may consider including an ostomy belt or “stealth belt.” This is an extra layer of protection that keeps things in place better. Many ostomates who get back into surfing or wake boarding utilize these extra enhancements to keep everything much more secure when exposed to greater friction or resistance.

Test Your Pouches in the Shower

Chances are if your ostomy supplies work properly in the shower, you’ll be ready to go in at least a swimming pool. You should still exercise caution at the beach, however, if there are waves involved. As always, take your time with this until you know for sure what to expect, especially right after your ostomy surgery.

Monitor Your Skin While Swimming & Have a Great Time!

The big takeaway is that ostomates just have to pay closer attention to details that we would otherwise take for granted. Nevertheless, if you monitor your stoma, and stop if you notice skin irritation, then it’s not too hard to resume swimming, eventually. Water activities are like everything else after an ostomy surgery, take it slowly, follow physicians' guidance, be patient, and never panic.

Thank you for reviewing this quick guide to swimming with an ostomy bag. You can learn more about topics like these by following Fortis Medical Products. Through the production of effective ostomy products and accessories, our goal is to help ostomates enjoy a higher quality of life. Call us anytime to learn more about our products at 855-550-2600.

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