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Bowel Disease: Caring for Your Ostomy
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Healthwise
Introduction
Caring for your ostomy is an important part of maintaining your quality of life. You will need to:
- Empty your pouch as needed.
- Replace your pouching system as needed (usually every 3 to 7 days). This may include measuring your stoma (the exposed section of intestine) and cutting the barrier to size.
- Care for your skin and stoma and watch for skin irritation.
You may also irrigate a colostomy, which helps you control when you eliminate waste. Irrigation requires your doctor's approval and guidance.
Wound, ostomy, and continence nurses (WOCNs) are available in some medical centers to help you learn how to care for your ostomy.
This topic covers care for a colostomy or ileostomy only. It does not cover care for a urostomy.
What is an ostomy?
Why do I need to care for my ostomy?
How do I care for my ostomy?
Where to go from here
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Last Updated:
October 8, 2010© 1995-2011 Healthwise, Incorporated. Healthwise, Healthwise for every health decision, and the Healthwise logo are trademarks of Healthwise, Incorporated.
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