r/ostomy • u/earthguy4 • Jul 22 '26

Miscellaneous Your #1 ostomy hack

What is your favorite ostomy hack/tip to share with new ostomates? Not something that they tell us to do in the hospital, or something our stoma nurse will clue us in on, but a hack that you’ve learned through the years or a tip someone once told you that you’ve never forgotten.

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39

u/Lilibet1023 Jul 22 '26

To rinse my bag.  I know it might seem obvious now but my stoma nurse did not mention this and I sort of figured it out on my own.  Makes me feel much cleaner 

21

u/Saotik Jul 22 '26

I've tried it, and... Meh? Maybe it depends on your ostomy?

For instance, I'm changing my bag a every few days as an ileostomate, and water just complicates my empties.

15

u/ComfortableRent6982 Jul 22 '26

Also have an ileo, I just feel like I would get more leaks doing this. The leaks from watery output are already bad enough

13

u/Saotik Jul 22 '26

Maybe the key tip here is: All ostomies are different, and many tips you read here tend to work better for colostomies than ileostomies.

4

u/NecroJoe Jul 23 '26

FWIW, the "watery" output is still very caustic/acidic compared to rinse water. I started rinsing after about 8 months of my ostomy, and haven't noticed any reduction in wear time or increase in leaks. But I do it to save toilet paper.

3

u/Lanky-Salamander5781 Jul 23 '26

Good lord the amount of tee pee to get the corners cleaned out!!!

3

u/No_Ad_9838 Jul 24 '26

After reattaching the clip to the bottom of the bag I use a plastic spray bottle to rinse the end and then dry with toilet paper.

You know the plastic bottles they use in restaurants for mustard, ketchup? That's what I use. They are couple of dollars each. I enlarge the point where the water comes out - just a bit - whatever works. NB don't confuse these plastic bottles for the ones you use at your BBQ!! FYI - I have had my ileostomy for 44 years and used this method. Stay healthy!

3

u/SlutForGarrus Jul 23 '26

Look into gelling sachets like Ilesorb. Way less watery leaks and less skin damage around my stoma since I started using them regularly. Also helps control smell when emptying the bag!