How many remove their appliance to shower?

I was taught in the hospital to take off my entire appliance when showering. I know I might be in the minority, but I'm wondering if people here feel that one way is better than the other? I'm afraid to even try to shower with my colostomy on. I just don't see how it won't come off as it gets more and more saturated.

I shower with my appliances all the time. Taking them off to shower would require you to change them every day. That's more frequent than I'd want to do.

It's fine to shower with the appliances off on change day, but your shower routine should not dictate your change routine. You can swim with your appliance on, so the shower won't hurt it.

Same shower or bath on change day.

Susan. I was taught to give full sponge baths daily, and I shower every 2-3 days. That's when I do appliance changes. I was wondering how the saturation doesn't affect the appliance from coming off? Swimming? Showering? Doesn't it get really loose when wet?

You're giving away full sponge baths? Where do I apply? Not! 😋

That's my icebreaker. Howdy and welcome.

To answer your questions? I do bagless showers weekly. Like clockwork. I have an ileo.

You worry too much, dude. Although your questions are most valid, the answers you hear, you need to accept. Susan said showering and bathing are no issues. Saturation does not occur because these products are waterproof. You may need side extenders referred to as "C" strips for added protection. And indeed, remove the entire appliance at shower time, maybe once a week with a bag change weekly or biweekly.

You are not alone and have a lot of questions and maybe doubt. We shit you not about how to handle things... it comes from experience. A wealth of it right here at your fingertips.

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Hubz had the same concern and would try to shower on change days only. From the advice on this site, he tried showering with it on, and it was exactly what folks described... no big deal! It's amazing how the adhesive works! He uses a two-piece Hollister drainable.

It's funny now, but we even bought adhesive shower covers designed to protect bandages, so that's now on the growing pile of stuff we mistakenly thought we'd need!😆

Also, he just lets the appliance air dry, but we live in a very dry, warm climate.

Hi 👋

Everyone on here has their own routine/what works for them, is comfortable for them when it comes to showering with the appliance and/or bag on or off. In the beginning, I left my bag on and would blow dry it once out of the shower. These bags/flanges are waterproof, so no worries about getting your appliance/bag wet.

I kept reading about “naked” showers from members on here (taking the bag off), so I got brave one day and took my bag off and never looked back. Of course, at times there will be an unexpected eruption, but thankfully I have gotten to the point where I just laugh and clean the shower. Better an eruption inside the shower than outside. I simply towel dry the flange afterwards, and I do use the extender C strips. Twice a week on change days, I will remove the appliance prior to showering.

Do whatever is comfortable for you, but do try a bagless shower just once. There is something very freeing about it, and your stoma gets a reprieve and gets to air out a bit.

There you go. What the ladies all have said. 👍

No, not anymore. I used to way back, but sooner my stoma is bagged up again. Now, the better the way it misbehaves! After 3 or 4 showers, baths, or hot tubs, my base plate starts to feel dry and hard but is still well stuck. Other than that, no problems; my skin is in perfect condition. There's no right or wrong way; just do what you feel is right for you.

I change my bag usually 2 times a week. I take it all off and shower. The other days, I shower with my bag on just like the days with no bag. In my opinion, one of the best things we can do is to get the bag/wafer off and allow fresh air to reach your skin. By the way, I take about the hottest showers known to create lots of steam. I have never had a shower affect my bag sticking.

Hi there, AlexT. May I ask what brand bag, etc., you use/wear? Thank you in advance!

I only shower with mine off on bag change mornings. That's once a week. Otherwise, I alternate between letting the appliance get wet or I use a Stomagoggle when I don't want to deal with drying the bag. There are several versions of the shower covers. Some people don't like them because they find it hard to bend over. I am fine with it, and it works okay.

https://www.stomagoggle.com/

Daniel

As others have said, you really don't need to worry about getting your appliance wet. I shower with it on every day, except change day, which is once a week. I also swim and use the sauna, which is hot. While in the sauna, I'm constantly pouring water over myself for a steam effect. None of this has ever affected the adhesion of my appliance.

Terry

Since I'm retired, I don't get all dirty since nowhere is like a filthy rail intermodal terminal, so I shower every 2-3 days and gently peel off my whole appliance. I found if it gets wet, I get a rash no matter how quickly I dry it. It won't fall off getting wet. There are aprons you can get - look at the Vegan Ostomy website for ideas. Also, sponge baths work too. Contrary to marketing ploys, we don't need to shower and use soap all over every day as it ruins your skin's biome.

I was told recently to cover the “appliance” with Saran Wrap and don't take a steamy hot shower. Before I was told that, I had been showering every day with no covering. That worked out fine, for the most part. The bags are waterproof and dry quickly.

Saran Wrap is a pain in the ass and was basically worthless when I tried it when I first got my ostomy.

I use all Hollister/Adapt stuff… one-piece bag, barrier ring, remover wipes/spray, and lubricant.

I use Hollister 2-piece.

Shower with the bag on all the time. Sometimes I snap on a new bag after; sometimes I don't. Depends on how lazy I'm feeling.

I change my wafer/flange every 10-12 days. Shower stoma naked. My skin looks great.

Think of it this way: If our adhesive was weakened by water, we wouldn't need medical adhesive remover spray and wipes.

I shower every day with the bag, now and then without. Forget what you have been told; there is no issue. Hit it with a hair dryer after a shower or bath and keep moving; you have better things to do than mess around with that thing.

I swim and shower with my appliance and have had no problems.

I used to shower with my bag off, but I would get frustrated when my ostomy pooped in the shower. (I have an ileostomy.) So then I started showering with my bag on. I just dry it really well after, and I used Torbot bonding cement for ostomies to hold the bag on securely. I haven't had a problem since I started using that product. The bag stays on and holds firm until I use adhesive remover on it when I change the wafer. Now I shower with the bag on all the time. I dry it well and my bag well after my shower and be on my way. I can even go swimming and not worry about the bag coming off. It's a good deal.

I always stop any food intake around 6:00 PM the night before a change. That way, I can take a shower and do the change with no output other than the occasional dribble of liquid. The dribbles are rare and do not cause a mess in the shower.

Of course, the usual caveat applies. That is, we are all different. :-)

Daniel

I do! And the last shower I had, I tried with a bag on, and halfway through, I looked down and it was filled with water, so I took that as a sign Momo wanted a shower too! For me, it helps keep my skin clear and calm, so I prefer it. I also use closed bags and change nearly every day.

I really liked showering with the bag off. Feel good for warm water to hit my stomach area, but then I have an inverted stoma. Sounds like either way works.

No problem either way. If you do not want wet ... I do what I call a "knee bath" ... keeping the apparatus dry but getting the rest of the benefit.

Twice a week

Jack and I have fun times. In all seriousness, going bagless in the shower has kept me feeling normalized. And feeling more cleansed. LoL! Yay! For the run! And have fun!

I shower with and without my pouch on.

When showering with the pouch on, I cover it with a cut-down hospital-type apron to prevent it from getting too wet.

Hi,

I shower all the time with my pouch on. I don't seem to have too much trouble at all. I do change my pouch every four days. What helps me a lot is that I use a barrier ring around the stoma first, then the pouch goes on, and then the flange extender around my pouch. So when I shower, it's pretty much sealed.

I always shower with my ileostomy bag on. Dry it off with a towel first, then use a paper towel (as suggested by a good friend) to finish drying the bag. Never had any issue with shower water affecting the bag attachment at all. At first, I did remove the bag to shower, but I had issues with the stoma being active while in the shower...

I tried once, and it was just too messy. I got out of the shower, and what the'?!!