Rinsing ileostomy bag - necessary or not?

I personally rinse my bag after emptying. I have a low output ileostomy (due to my motility issues) and my output is typically very liquid. I tend to have more gas than anything. No one told me to do it or not, I just started doing it on my own. I use a disposable cup to empty my ostomy 2-3 times a day and I only empty at home (unless I am on a road trip, I always empty whenever we stop, and even though gas station bathrooms are almost always private). So I squeeze all the contents out of my bag, pour the contents into the toilet, rinse the cup out, fill the cup up with water, pour it into my ostomy bag, massage the bag, pour the contents from the bag out, and wipe off the end of the bag with toilet paper. Then I rinse the cup out, put the lid on, and go on with my business. I have never had any issues with leaking since I perfected my supplies about 5 weeks ago. I use the Eakin rings as well and they are my favorite rings. The Adapt ones are fine but are thick, and the Coloplast ones are too thick for me and they really expand too much. If you are having issues with leaking, get the Coloplast Barrier Strips. They are like bandaids for your wafer or bag border. I have been using them for 5 weeks and no joke, I have had one leak in the past 5 weeks. I change my bag Mondays and Thursdays like clockwork, right after my bath, and I have had one leak. Before I got my bags and those barrier strips (I use the Marlen Minimax One Piece Drainable Convex Opaque Bags with filters, so they have to be special ordered), I was having to change my bag every day or every 2 days due to leaks and blowouts from too much gas in the pouch at night. I like rinsing the pouch because it makes me feel clean, similar to how someone after they poop would wipe their butt lol

Hi Julian: I always rinse my bag out with warm water. Just my opinion, but it makes for a more sanitized bag, and it makes it a lot easier when it is time to change the flange. I still get between 7-8 days before I have to change. I guess what it comes down to is what you are most comfortable with.

I am about to have surgery and am very concerned about odor and cleanliness. Always have been!

Please don't be worried about odor or cleanliness. Hopefully, your hospital will have stoma nurses who can advise you so that you will feel comfortable before going home. If it is a colostomy you are having, they will most likely give you a peribottle to take home. When the bag is about 1/3 full, put some water in the peribottle and spray into the bottom of the bag, then gently massage the bag and empty the contents into the toilet. Add more water until the bag is clean. I usually do this 2 - 4 times a day (only takes about 5 minutes) each time, so the bag always appears clean except for the area directly over the stoma. They do advise not to get the stoma wet while cleaning the bag. People differ on how frequently they change the bag. I change mine every 3 - 5 days - some go longer with the cleanable 2-part bag with adhesive wafer which can be cleaned out. There are also 1-part bags which you can change twice a day and then just throw out (Medicare allows 2 bags a day but you will need to re-use the wafer again as Medicare allows only 20 wafers a month). You can get bags with filters. I prefer not to use one with a filter because I want to control when gas is expressed from the bag, not having it done automatically. If the bag becomes bloated, on a 2-part bag with wafer it is easy. Just go to the bathroom or empty room and lift one of the 3 plastic "handles" gently and gas will escape. Then you can freshen the room with air spray.

A hint the stoma nurses gave me was to purchase BagItaway X-bags. When I am ready to put a new bag on, I place the old bag and wafer in one of these X-bags and seal them and just put in the regular garbage bin. There is no odor that escapes from the sealed bag and because of its dark color, there is no visibility of what is in the bag. http://bagitaway.com/

Good luck with your upcoming surgery and please do let us know how you are getting on after.

I don't know what type of surgery you are going to have, but that should not be a big concern. When I had my ostomy about 7-8 years ago, unfortunately, the hospital did not have an ostomy nurse handy to explain things to me. A nurse who has dealt with just a few patients was able to help me out a little bit. I basically had to learn how to do all the changing and cleaning business. I had some severe problems with leakage and developed a severe skin rash due to my skin reaction and my skin wafer would not stay on due to the moisture caused by my skin rash. For almost 3 months, I had to deal with this problem on my own. Yes, I did have an "in-home" nurse come by 2 times per week which helped me somewhat, but she was not an ostomy nurse. I had to tell her what needed to be done.

I finally got a full-time ostomy nurse, from the old school I might add, who really basically saved my "arse". We tried several different skin wafers and finally settled on Coloplast, which did not give me any skin rashes at all. But other problems kind of came up. My skin wafer would not stay attached to my body very well. Every time that I would bend over to put on socks, put on shoes, etc., the wafer would pop off. Thank goodness Coloplast had those Brava (sp) strips. That basically saved my life. Not really, but you know what I mean.

Anyway, I have pretty much become a "pro" when it comes to changing, fixing, and coming up with some of my own ideas on how to help myself to make this situation that I will have to deal with for the rest of my life much easier and much more in step with the things that I enjoy doing without too many problems with my ostomy.

I hope that you get a good ostomy nurse who will help you get a handle on how to deal with your situation. Proper changing and keeping things clean, etc.

I wish you the best, Akail. There are many people on this site that can give you suggestions and good advice as to help you out with almost any problem(s) that may come up.

Take care and be safe out there,

rongarm

Words of Encouragement from Ostomy Advocates I Hollister

I've rinsed with water since my surgery in 2005. It's the only way to properly clean without leaving material behind. I use stomahesive, which I believe helps keep the wafer protected from infiltration. I will always use water to clean. The "sit on the toilet and use toilet paper" method is terribly ineffective.

Hi Juli, I've got both a colostomy and a urostomy. When cleaning the colostomy bag, I use either warm water, which helps flush out the stuff, or cold water. I use a Convetic 2-piece system, and the bag has a charcoal pouch at the top, which is brown. I got my colostomy done in Colorado, but I live in Texas. I went to Colorado back in April 2011 and found out I had rectal cancer. I underwent chemo and radiation, which burned me inside and melted my penis to my groin, so I can't have regular sex and can't even get an erection. I asked the doctors up there in Colorado, and only two of them knew what radiation did to me, but they said nothing. I found out through a medical transcript that radiation caused all this damage. Oh, and in 2014, I lost my bladder and prostate, so I've been pretty pissed since. I'm 58 and fixing to be 59 in 2 months, and I'm sorry, but I hate my life. Sorry for the long message.

I do not rinse and the bag clears nicely.. If you do rinse, it will make the bag's life shorter. I was told to rinse in the shower if I felt the need to, but once they are rinsed, they seem to last less than a day.

I have a colostomy. I rinse my bag out probably three times a day. I have very soft liquid output, and it is basically all day. It is always soft. My diet, I am sure, causes this. I don't eat a lot of meat. I do eat a lot of veggies and fruit smoothies. I do eat nuts. But when rinsing my bag, I hold the bag tight around the flange to keep the seal intact and shake the water all over inside so that it cleans it well. I agree that when securing the bag, you need to get a secure seal. I found that I liked the paste better than the wafers. It is softer than the wafer, and I can get it spread easier, and I leave a good seal on the flange. In the beginning, my home health care nurse used wafers, and they leaked, and I would have the bag fall off. With the paste, I have never had a problem with it falling off or a leak unless when I clean the bag, I don't hold the flange and give it support. Then it seems to cause weakening of the paste seal, and then it will leak. I hated having my ostomy, and I am still not happy with it. Now I have had it since April of 2017. I have accepted it, and that was the key for me: acceptance. I never have the pain and blockages that I had for over 30 years. Now I wonder why this surgery wasn't given to me before because of all my hospital visits, two or three a year. I am still learning about my ostomy and have decided that I don't want the reversal because of the fear of having all the blockages again and the pain return. This devil is new to me, so now I live with the devil I know rather than a devil I don't know. Good luck on your journey to finding the right solution for you, and you will.

For all of you who clean your bags with water, I have come across something that has made this job a lot easier. On Amazon, there is a bidet sprayer that attaches to your toilet and is just a hose with a sprayer on the end. It has variable pressure with the handle on it so you can spray very gently into the bag or you can use the more powerful spray for cleaning the toilet afterwards. I have actually used it more for toilet cleaning than anything else. Anyway, this has been a game changer for me and I believe it was less than $20. They have more fancy ones that have hot/cold and other features, but I just went with the cheapest option and it's great. Super easy install anyone could do, and it doesn't leak at all.

Sorry for the late reply. Yes, I always rinse my appliance with water. I use stomahesive to protect the integrity of the seal but rarely have any problems. I use a large plastic pop bottle to pour the water inside and it works great provided I don't shake the contents like a can of spray paint. My appliance lasts 5-6 days on average depending on activity levels, sweating, etc. I couldn't imagine not cleaning my appliance thoroughly.

I like the feel of a clean pouch, so after a poop I use a styrofoam cup of warm water and slush it around and drain it. The bag is nice and soft after as well. I guess it's up to each his own, whatever makes you feel better, go for it...

I rinse my bag... with cold water. No issues.

A good tool to use for rinsing out a pouch is a "Cleansing Bottle" filled with water. Any medical supply or Amazon carries them. Stay well! Penguins7

I am using a baby bottle. Give it a squeeze, and all is good!!!

I didn't think it would ever be possible to rinse as I had high output and real issues with keeping my bag connected (hence burnt skin, which is difficult to have appliances stick). For me, confidence was key. I finally found a setup that gave me 2 to 3 days between changes and could even shower minus any setup on my change days. My skin then loved getting a rinse (we have tank water) so I worked a method where I could rinse in the shower with lovely warm water and let the stoma sit in the warm water which helped it relax and move through those larger pieces. Yes, it did gross me out initially but the benefit of a happy, relaxed stoma let me get past it.

I believe it is such a personal decision and what works for one may not work for others. Give yourself a safe, stress-free environment and try a few different methods (be prepared your setup might not like it. It may burst and you might need to change.) Allow a good amount of time and monitor your setup.

I wish you luck with whatever you choose to do.

I like to rinse out my pouch as well, as it feels lighter against me. I have even dumped it and then removed it "when at home" and really washed it out good. Used a blow dryer to dry the outside, then snapped it back on. I use a 2-piece system and find I get a lot more wear out of a pouch. When I rinse when it's attached, I do not rinse at the top around the stoma as I have had it cause a leak. Good luck.

I rinse my bag entirely every time I 'empty' it. My output is so thick and heavy that my bag gets pushed, not emptied. I always pour water into my bag and give it a good swish. Then I empty the water out and do it again--making sure that the curves and corners and area around the filter are clear. I have had no trouble with adhesion and my stoma loves water and being freed from waste. For me, I feel so much cleaner and my bag feels so light! I carry a small 4 oz. bottle of water with me in case I have to 'empty my bag' someplace other than home. I could really use a bag with a zipper...dls

I rinse mine every time. It cuts down on "incidental odors". Usually the best ideas come from fellow Ostomates. We have lots of experience at this. If you need advice or have questions or concerns....just leave a note, and one of us will reply back. Take care.

Andy

A zipper... goodness, that would be something!

I also rinse my bag every time I empty it, I feel cleaner doing this and don't fear the odor. I clean the opening with either toilet paper or handy wipes (free and clear). I use a paste when adhering my flange, I have tried the Cera Plus flange without paste and fear that with the output I would get skin problems so use the paste to keep the output off my skin. I also feel safer with the added help in securing it. I have never had a problem (knock on wood) since I have been doing this, I go as many as 5 days and have gone seven but just feel cleaner changing at 3-5 days.

Since you had problems with leakage before, then you shouldn't use water. I made the mistake of using too much water and the result was disastrous!! Now I use it very sparingly.

Whatever works for your needs. I do a thorough rinse with my one-piece every time I empty my bag, otherwise my bag is lined, not empty. Yes, water can be a mistake if you don't have one thing: excellent adhesion. There is an 'early warning system' for imminent leaks. Although our stomas have no nerve endings, our peristomal skin and our abdomens certainly do. When I rinse my one-piece, I pay attention to 'how the water feels'. If I feel cool water between my skin and wafer, my seal is deteriorating and will soon need a change. If I only feel the water pressure and movement, my seal is holding. I rinse my bag about 4 times a day and depending on circumstances, have had a six-day run with no 'Water Warning'. If I get a warning and cannot change immediately, I tape up or use elastic barrier strips--they will hold for a full day and even overnight. I've water-rinsed with the barrier strips or waterproof tape and not sprung a leak (I do get nervous). Water WILL erode your adhesion but with decent products, you get good wear time.

I think I've always rinsed out my bag. I learned early on, though, to use only cold water so as not to compromise my wafer seal. (I use a Coloplast, non-filter, one piece.) I rinse the entire bag. I use a rollator due to arthritis. I have purchased a multi-pocketed messenger bag and have it loaded with all my supplies and affixed to my rollator. I can make 4-5 changes and feel much better about leaving the house now. I bring my water bottle with me as well. But I digress...

I'm not the neatest person, but I do get picky about my bag. Maybe because my arthritis limits my ability to wipe out the neck of the bag, or, I just prefer the lighter weight (as previously mentioned), or just not having to look at it...

Hey,

I did not start out rinsing my pouch out but found out very soon that to be more sanitary and feel clean, I needed to do that! I don't usually do it if I am away from home but it is the first thing I do when I get back! I irrigate so have little output now but on occasion, due to treatment, I get some surprises!

It just keeps things smelling and looking better! I love my pouches that have peek-a-boo slots to check on things. If my stoma is covered in poo, I cannot check it out properly!

I rotate my bag at night, meaning it's normally horizontal like a belt all day. And at night, I rotate it vertically straight down to the floor with a strap to hold it tightly. I rinse before I rotate it. We all know how thick that stuff can be. You don't want it pouring out if you disconnect to rotate it. I always use the two-piece system. It works for me, and cleaning with warm or cold water is a good idea prior to rotating. Also, I tend to think it's a fresh bag after doing so. I feel cleaner after bouncing that water around and letting it go in the toilet is just something to adjust to. Still nasty, but the good outweighs the bad.

I rinse mine, but I use a 2-piece and snap it off so I can really clean it and snap on, good to go..

That's cool. Sounds like a lot of work though, plus the ickiness of it all. I find rinsing with the pouch attached cleans pretty good and is not as messy. I just hate this thing and less time doing anything for it serves me happy. :). Also, I don't know how rinsing would help with a one-piece unless there is an open bottom end. That makes sense. I just can't picture it right now. So much equipment out there, nice to have variety.

Rinsing out the two-piece does make you feel as if you have changed your pouch. I rinse until I can clearly see my stoma through the peep window! It may help the life of the pouch as well, getting all that acidic yuck out of there!

Puppy

I'm pretty new to all of this as I just had a temporary ileostomy procedure done in April after having surgery. After a few weeks, once my outputs changed from being liquid to very thick, I started rinsing my bag to help clear it out. I currently rinse three to four times a day, with lukewarm tap water from a cup. So far I've had no issues with my seal. I use a Hollister 2-piece bag, I change out my bag every two to three days, and change my wafer twice a week. Rinsing the bag makes it cleaner and lighter, and it doesn't feel like it's pulling on my skin.