I have to have shoulder surgery this winter and am really concerned about emptying my ostomy. How to empty and rinse it with only one hand. I really don't want to burden my wife with this task.
Trucker
Nov 06, 2022 7:12 pm
AlexT
Nov 06, 2022 7:27 pm
If it's in a sling, it's in about the perfect position to hold your back while you use the other hand to do the wiping/cleaning.
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Posted by: iMacG5
About seven years ago, just about every aspect of my life was ostomy related. From the moment I was told an ostomy might be needed until some months down the road I existed as a person afflicted with a colostomy. I feared someone other than my immediate family might find out I had a bag. Ugh! What could be worse? Suppose it filled real fast when I was out with no place to hide and take care of myself. God forbid should it leak in church! Suppose I roll over on it in bed. I was a lesser creature, destined to a life of emotional anguish and physical routines different from most of the rest of the world. I felt like a freak. Then I found folks like you guys here, read your stuff, really “listened” to what you had to say and I began looking at things differently. We know perception is everything and I began to understand how good things were relative to what they could’ve been. So many folks had it so much worse than I did. That didn’t make my discomfort go away but it exposed how fortunate I was to be dealing with my stuff and not their’s. I felt a little guilt, maybe selfishness but quickly forgave myself by understanding I just wasn’t smart enough to fix my feelings. Then, I wonder what smarts have to do with feelings. My perception was warped so my perspective toward my existence was warped.
I learned over the last few years with the help of lots of folks right here at MAO that I could be better at living just by accepting some facts. It is what it is and so what? It’s not the worst thing to happen to a person.
I think everything is, in some way, related to everything else. I just put the ostomy thing in the back seat and drive forward.
Respectfully,
Mike
w30bob
Nov 06, 2022 7:50 pm
Hi Trucker,
I know we've discussed how to change your barrier/bag with one hand, but I'm not sure we talked about emptying and/or rinsing. I just tried emptying mine now, and it is a bit challenging. It depends on your bag and securement method, but I find the Velcro closure on my Sensura Mio easier to deal with than my older Hollister bag with the plastic clip. Now, I don't rinse mine, so I'm not sure how that would work; it seems you'd need two hands for that. But we'll see what the other more innovative folks on here chime in with.
;O)
bob
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Ben38
Nov 06, 2022 8:15 pm
You have time to practice in advance, so that's a good start. By the time you have surgery, you will be able to do it with ease. Just be hard on yourself while practicing; no cheating. Make sure you only use one hand.
It can be done and is easier than you think to empty and change a bag one-handed. I had surgery on my right hand, so I had to use my left hand, and I have very little feeling in that. I managed very well without any help, even with Velcro and a roll & lock closure system. I never rinsed mine out; that would have been a problem for me, and I couldn't clean the spout on the bag very well after emptying. I did try two-piece bags to start with, so I could just throw the bag away instead of emptying it, but I didn't get on with them very well and found my normal one-piece much easier to use.
Sew.peace
Oct 21, 2025 5:27 pm
Hi, I'm Sue and I am facing my dominant arm being in a sling or brace. I appreciate what you said, and I'm going to start trying to practice with my left hand only today.
My Ostomy Journey: Kimberly | Hollister
