Showering Tips for Ostomy Care

I have a new ostomy (10 weeks), and I have tried many covers to protect the bag while showering. I have not found one that keeps it from getting wet. Very frustrating. Any suggestions?

You don't need to keep the bag dry. It's fine to get wet. I shower bags on and just dry them well with a towel.

I found that if my appliance gets wet, I get itchy even though it dries fairly fast. Since I am retired, I don't need to shower every day, and I just shower without my bag. Look at the Vegan Ostomy website, as he tries many different products and gives good ideas as to what works - there's an apron you can put over your bag to keep it dry. At first, I just taped a plastic bag over the area, but the tape bothered my skin, so it's better for me not to do that. Trial and error.

You can try Glad Press 'n Seal. It keeps the bag and surrounding area not 100% dry, but pretty dry.

Sponge bath, toots. Problem solved. 😊

My Ostomy Journey: April | Hollister

Hop in and get it wet; you're already pooping in it. Water won't hurt it.

What SusanT said. Getting your bag wet is not a big deal. Just be sure to dry it when you get out of the shower. Be sure you have a good seal on your bag, though, so it doesn't come loose when it gets wet. I had that problem until bonding cement. Now, not so much of a problem.

I don't cover my bag in the shower and have never had a problem.

The only timing I think about is not showering on the same mornings I change my bag. I like to give some time for the adhesive to 'cure'.

I too didn't want to even think about getting in the shower and getting the bag wet, and I still don't. I was very leery at first, so I had my husband put plastic wrap all around me. People are correct; you can get it wet, and now I take my hair dryer and dry the front flap on a low setting so clean clothes don't get damp. But I still don't like getting it wet, so I place a dry washcloth over the bag.

As others have said, you really don't need to worry about getting it wet. I shower with my pouch on every day, except change day that is, when I shower after removing the old one. I am very active, especially in the summer when it's hot. I sweat, and the pouch will pick up sweat from my body, along with the occasional and unavoidable bit of backsplash when emptying. I couldn't imagine going a whole week without cleaning my pouch on the outside. I lather it up with soap and rinse well, then pat it dry with a towel, as well as blowing it dry with my blow dryer. I go a whole week between pouch changes, so clearly getting it wet isn't affecting the adhesion, if that's what you are worried about.

Terry

I totally understand about the showering and how you want to cover it to keep dry. I have tried many things and have yet to discover something that really works and stays on all the way through showering. What I tend to do is, after allowing it to get wet, I wrap a microfiber towel around it and then use a small bulldog clip. This helps with drying time and keeps the wet bag from touching me. I don't use a hair dryer on my hair, so I don't want to get it out to dry my bag. My last attempt was the bowl covers, which almost worked, but I forgot to put holes in the bottom, so the water pooled in the cover instead and my bag got wet. I'm still experimenting with things now and again, and if I ever come across anything, I will let you know!

Hi, I'm so glad you asked this question. I've not been able to shower since April because of a large open abdominal wound that is healing well. My surgeon says I may be able to shower in September. Believe me, I'm so sick of sponge baths but have the same concerns as you about showering with the ostomy bag. It's great to read everyone's responses.

I totally understand; a sponge bath is okay, but not like a shower, especially since I have long hair.

Changing bag or appliance? I change my bag every two days, but not the appliance; the bag is too smelly.

Do you not take your bag off for a whole week?

LOL. That would be impressive. 😮 She changes her bag once a week, is how I read it.

I change my pouch every seven days. I can go a day or two longer, but I choose not to take the risk. I just reread my post, and I'm not sure what was unclear?

Terry

Ohhh, it's raining. 😳 My convertible 🚗 outside is getting wet!!! Gotta cover it quickly!! Before!! Before?? Hmm? Before what happens?

🤷‍♂️

I have long hair, too!

I shower with my bag on, and in the last 5 minutes, I remove it and shower my stoma with just water. I just feel cleaner if we have both taken a wash for the day.

However, after my operation, when it was all still tender, I showered with the bag on and used a hair dryer to dry off my bag.

I shower every other day, and my bag gets wet. I choose to change my one-piece Hollister bag at that time. I find that changing the bag every other day has the best results for the stoma area to be less irritated. I don't understand how one can go a whole week without changing the bag system. I feel that is tempting a problem with the stoma area.

What everyone has said will work... Not sure if I missed it, but if you wear a two-piece, you can use Sure Seals, and it won't get the wafer/base plate wet, just your bag. You can either put a new one on or, on low heat, use the blow dryer. When I had a one-piece or when I had JP drains in, I used a shower guard (which I now don't see worth spending the money on... still gets wet and was $40... got it before I knew about this site). The plastic wrap will do just as well, or there is a video on YouTube about how a guy uses sandwich bags and, I believe, duct tape to make a shower guard. I can look it up again if anyone is interested. (He had a two-piece bag, NOT a one-piece.)