This topic is about an 83-year-old gentleman who recently had a successful procedure to remove a painful granuloma near his stoma. While the area has healed, he is now dealing with the frustration of having to change his colostomy pouch 2-3 times a day. He is looking for advice on how to reduce the frequency of these changes.

Here are some helpful insights and advice:

1. Understand the difference between "emptying" and "changing": It's normal to empty a drainable pouch 2-3 times a day. However, changing the entire pouch that often is usually unnecessary unless there are issues with the seal or leakage.

2. Consider using an open-end or drainable pouch: Switching to a drainable pouch, like a Hollister 2-piece drainable, might be beneficial. You may still need to empty it a few times a day, but you won't have to discard the pouch each time.

3. Explore colostomy irrigation: For those with descending or sigmoid colostomies, colostomy irrigation might be an option. This involves flushing the colon with water, which can help some people go without output for 24 hours or more, reducing the need for daytime pouch changes. It's important to learn this technique from a trained stoma nurse to ensure it's suitable for you.

4. If you had an ileostomy, emptying 2-3 times daily would be considered quite good. For a colostomy, irrigation can offer even more control over output.