This topic is about managing an ileostomy when you have to undergo surgery on your left thumb, which will leave your hand in a cast and your thumb unusable for several months. This means you'll need to learn how to change, empty, and clean your ileostomy pouch using only your right hand. Here are some practical tips and insights to help you manage this situation:

1. Consider using a 2-piece barrier/pouch system. Instead of opening, draining, and cleaning the tail, you can detach the entire pouch from the wafer, empty it through the larger barrier opening, rinse it, and then re-attach it. Carry extra pouches with you and seal used ones in zip-lock bags to wash and reuse later.

2. Reach out to a Veterans Administration (VA) hospital or an amputee rehabilitation service. They often train patients to manage ostomies with one hand and might offer customized techniques or adaptive tools that could be helpful.

3. Start practicing now using only your right hand so that the method becomes second nature before your surgery.

4. Use a squeeze or sports water bottle to flush the tail when you can't wipe it thoroughly. Let the water run over the outlet to rinse it.

5. Many people find Velcro-closure pouches easier to handle with one hand compared to the "Lock & Roll" closure system bags. Try out different closures in advance to see which one you can manage more easily.

6. After surgery, you'll still have some limited finger movement in your casted hand. Use those fingers to steady or support the pouch tail while your free hand opens, empties, and cleans it.

7. Repeated practice will build your speed and confidence. With some experimentation, most people can master single-handed emptying in a short time.