What If??

WHAT WOULD YOU DO IF YOU WERE IN A SEVERE ACCIDENT OR HAD A SUDDEN SEVERE ILLNESS?

UNFORTUNATELY, THERE MAY BE A TIME WHEN YOU ARE HOSPITALIZED AND YOUR POUCH NEEDS TO BE EMPTIED OR CHANGE AND YOU CANNOT DO IT YOURSELF. DO YOU HAVE A FAMILY MEMBER OR FRIEND WHO CAN ASSIST YOU? WHAT IF YOU CANNOT EVEN TELL SOMEONE WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE? HOSPITAL PERSONNEL WANT TO HELP BUT OFTEN HAVE LITTLE OR EVEN NO EXPERIENCE WITH OSTOMY CARE.

IT IS IMPORTANT TO BE PREPARED FOR JUST SUCH AN EVENT. YOU SHOULD WRITE DOWN SPECIFIC INSTRUCTIONS ON HOW YOU CARE FOR YOUR STOMA AND SKIN.

WHAT SUPPLIES DO YOU USE? INCLUDE PRODUCT NAMES AND NUMBERS AS WELL AS THE SIZE OF YOU STOMA. THIS INFORMATION WILL HELP THE HOSPITAL GET SUPPLIES FOR YOU IF YOU DID NOT BRING THEM WITH YOU.

WHERE IN YOUR HOUSE DO YOU STORE YOUR SUPPLIES? WHERE DO YOU ORDER YOUR SUPPLIES FROM SO SOMEONE CAN REORDER FOR YOU?

DESCRIBE WHAT AND HOW TO PROCEED WITH A POUCH CHANGE. INCLUDE SKIN CARE AND THE PROCEDURE ON PREPARING AND APPLYING YOUR SKIN BARRIER/POUCH SYSTEM.

IS THERE ANYTHING THAT SHOULD NOT BE DONE I.E. LAXATIVES, ENEMAS, URINE CULTURES FROM THE STOMA BAG?

HOW OFTEN SHOULD YOU POUCH BE EMPTIED AND HOW TO DO IT.

CARRY THE INSTRUCTIONS WITH YOU. NO ONE IS IMMUNE FROM THESE SITUATIONS. IF YOU ARE NOT ABLE TO DO YOUR OWN CARE, THESE INSTRUCTIONS MAY HELP TO REDUCE THE CHANCES OF STOMAL POUCHING ISSUES.