New Ostomate Tips from a Veteran Ostomates’ Perspective
Not every person undergoing ostomy surgery has time to prepare. Some people have emergency surgery and wake up with it, some people know in advance and can prepare. If I’m being completely honest, there’s only so much preparation you can do when you don’t know what you’ll be dealing with.
I knew I was getting a colostomy bag a couple of months in advance. My colostomy a result of cancer and surgery involved other procedures at the same time. Before surgery, I knew nothing about ostomy life. I knew it would be one reason I would stay alive and rid my body of cancer for a second time, so I accepted it relatively quickly. I did some research beforehand, and looking back 8 years later, some of the things I did to prepare were good, while others were unnecessary. Like many life-changing moments, you don’t know what you’ll need or how things will go until you’re in the trenches.
The biggest lesson I learned was not to spend much money until you see your stoma and know what you’re dealing with. Supplies and supportive items, such as underwear, are expensive. I spent money on things I didn’t need or things that did not work with my stoma.
What role does the hospital have?
The main goal of the Doctors and Nurses is that you make it through your surgery. You arrived unwell, and they want to make you better to the best of their ability. Most hospitals have dedicated ostomy nurses who will make sure your stoma is functioning properly. Hospitals have primary brand contracts and will use that brand first. That doesn’t mean it’s the only brand they have. Just like with clothing, more sizes and brands are out there, but you often have to ask. Depending on the city you live in, a local ostomy group has trained visitor volunteers ready to come visit you in the hospital. This is an area that Ostomy Canada and respective city groups are working hard on. Most nurses know such a program exists, but not all. You can reach out to Ostomy Canada or your local support group on your own, as it does not have to be facilitated by the hospital.
What stoma supplies should I buy before surgery?
I recommend not buying any ostomy bags until after surgery. You don’t know what fit you will need or which brand you will settle on until your stoma forms and heals. Stoma size will shrink over the first couple of months, so wearing cut-to-fit is a good idea. This way, as your stoma shrinks, you can adjust the size of the stoma opening when you cut. The hospital will have you in a clear bag to start, so they can visibly see your stoma is working. Most ostomates choose not to wear a clear bag post-hospital, but it’s all personal choice.
One thing I recommend buying prior to surgery is an adhesive remover spray. My personal favourite is the Coloplast Brava adhesive remover spray. Oddly, hospitals don’t usually have spray, but they will have adhesive remover wipes. Wipes work fine, but it may make your change time a bit longer, and usually more than 1 wipe is needed. Spray is easy and you start to see the barrier lift with ease. As with ostomy bags, there are various wipes from each brand. They vary in dampness and size, and the Coloplast Brava adhesive remover wipes are my favourite for a couple of reasons. They are about the size of my hand with a great texture and dampness. Very effective for cleansing skin once your appliance is off to ensure no residue/stick is left behind before applying your new system. If you want to use an adhesive remover wipe to remove your pouch, the Adapt adhesive remover wipes by Hollister are a great option. They are smaller in size, quite damp, and have excess liquid inside the packaging. Once you tear open the packaging, pour the liquid around the adhesive to help lift it off. After that, remove the wipe and wipe it around the adhesive as needed and/or on the skin once exposed to ensure the skin is clean and no leftover residue/stick.
How do I choose the brand and fit that are best for me?
The good news is that in 2026, ostomates have more choices than ever before, but this can also be overwhelming. Most of the time, ostomates stick with the brand they were introduced to at the hospital, since it’s all they know, and trying a new brand can be scary. As scary as this can be, don’t let that hold you back from trying other brands. Call companies such as Coloplast, Hollister and Convatec, and they’ll be happy to send you samples. This is a great way to avoid spending money on products that might not work for you.
Appearance and quality are top priority. Some brands, such as SenSura Mio by Coloplast, repel water better than those made of more cloth-like materials. Something I wish I had known early on is that different pouch lengths exist. If you’re someone on the shorter side, this may be a huge helper so you don’t have to fold the bottom. Pouches specifically designed for ileostomates with high output are also available.
What do I do if my skin is irritated?
It’s very common for skin to react and get irritated soon after surgery. Your skin is adjusting just as much as you are and reacting to a device now attached to it all day, every day. It wasn’t there before, and now it is. Just because you have a reaction to a brand does not necessarily mean you’re allergic to it. I jokingly call this ostomy potty training. You need to find what’s best for you and your skin, and train your skin at the same time.
It’s always a good idea to reach out to your local ostomy nurse who has products readily available to treat the irritation. I dealt with irritation from longer wear time and stool leaking under the barrier. The longer I wore my pouch the more time bacteria had to grow. I did my best when emptying, but since colostomy stool is thicker no matter what I did, it would get under the barrier and leak. I tried every brand I could get my hands on, but my issues continued until I switched to a closed 1-piece soft convex pouch. The soft convex 1-piece profile makes it easier to massage the stool down as needed. As soon as the pouch is full, I use adhesive remover spray to remove it, clean my skin with an adhesive remover wipe and apply a new pouch. No mess. No accessories. Just my pouch. Think of it like a diaper change. We would never wipe a diaper and apply that same diaper on the child, same sort of theory.
One common irritation aid amongst the ostomy community is Flonase or a generic version. It contains a steroid and may help heal your irritated skin, as it does your nose. It’s inexpensive and effective, and my local ostomy clinic uses it with their patients. Only use as needed until the irritation has cleared. It also helps train your skin along the way. If your irritation continues, there is a larger issue you need to sort out, and, again, an ostomy nurse is the best person to speak with. Generally speaking, you should not have issues with leaks if you are in the right fit.
I hope these topics help a new ostomate or any ostomate in need. A kind reminder that I am an ostomate and not a doctor or nurse. These are my personal experiences, which I’m happy to share just like I do on my Instagram Ostomate and the City.
