After Surgery Wound Care Products You Need to Know About
Ostomates understand the importance and necessity of after-surgery wound care better than most. The implications of a poorly maintained stoma and subsequent complications can have you spending more time in the doctor’s office than one could ever dare to experience. Today, InnerGood is here with some product recommendations that can help stave off peristomal infection while assisting with overall wound recovery.
*Note: consult with your physician before consuming any of the supplements listed below.
5 Products That Will Help Give Your Wound the Best Opportunity to Heal
1. Coloplast’s SenSura Mio System
You can follow your nurse and physician wound care instructions to the tee, but if you’re applying the wrong appliance to your stoma it will all be for naught. A poor fitting pouch can aggravate the wound and result in not just discomfort, but mild to severe peristomal infection. Consultation with a professional about your choice in systems will provide you with some guidance, but in order take the guesswork out of the equation, and avoid making failed attempts to find a good match, why not try an ostomy pouch that will fit your unique body shape in as custom a manner as possible? This can be achieved with Coloplast’s SenSura Mio system.
The pouch has been fashioned with a proprietary adhesive that has been manufactured to amplify elasticity and provide a high-performance fit no matter your body type. Coloplast has incorporated their patented and pliable BodyFit technology which ensures the appliance adheres to the counters of your specific body frame. It will respond to your natural body movements without impending upon the adhesive properties (which have also designed to absorb excess moisture) needed to keep your pouch secure.
You will want to complement your use of the Coloplast SenSura Mio Midi Pre-Cut One-Piece Pouch with the Convex Flex Barrier of the same name, and tighten it all up during times of activity with a Coloplast SenSura Belt.
2. Hollister Wound Cleaning Supplies
The next most important element in caring for an ostomy wound is keeping it clean. Our recent article featuring essential Hollister brand accessories detailed a line of products that will keep your cleaning concerns at bay. These include the m9 Cleaner/Decrystallizer which is an industry leading formula used specifically with urinary drainage systems. In addition, there is Hollister’s Restore Cleaner & Moisturizer, a very effective dimethicone-based cleanser, moisturizer and protective breathable barrier for skin that will provide skin protection for ostomates concerned about urinary and/or fecal incontinence. Adapt Skin Protective Wipes are also highly recommended as a means to help protect your skin from waste in addition to the stripping that can be caused by adhesives.
3. Metagenics Ultra C
There is no downplaying the role of antioxidants in wound care, and one of the top antioxidants (in this capacity) is Vitamin C, an ascorbic acid (AA) that is proven to be involved in all phases of wound healing. Simply put, no wound care regime could be complete (or even truly effective) without a stringent antioxidant protocol that includes a healthy daily dose of Vitamin C. One formula that accounts for this explicit need, is Metagenics Ultra C, available in powder form and in tablets.
4. Metagenics UltraFlora
There is recent research which indicates that increased bacterial counts in wounds reduce the capacity of the wound to heal. Further research shows that an imbalance of the microbiota involved in nutrient processing may lead to disrupted metabolism, while bacterial signals can trigger mucosal inflammation, leading to chronic inflammation and tumorigenesis. The same studies show that surgical intervention results in independent microbiome shifts and a rise of aggressive bacteria which can contribute to post-surgical complications. In addition, persistent bacterial-immune imbalance results in immune activation at mucosal sites and chronic inflammation. What all of this means, is that there is a connection between your intestinal microbiome, surgical disease, and post surgery wound care. While the Metagenics UltraFlora may be best known as a weight control agent, its ability to significantly benefit the intestinal microbiome provides indication that it can also assist in wound management for ostomates.
5. Metagenics OmegaGenics
Omega-3 EPA and DHA essential fatty acids play an important role in maintaining the health of your wound. Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) in particular directly benefits skin and thus wound management. Since the body cannot manufacture either Omega-3 EPA or DHA on its own, you need to access both via a supplement. One of the top Omega-3 EPA supplements on the market, is Metagenics OmegaGenics, which provides 1200 mg of EPA.
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