Must Have Ostomy Supplies for Post Op

120,000 people have ostomy surgery each year, and nearly 1 million people have some type of stoma, as reported in 2003. The number is only increasing.

While it may feel incredibly scary and isolating to know you're about to have a stoma, you're in good company. In fact, famous people with ostomies include the Queen Mum and Pope John Paul II. So don't worry, you're hardly alone.

In this blog post, we'll go over what exactly an ostomy is, as well as what ostomy supplies you'll need once you're released from the hospital. This post will make your transition from the hospital to the comfort of your own home as easy as possible.

If you're reading this before your surgery, don't forget to ask your doctor or nurse for anything specialized that you may need. While we can attempt to cover everything you may need, every person is different. As such, their ostomy supplies may not be uniform.

Read on for more information about the ostomy supplies you'll need.

What is an Ostomy?

Let's start with the basics before we get into the nitty-gritty. An ostomy is an opening, using made in your stomach, to re-reroute waste.

There are five common types of ostomies: ileostomy, urostomy, colostomy, J-Pouch and continent urostomy. The urostomies are performed for an alternative way for urine to leave the body. The other ostomies create an alternative way for feces to leave the body.

After your doctor creates an ostomy, you'll be left with a stoma. This is the opening on your abdomen that allows you to expel waste. It is typically dark pink in color, and most people will wear a pouch over it to collect waste.

Depending on your ostomy, however, you may not need a pouch over your ostomy. This is in the case of continent diversion, which re-routes your waste to expel from another opening. This can be done in the case of a urostomy, in which an Indiana pouch is made. This pouch will collect urine in a part of small bowel. If this is the case for you, you'll only need a catheter to empty your bladder.

Ostomies can be permanent or temporary. Your doctor will discuss future plans with you before your surgery.

Who Has an Ostomy?

Ostomies can be performed for a wide variety of reasons. Common reasons for bowel ostomies include Crohn's Disease, bowel cancer and ulcerative colitis. Ostomies related to the bladder are often done for things like bladder cancer, severe kidney disease, incontinence, birth defects that make it difficult to pass urine and damage to the bladder or urinary tract.

Transitioning from the Hospital to Home

Depending on the type of ostomy you have, and why it was created, you may spend a few days in the hospital. Or, you may not spend a lot of time there. Either way, you'll need to learn how to care for your ostomy at home so that you can properly expel your waste.

Let's discuss some of the supplies you'll need.

Indiana Pouch Supplies

If you have an Indiana pouch, you may only need to use a catheter. If this is the case for you, your doctor will help you to insert one into your urethra. Many catheters come with lubrication on them, but you may want to order extra in case.

In addition to a catheter to empty your bladder, you may also need disposable gloves and a sterile pad to sit on. If you're expelling your bladder sitting down, you'll likely need something to catch the urine. Some people prefer to expel their urine standing up in a shower or bathtub or in the toilet.

Ostomy Supplies You'll Need Post Op

If you have an ostomy bag, there are a few items you'll need in order to change your bag.

You'll need the following items:

• A pouch clip
• An ostomy pouch
• Stoma paste, though some may prefer a ring seal
• Stoma powder
• Skin wipes

Some people may also wish to have a medical pad to sit on while they change their pouch. This is in case there are any issues with spilling the waste or any problems with the leakage.

Although this list may seem overwhelming at first, you'll quickly become an expert at changing your pouch. A nurse will likely do it for you once or twice and then will coach you through doing it yourself. Don't worry, you won't leave the hospital wondering how to change it or completely clueless as to what to do next.

You can order all of the items listed above here and have them delivered safely and conveniently to your home.

Additionally, some people may prefer to use other accessories, such as support belts, to keep the ostomy in place. It is entirely up to you what you decide, as ensuring your ostomy is comfortable and sanitary are the two biggest concerns.

Living with an Ostomy

You can order your ostomy supplies from MedontheGo.com, a trusted medical supplies retailer since 2001. If you're still feeling weak from surgery, or from other issues that may have forced you to have the ostomy in the first place, you won't have to worry about getting the supplies from a physical location.

Life with an ostomy can still be fulfilling, and many people have them in order to go about their daily lives. An ostomy won't stop you from living life to its fullest; instead, it will help you do so.