Ostomy is one of the more common surgical methods for anorectal diseases, and it can save patients’ lives. Many people with intestinal ostomy feel that their lives are affected after ostomy surgery, and they develop negative psychology such as inferiority. In fact, they have not mastered the correct method. Ostomy care requires patience, care and certain skills, especially in summer, when the methods of ostomy care have some particularities.

Odor Management

In summer, the temperature is high, the gas is more volatile, and odor management is more important. First, adjust your diet and eat less gas-producing or odorous foods: such as radishes, sweet potatoes, leeks, onions, etc.; once the bag is bulging, it should be vented in time, otherwise it will explode. You can also choose an ostomy bag with carbon sheets, and the gas will be discharged from the ostomy bag at any time after the odor is absorbed.

Protect skin

In summer, people sweat a lot, and the skin around the stoma is covered under the stoma baseplate. The sweat produced cannot evaporate in time, which can easily cause skin problems and cause the baseplate to fall off over time. It is necessary to adjust the replacement frequency and appropriately shorten the replacement time. When replacing the stoma bag, it is best to use stoma accessories to protect the skin.

Bathing

Bathing becomes more frequent in summer, and how to regulate bathing is of great importance to people with stomas. You can choose the following two different methods to bathe:

1. Bathing with a stoma bag. Before bathing, you need to empty the stoma bag, wrap the stoma bag with a waterproof cover or a transparent waterproof sticker, and then take a shower. Do not flush the bottom plate directly with the shower head, and bathing in a tub is not recommended.

2. Bathing without a stoma bag. By observing your own bowel movement pattern, choose a time period when you do not have bowel movements or have less bowel movements, and you can take a shower directly after removing the stoma bag. The water temperature should not be too high when showering, and do not directly impact the stoma. You should choose a weakly acidic, non-irritating, and non-greasy shower gel, and rinse it clean.

Hydration

In summer, the human body sweats a lot, and the loss of intestinal fluid in the stoma (especially small intestinal stomas such as the ileum) will cause the loss of water and electrolytes. Failure to replenish in time will cause water and electrolyte disorders in the human body. Therefore, in addition to regular nutrition, stoma friends also need to replenish water and electrolyte drinks in time, but not too much at a time, and should drink a small amount more often; the diet should not be too light, and salt should be added appropriately. If you sweat a lot or have a large intestinal excretion volume, eat little, feel thirsty, have little urination, etc., you need to go to the hospital immediately to rule out electrolyte imbalance.

Exercise

People with stomas can exercise gradually to increase their physical strength, but avoid strenuous exercise to prevent exhaustion or excessive sweating. They should also avoid high temperatures such as noon to prevent dehydration or heat stroke. They can also swim, but it is recommended to avoid the excretion period. People with ileostomies are recommended to use a disposable closed bag with a smaller capacity, change the bag before swimming, and change it again after swimming.