Since my stoma surgery, I’ve tried several different products; some were good, others not so good but now I know what works for me. Whatever I need is close at hand whenever and wherever I need it.
Initially, after my ileostomy surgery in 2012, my supplies were ordered by my stoma nurse and the products were quite basic: one piece bags, dry wipes, disposable bags and a release spray. Before I went into hospital, I spoke to a friend’s father who had his ileostomy many years earlier; he used a two-piece bag which I thought might suit me better but I was persuaded by one of the stoma nurses that a one-piece would be fine. A few years later, when I became an ambassador for what was then Pelican, and Respond, I was given the opportunity to try a two-piece and I’ve never looked back!
So if you looked at my stoma supplies today, what would you see? Well to start off there’d be about 10 bags along with 5 baseplates. Back in 2012, I really wish I’d known about barrier rings – they’re a real game changer. So now there’s a box of 10 eakin freeseal (versa) barrier rings in my drawer; they’re mouldable and not only protect the peristomal skin, they extend the wear time of the bags too. To complete my stock, there’s plenty of dry-wipes, disposable and my favourite, REFRESH 3in1 removal spray from the Respond CARE RANGE. There are so many other different products to suit every individual’s needs and preferences but I find this selection suits me.
A few years ago we decided to update the bathrooms in our house so I installed some sinks, from a well known Swedish furniture store, that have drawers in the pedestal. This has been so convenient as everything I need is is easy reach and also discreetly stored away in the bathroom. I keep the items in separate storage containers that we picked up from the supermarket so they’re clearly visible and I can easily see when things need to be replenished. The excess supplies that come in my monthly order are now stored in a complementary cabinet on the landing. Again, each drawer contains a specific item and the cupboard holds my Respond toiletries bag and the new travel bag, as well as additional boxes of baseplates and bags ready to go into the bathroom. This cupboard is just the perfect size and to be honest, it’s so much easier to see at a glance exactly how much I actually have and there’s less chance I’ll order far too many items the next month and then have nowhere sensible to keep it all.
I have several different “on the go” kits. I know I have spoken about this before, but one of my greatest fears is having an accident at work. I have taken every precaution I can possibly think of and in my locked cupboard at the Drivers’ Rest Room in Swansea Bus Station, I have all the ostomy supplies I’d need to do a complete bag change, (bags, baseplate, eakin freeseal barrier rings, REFRESH 3in1 release spray, dry wipes and disposable bags) along with a towel and a change of clothes, i.e another uniform.
If I’m going away for a few days, I make sure I have packed enough supplies (as listed above) that all fit into my Respond travel bag as well as some spares in my clothes bag. The important message if you’re travelling abroad is to take enough supplies for your stay in your hand luggage just in case your hold luggage should go missing! The last thing you want is to be panicking about where to find stoma supplies in another country.
My third “on the go” kit is just enough supplies for a day out or a weekend away somewhere. The new Respond washbag is perfect for this as it not only has the right space to hold the supplies you’d need but also has a hook so that it can be hung up on a door or an appropriate place in an accessible toilet somewhere. It’s also slim enough to be carried in a larger handbag or tote bag (or in my wife’s, in my case). In addition, I also make sure there’s a spare bag or two with some dry wipes and disposable sacks in a small bag in the car incase of an emergency; I don’t worry about carrying a release spray as I wear a two piece appliance and would just be changing the actual bag. At the end of the day, they don’t take up much space and it’s worth it not to have the worry of not being in control if you should experience stoma trouble.
So far I haven’t mentioned a few very important additional items in my kit. To be honest these items are in my “at home” kit as I wouldn’t necessarily need to use them when I’m away. These are: a razor, specifically for my furry abdomen, a rounded blade scissors to trim hair from around the delicate stoma area and a curved blade scissors to cut the hole in my baseplates for my stoma. I believe that if you think and plan ahead you gain far greater peace of mind. If your different kits are ready to go, you haven’t got to panic or worry, but here are a few words of advice from me: make sure you check and replenish your stoma kits regularly as some products do have a shelf-life, (such as the eakin freeseal) and you might forget that you’ve used up all of a certain item. Just remember the words of Alexander Graham Bell: “Before anything else, good preparation is the key to success.”
