Looking after your urostomy
After a urostomy, you pass urine through an opening (stoma) in your tummy (abdomen). You wear a bag at all times to catch the urine as it leaves your body. You might have a urostomy after surgery to remove your bladder (cystectomy).
You will need to learn how to look after it before you leave the hospital. The nurses and your stoma nurse can show you how to do it.
Learning about your stoma
A stoma is an opening on your tummy (abdomen). There are different types of stomas. A urostomy is a new way for you to pass urine. Your urine passes through the stoma and collects in a bag on the outside of your body.
Meeting the stoma nurse
Stoma nurses have experience in looking after different types of stomas. They help support and teach you how to look after yours.
You might see your stoma nurse before your operation. They will show you the different types of urostomy bags you can use. They might give you a stoma kit to practice on first.
First few days
After your operation, your nurse will change your urostomy bags. This is until you can change them yourself. Your nurse will show you how to:
- clean your stoma
- change the bag
- empty the bag
They'll also explain how to put thin tubes into the urostomy to drain out the urine (self catheterisation), if you need to do this.
Going home with supplies
Before you leave the hospital, you'll get some urostomy bags to take home. They will also set up an ordering system for you to get the bags from a specialist delivery service. Or they may give you a prescription card to take it to your GP with the details of all the equipment you need.
Support at home
After you leave the hospital, your stoma nurse might visit you at home to make sure that you are coping. Or you may have a community nurse visit instead. Do ask for their help with any questions or difficulties you have.
You’ll have the contact details of your nurse to contact if you have any issues or questions whilst you’re at home.
Types of urostomy bag
There are 2 main types of urostomy bag. A 1 piece system and a 2 piece system.
Your stoma nurse will help you to find out which system is best for you. The bags are very flat and do not smell or rustle as you move around.
Under ordinary clothes no one can tell you are wearing one. The bag can stay in place for a few days at a time. It has a tap at the bottom so you can empty it into the toilet.
The 1 piece system
The 1 piece system has the bag, seal and adhesive patch. It can last for up to 3 days.
The 2 piece system
The 2 piece system has a separate bag and adhesive wafer (flange).
The wafer is a soft, flat, plastic adhesive disc that sticks to the body. The bag clips onto the wafer. You can leave the wafer in place for up to 5 days and just change the bag every 2 to 3 days.
Stoma appliances
Stoma appliances are products to help you care for your stoma. For example urostomy bags and catheters.
How to change your urostomy bag
What you need
To fit a new bag, at first you need to cut a hole in the wafer or adhesive patch to fit your stoma. When your stoma has settled in size, you can get bags that are pre cut to fit.
The more accurate the fit, the less likely the bag is to leak. You get very good at this with practice.
What you need:
- your new bag and wafer (if you use one)
- a measuring guide
- tissues or absorbent cloth
- warm water and wipes
- a disposal bag or newspaper
- scissors
- a small mirror for looking at your stoma
- a jug to empty the contents of the bag you are wearing
You may also need:
- barrier cream
- adhesive paste (if you’re changing your wafer or one piece bag)
It’s helpful to keep everything that you need in a bag or in one place. That way, you won't be halfway through and realise something important is missing.
Changing the bag
Your stoma nurse will show you how to change your bag. They make sure you know how to do it before you leave the hospital.
Changing your bag can be difficult at first. With practice you start to learn what you need and what works best for you. It can also help if your partner or someone else close to you understands how to manage a urostomy.
When changing your bag don't worry about keeping everything sterile (completely free of all germs). But you should be as hygienic as possible. You should:
- wash your hands
- cut a hole in the wafer to fit your stoma
- make sure the tap is closed on the new bag
- drain your old bag
- peel the old bag off carefully
- throw the bag away in your disposal bag or wrap it in newspaper
- clean round your stoma with warm water and wipes
- dry the skin thoroughly with tissues or absorbent cloth
- if you use barrier cream, massage it in well or it might stop your bag sticking to your skin properly
- check the size of your stoma with the measuring guide to make sure it hasn't changed (your stoma nurse will show you how to do this)
- peel off the paper from the flange
- stick your new bag or wafer in place
- press down on the flange with your fingers to make sure its sealed to your ski and there are no creases
- place your rubbish in the bin
- wash your hands
Get support
Some organisations can give you advice and support. For example, the Urostomy Association.
The Urostomy Association can arrange for you to meet with other people with urostomies. Members can visit you before and after your operation to support you and give advice on how to cope.
Meeting someone who has been through a similar experience might help you to cope. They know what is important to tell you. And they can answer your questions from first hand experience.
