About this topic
Normally, the urinary tract is made up of the kidneys, ureters, bladder, and urethra. The kidneys filter your blood and get rid of waste products and extra fluid from your body. The waste is turned into urine. Urine flows out of the kidneys and into the bladder through tubes called ureters. Your bladder stores urine until you feel the need to pass urine. Then, urine passes through a tube called the urethra. ‚
If the ureters are blocked or injured on one or both sides, doctors will need to make a new way for urine to drain. Often, they make an ostomy. It is an opening from the belly to the outside of the body. It lets you get rid of the bodys waste products. The opening is called a stoma. Urine is redirected through the stoma. ‚
General
Your urine will empty directly into a small plastic pouch that is worn outside your body. The pouch protects you from odor and wetness. You will need to learn how to care for the pouch and your skin. ‚
Taking Care of the Pouch ‚
- Empty the Pouch:
- Empty your pouch first thing in the morning. Perform this before you drink anything in the morning.
- Pour out the contents of the pouch when it is 1/3 to 1/2 full. A tube can be attached to the drain valve on your pouch and joined to a bedside collector letting urine drain while you sleep. This keeps you from getting up during the night to drain the pouch.
- Wash your hands before and after touching your pouch.
- Sit on the toilet and place the pouch between your legs. Remove the opening clip of the pouch and empty the body wastes into the toilet. Sometimes, it is easier to sit facing the back of the toilet.
- Clean the end of the pouch with a moist paper towel or baby wipe. You may also rinse the pouch with water and drain the water. Close the end of the pouch by replacing the clamp.
- Change the Pouch:
- You will need to change the entire pouch system every 3 to 5 days. Keep a normal schedule for changing your pouch. Do not wait until it leaks. Change your pouch if your skin near the stoma itches or burns.
- Gather all your supplies and wash your hands.
- Gently take off the old pouch and any protective barriers.
- Look at the stoma. It should be red and moist looking. Gently clean the skin around it with warm water and pat dry.
- The new barrier will not stick if your skin is moist. If needed, apply a small amount of skin barrier powder.
- Use your measuring grid to measure the shape and size of the stoma. This will be used to mark the opening into the pouch barrier. The size should be just where your skin and stoma meet.
- Trace the correct size opening on the pouch barrier. Use scissors to cut an opening in the pouch barrier. Take extra care not to cut the pouch.
- Center the new opening of the pouch over the stoma and make sure it fits well on all edges. Trim the barrier if needed.
- Remove the protective backing. Place the barrier on the skin around the stoma and press down for 30 to 60 seconds. You may want to save the protective backing for a template for the next pouch change.
- Close the bottom of the drainage bag with a clamp.
- Take Care of Your Skin:
- Wash your hands before and after touching the stoma. Clean the stoma and skin around it with warm water. Do not use products with oil or perfume to clean the stoma.
- It is normal for the stoma to bleed slightly when you clean it.
- If the skin around the stoma becomes sore, remove the pouch and clean the skin.
- Dry the stoma before replacing the pouch.
- Your doctor may suggest other creams, powders, or bags if you are having problems with leaks.
View OriginalView Original
When do I need to call the doctor?
- Signs of infection. These include a fever of 100.4 ‚ °F (38 ‚ °C) or higher, chills, pain with passing urine, or not able to pass urine.
- Upset stomach or throwing up
- Back pain
- Problems with the stoma. These include soreness that does not go away after a few days of treating; white, gritty particles at the stoma; deep cut; lots of bleeding; change in size or color.
- No urine is coming out
- You are not feeling better in 2 to 3 days or you are feeling worse
Helpful tips
Take to your doctor about: ‚
- The best way to get your ostomy supplies. There are many of these types of products. Make sure you know the manufacturer and product number of the items you need to order. Check with your doctor or nurse about a list of products you will need. You can get your pouch system and other supplies:
- By mail order
- Through a medical supply company
- From your local pharmacy
- Online, search for ostomy supplies
- Make sure you always have a new pouch system on hand so you can change the one you are wearing. You may want to keep a few on hand. It is best not to order too many in case you need to change the type of system you are using.
- You may find that wearing an ostomy belt is helpful. This will help keep the pouch in place. Tape can also be used to hold down the edges of the barrier. Talk with your doctor to see what might work best for you.
- Talk to your doctor about how to protect your stoma during sex.
- Drink 6 to 8 glasses of water each day to help avoid infection.
- Join support groups to get to know other people who have coped with the condition.
- If you are going to travel, bring extra supplies to avoid problems.
Where can I learn more?
National Kidney and urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse ‚
http://kidney.niddk.nih.gov/kudiseases/pubs/urostomy/ ‚
United Ostomy Association of America ‚
http://www.ostomy.org/ostomy_info/pubs/UrostomyGuide.pdf ‚
Consumer Information Use and Disclaimer
This information is not specific medical advice and does not replace information you receive from your health care provider. This is only a brief summary of general information. It does NOT include all information about conditions, illnesses, injuries, tests, procedures, treatments, therapies, discharge instructions or life-style choices that may apply to you. You must talk with your health care provider for complete information about your health and treatment options. This information should not be used to decide whether or not to accept your health care providers advice, instructions or recommendations. Only your health care provider has the knowledge and training to provide advice that is right for you. ‚
Copyright
Copyright ‚ © 2015 Clinical Drug Information, LLC and Lexi-Comp, Inc. ‚