The Ostomy Products That You Should Be Using

If you have had an ostomy for any serious amount of time, then you know just how vast the ostomy supplies market is. I mean, there are so many products out there that are made for ostomy that it can be hard to figure out the types of products that are right for you or what you really need. I can tell you right away that not all ostomy products are created equally, and some products or accessories are way more effective than others. Also, there can be a difference in the effectiveness of a product as it varies between people, because sometimes you will notice a product that works great for you but does not work very well for someone else.

That’s the thing about ostomy supplies; it really should not have to be that complicated, but it is. Consequently, I have seen a lot of novice ostomates get swamped by the sheer amount of inventory that stores and websites carry when it comes to ostomy supplies and accessories. Since I’ve been in this business a long time and have a lot of knowledge and experience when it comes to dealing with ostomy patients, I have decided to write this article about some of the best ostomy products that you should be using if you are not already familiar with them. 

The first type of product that you are going to be looking for is some sort of adhesive wipes and removers, skin prep wipes, and other similar products. While the ostomy pouch is quite possibly the most notorious piece of ostomy equipment, you would really get nowhere without the great addition of some skin wipes and adhesive removers. That’s why I decided to add these into the list first, because I feel that a lot of people need to hear about them. So there are different wipes for different purposes, and I will talk about a few of them right now.

Some wipes are used to wipe down the area around your stoma when you attempt to attach the skin barrier to your body. These wipes make it a lot easier to get a good seal on your skin barrier, and are definitely a necessary component of any ostomy supply case. It is important to note that healthcare in the United States is an absolute joke, and that not all ostomy wipes and swabs are covered by insurance. So if you are not able to pay out of pocket for some of these products, then your options may be a little more limited if you are just using insurance. Some of these products are in fact covered by insurance, though, so don’t be scared to try out different ones and see which products can work for you.

Another product that not a lot of people know about is called a stoma cap. Now a stoma cap is generally used to get a water tight seal around your stoma in the case that you are going to take a shower or bath and want to just get something sealed up really quick. Stoma caps are also useful if you are going for a swim or partaking in some intimate moments with someone (or a lot of people at once, I’m not the type to judge). Use a stoma cap if you want to be ostomy bag free for 20-30 minutes!