Colostomy

[Anonymous]

Anyone have one or have a parent with one? My father had it done years ago, I know, I know, poop bag, it's gross. Obviously I was much younger at the time and agree it was the best option when faced with a high possibility of colon cancer. With that said I want some tips from others that have dealt with it. When my father comes to visit and goes to the bathroom the smell is horrific! Like someone died in there. Then he also tends to wash it out in the sink at times and I am hyper sensitive and repulsed by the whole thing when I see one tiny speck that I know is from the poop bag. I want to freak out and scream about shit near my tooth brush.

I tried to bring the issue of poop flecks in the sink (i am making this out worse than it is but it could be like half the size of a grain of rice and I clearly know it's shit) and my dad flips out and says "fine since you are so nasty I wont come visit to see my grandchildren" I bite my tongue now and it's killing me!

[Anonymous]

That's really gross to have poop particles in your sink. There are deodorizers that you can put in the bag which help prevent or neutralize the smell. Maybe you should keep a supply at your home.

Keep some scrubbing bubbles nearby to sanitize your sink.

[Anonymous]

I had an illeostomy for several months while I healed from a major surgery. (similar to a colostomy but it is from the small intestine rather than the large)

I didn't know that bags were washed and reused. I had disposable bags that could be opened on the end and emptied into the toilet and then re-closed. I changed the bag every 1-3 days and there was never a smell outside of the bathroom and definitely never any particles anywhere.

Maybe talk to your dad about disposable bags?

Otherwise, learn some respect for your father and his condition, and be happy that he wants to be a part of your kids' lives.

[Anonymous]

To the PP yes it is an ileostomy he has too now that I think of it. He has the same thing and changes every 2-3 days but it seems he washes the bottom of it all the time. Where do you get these deodorizers? I will try googling it. Although I am sure if I bring it up he will be annoyed.

[Anonymous]

I have an ileostomy, and poop in the sink sounds disgusting. There is no need to rinse the bags out. It is more of a psychological thing. The bags are odor free when closed, and with an ileostomy to rinse it out would be an exercie in futility because there is a slow and steady output all the time anyway. While I'm on the toilet, though, I tear off a piece of a flushable baby wipe and clean the bottom (tail) of the bag before re-closing it. I do that to keep the clip clean and the outside of the bag clean, not to keep the inside clean. I also know some people with an ostomy who use a squirt bottle of water to rinse out the bag while on the toilet. So I would suggest flushable baby wipes and/or a squirt bottle of water for use while on the toilet.

[Anonymous]

I used those tiny individually wrapped alcohol squares to clean the closure of my illeostomy bag. Maybe buy a box and set it on the back of the toilet. Kindly tell him that you had read that they were useful for cleaning the bag closure and he is welcome to use them.