Showering and bathing with a stoma

So, you’ve had your stoma surgery. You are on the road to recovery. Bathing and showering after surgery can seem daunting.

Having a bath isn’t advised until you’ve been cleared post op by your surgeon. Showers however are allowed and that first shower after surgery is always the best one as there is nothing worse than feeling grimey and dirty.

Showering & bathing

The first short may require help due to drains and catheters. As your recovery goes along, so does losing the extra accoutrements, such as drains and IV lines.

Once your home life returns back to your new version of normal and there may be questions you want to ask your stoma nurse.

Can I shower bag free? Yes you can shower bag free, nothing beats having some bag free time without worrying as to the mess an active stoma can cause.

When is the best time to shower bag free? Best time would be in the morning prior to breakfast and your first caffeine fix. Your stoma ( ileostomy or colostomy) Is more likely to be inactive due to fasting after your last meal the day before.

How do I dry myself if my stoma is bare? I typically keep dry wipes ready and within reach which I fold and place over my stoma which sticks due to my wet skin, I also have a handy microfibre robe towel which has an opening at the front which means I can dry off, whilst apply a new bag and then finish drying off and then getting dressed.

Will having a stoma bag on during a shower affect my personal grooming? Honestly it depends on the size of your bag and where your stoma has been place. Mine is placed lower down and I always wear a large bag due to how active my stoma is, I wear the ModaVi which has a handy little velcro tab at the front and I fold my bag up during my shower so I can attend to personal grooming such as shaving my legs and bikini line without my bag getting in the way.

Can I have a bath? Yes you can have a bath, you just need to make sure your surgery scars have fully healed.

Can I bath without my stoma bag on? Now this is down to personal preference. Personally for me, I wouldn’t as my stoma is pretty active most of the time. But you can bathe bag free.

Will my bag float in the bath? If your bag is empty, then it’s more likely to float about. If it’s got output in it then it won’t float about and will sit flush against your tummy.

That’s about it for my advice for showering and bathing.

As always

Many thanks for reading

Louise | @crohnsfighting Xx