Look after the skin around your stoma
Healthy peristomal skin is the foundation of everything else. Clean with warm water and a soft cloth, pat dry (don't rub), and make sure the area is fully dry before you apply a new flange. Skip perfumed soaps, baby wipes with alcohol, and moisturising creams, they can stop your adhesive sticking. If you shave hair around the site, use a clean blade and go gently; nicks are an easy route to sore skin.
Keep an eye on the colour of your peristomal skin over time. It should look much like the rest of your belly. Redness, itching, weeping, or broken skin are signs something's off, usually either a fit problem or a reaction to a product. Don't soldier on: speak to your stoma nurse.
Get the flange fit right
A poor fit is the usual culprit behind sore skin and leaks. Measure your stoma every few weeks in the early months, it can change size, especially after surgery. Your stoma nurse will have given you a measuring guide; if not, ask for one. Cutting the flange even a millimetre too wide leaves skin exposed to output, which is the fastest way to a sore patch.
Change appliances on a schedule that works for you
There's no single right answer. Some people change every day, some every three. Pay attention to how your appliance feels and looks rather than watching the clock, and change before it starts to peel or smell. Little and often usually beats pushing through a tired flange.
Eat sensibly, and ease in new foods
Most ostomates can eat a normal, varied diet. Chew thoroughly, drink plenty of water, and introduce fibrous, gassy, or unusual foods one at a time so you can spot what does and doesn't agree with you. Keep a small notebook for a fortnight if you're figuring things out. Common culprits for blockages (for ileostomates especially) include sweetcorn, mushrooms, celery, nuts, and the skins of fruit and veg; it's worth knowing your own trigger list.
Stay hydrated
Ileostomates in particular lose more fluid and salts than most people, so plain water isn't always enough. Oral rehydration sachets, sports drinks, or a small pinch of salt with meals can help during hot weather, stomach upsets, or after a heavy exercise session. If your urine is consistently dark, you're probably short on fluids.
Travel kit and active days
Always carry spares. A small kit with two appliances, a pair of scissors, wipes, a disposal bag, and a sealed change of underwear covers almost every surprise. For flights, pack your kit in your hand luggage and keep a doctor's letter or supply list to hand in case security ask. If you're playing sport, travelling, or driving long distances, a STOMAGUARD stoma protector gives you an extra layer of protection against knocks and seatbelt pressure.
Sport, swimming, and getting active again
Most ostomates can return to most activities. Start gently, especially in the first six months after surgery, and build up. Hernias are a real risk with heavy lifting, so ease back in and speak to your surgical team if you're unsure what's safe for you. Swimming is fine with a secure appliance and a snug top or trunks. Contact sport is where a hard shield earns its keep.
Sleep, clothing, and everyday comfort
Most people find side-sleeping works best, especially with an empty pouch before bed. A drainable overnight bag can save getting up. During the day, high-waisted trousers and stretchy waistbands are friends; belts that sit right across the stoma aren't.
When to ring your stoma nurse
- Persistent leaking that you can't explain.
- Skin that's sore, broken, or bleeding around the stoma.
- A sudden change in stoma colour, shape, or size.
- No output for more than a day with cramping or nausea (possible blockage).
- Stoma pain, rather than just skin discomfort.
- Anything that worries you, honestly. They'd rather hear from you early than late.
Look after yourself too
Living with a stoma is as much emotional as physical, especially in the first year. Talking to other ostomates (through groups like Colostomy UK, the Ileostomy & Internal Pouch Association, or Urostomy Association) can be a real help. You're not on your own, and most people find it gets easier with time.