Practical advice from someone who’s been there – no medical jargon, no sugar-coating.
Your First Box of Supplies
Before you leave hospital, your Stoma Nurse will organise your first lot of supplies through the Stoma Scheme. Once you’re home and start connecting with other ostomates online, you’ll quickly find yourself down a rabbit hole of bag reviews, brand comparisons, and passionate debates about stoma paste. My advice? Ignore all of it for now.
Stick with what you’ve been given, focus on getting the bag change routine down pat, and just get comfortable with your new normal. There’s absolutely no rush to experiment. I’m almost a year into stoma life and only recently switched to a different brand of bag. Everything else can wait.
Showering With a Stoma
Everyone finds their own rhythm with this one, but here’s how I do it.
Early on, I kept my bag on in the shower. I didn’t want to deal with any surprises while I was trying to wash my hair. As I got more confident and started understanding how my stoma behaves, I began taking the bag off when it was due for a change and having a shower bag-free. I call it “showering like a human.” It sounds dramatic but there’s something genuinely freeing about it – even just for a few minutes.
Now, the obvious question: what if something happens mid-shower?
Here’s my system. I bring two things in with me: a nappy bag (I use these ones) and three Water Wipes (these ones). The nappy bag goes on the tap, the wipes go on the shelf, and I just keep half an eye on the stoma while I shower. If output starts, grab a wipe, deal with it, into the nappy bag. Simple.
I can do this because I’ve gotten to know how my stoma operates – and yes, it absolutely has a personality. I know roughly when it’s likely to be active and when it’s not. That awareness builds over time.
Worth mentioning: I have an end colostomy, so my output is generally solid and predictable. If you have an ileostomy or urostomy, your experience will be different – hopefully someone can share their version in the comments.
Getting Back Out in the World
This one can feel massive, especially early on. What if the bag leaks? What if it comes off? What if I fart at the worst possible moment in the worst possible place?
All totally valid concerns. The answer to most of them is the same: be prepared.
I carry what I call my spare parts kit everywhere I go. In a small bag I keep:
- Two spare bags
- Adhesive remover spray
- Two Brava Barrier Tape strips (absolute lifesaver if the bag starts lifting – it’ll stick it right back down)
- Bag scissors
- Nappy bags
- Gloves
That’s it. It’s not heavy, it fits in any bag, and having it with me means I can handle pretty much anything that comes up. In almost a year, I’ve used a Brava tape once. Just once. The rest of the time it sits there doing nothing – and that’s exactly the point. If it makes you feel better, throw in a spare set of clothes too. There’s no shame in it.
Will People Notice?
Probably the most common worry, and it affects everyone differently. Here’s what I can tell you from experience: most people are far too focused on their own lives to be paying attention to yours.
My bag is fairly visible under clothing. In a year, not one person has said anything, pointed, or reacted in any way. Not one. That’s not to say your experience will be identical – everyone’s situation is different – but it’s worth remembering that the thing you’re hyper-aware of is largely invisible to everyone else.
My Stack
A “stack” is just the collection of products you use regularly. Everyone’s will look a bit different depending on your stoma type, skin, and what works for you. Here’s mine, just as a starting point:
- SenSura Mio Convex Deep Drainable Bag – Coloplast (link)
- Salts Aloe Ring 38mm – great for skin protection around the stoma (link)
- Salts Adhesive Remover Spray – makes bag removal so much easier on your skin (link)
- WaterWipes Sensitive Baby Wipes – watch for 30–40% off deals, they come up regularly (link)
- Brava Skin Cleanser – gentle and effective (link)
- Brava Skin Barrier Wipes – helps the bag adhere better and protects the skin underneath (link)
- BabyU Scented Nappy Bags – for discreet disposal (link)
- ViPoo Toilet Spray – this one’s more for the people you live with than for you, but trust me, it matters. Your output is going to smell stronger than it used to – that’s just the reality of it. A couple of sprays on the water before you go does a remarkable job of containing it. I get mine from Amazon where it regularly goes up to 50% off – at the time of writing it’s $5.75. You can find it in some Woolworths stores too but you’ll pay more for it there. (link)
This is just what works for me. You’ll find your own combination eventually. The main thing to know is that there’s no single “right” stack – just the one that works for your body and your lifestyle.Have a tip of your own? Drop it in the comments below – the more perspectives we have on here, the more useful this becomes for everyone.