Over time, emptying the ostomy bag at home becomes a simple routine. In contrast, emptying the ostomy outside the home (in a public restroom or at a friend’s house) may be inconvenient for you and, above all, a very complex operation.
Outside the home, multiple difficulties could occur:
- In a public restroom you can’t kneel down or sit because it is (obviously) unsanitary, you may lack toilet paper or a surface to lay your things on. In a public bathroom everything becomes much more complicated.
- At a friend’s house you may have a fear of soiling the floor, your clothing, or a lingering bad smell escaping while emptying the bag. No one likes having to deal with embarrassing situations.
So, what are the tricks for emptying the collection system outside the home in total comfort? Below you will find the answer:You can adopt different positions to empty your bag in a public bathroom. However, we recommend that you do it standing, as surfaces may be dirty (avoid sitting or kneeling). Bring a water bottle with you for a quick rinse of the bag.
On continuation you will find the 11 tips that will help make emptying the bag a breeze:
1. Carry a purse with everything you will need to empty and/or change the garment
Avoid stressful situations when you are away from home. A purse with everything you need to empty and/or change your bag is a great aid for any eventuality (especially since public restrooms often lack toilet paper as well). Inside the bag you will need to include.:
- Wet wipes
- Toilet paper
- A new bag and wanting a new plate.
- A disposable plastic bag
…. And anything else you think would be useful!
Even when you are at someone else’s home, they may not necessarily have everything you need. Therefore, we recommend that you create your own emergency ostomy kit to simplify your out-of-home tripsa.
If you are interested in learning how to make an emergency ostomy kit, check out this article.
2. Carry a small-sized spray air freshener with you.
One of the most embarrassing things about emptying the collection system in a public restroom, or at a friend’s house, is the leakage of the foul odor.
Therefore, take a small-sized air freshener with you when you leave the house.
An air freshener eliminates odor and allows you to leave the bathroom without leaving a smelly trail behind.
This way, you can leave the toilet clean and smelling good once you are done.
3. Take Bioderm Superabsorbent Wipes with you.
If you are not using Bioderm Superabsorbent Wipes to clean your ostomy, you are definitely missing out. These disposable dry wipes were created for proper hygiene of the stoma and peristomal skin. Therefore, their characteristics are superior to those of ordinary wipes: for example, they are very soft and durable at the same time, have high absorbency power, and are ideal for the gentle cleansing of fragile or irritated skin. When you are away from home, these wipes are a great alternative to rinsing with water, since, due to their small size, they are pocket-sized and much easier to carry around than a plastic bottle. In addition, since they are biodegradable they can also be flushed directly down the toilet.
In addition, they can come in handy in a million everyday situations, not just when emptying the collection system in a public toilet. For example, they can be used for:
- Covering the toilet seat
- Clean the opening of the bag
- Clean the skin around the stoma
- Wipe yourself in case of leakage
- As a substitute for toilet paper
Remember: To avoid serious skin changes, we recommend that you use products specifically for your stoma. In fact, a proper stoma hygiene routine is essential to prevent irritation, itching, pain and discomfort.
If you want to learn more, about how to perform proper peristomal skin hygiene, check out this article.
4. Disinfectant wipes to clean the toilet seat.
As you well know, public toilets are not always the cleanest. With dozens of people using them daily, the toilet seat may be covered with countless germs and bacteria.
If you like to sit when you empty your collection system in a public restroom, bring along disinfectant wet wipes. However, do not use these wipes to clean the ostomy or the skin around it.
For peristomial skin care, always use specific products.
5. Use a small mirror or a pocket makeup mirror.
Whether you are emptying your purse in public or at home, a small mirror (especially one with a stand base), can prove very useful.
A mirror can help you to:
- Better check whether your plaque is properly attached to the peristomal skin
- Check for leakage during emptying/changing the bag
- correctly place the new bag (if you have decided to change it)
- Check for feces residue at the bottom of your bag or around it.
If you already carry a small makeup mirror with you, use it also when emptying the ostomy bag.
6. Take an airtight bag of an opaque color with you to dispose of waste
If you use a closed (non-drainable) ostomy bag, disposing of it in a public place or at a friend’s house could be quite inconvenient and embarrassing. So what do you do with the used device to dispose of it in as unobtrusive a manner as possible?
What you can do is to use an airtight bag or even a dog hygiene bag.
A plastic bag with an airtight closure not only gives you more privacy when you throw your used device in the trash, but also prevents the escape of bad odor. For added discretion, use opaque-colored airtight plastic bags.
A dog hygiene bag is another good alternative, although it may be ineffective against odor.
7. Check that the flush is working properly before starting the bag emptying procedure
A common problem that many ostomates have encountered is malfunctioning flushers in some public toilets.
So, before emptying your ostomy bag in a public restroom, be sure to check if the flush works properly.
8. Throw a few scraps of toilet paper into the toilet to prevent splashing
Splashing while emptying the pouch is a nightmare for many ostomates. No one wants to spend time cleaning the bathroom floor and walls (or worse yet, clothes). This is especially embarrassing when emptying the collection system in a public bathroom.
A good tip to reduce splashing when emptying the ostomy bag is to flush some toilet paper down the toilet before you start emptying the contents. Don’t flush too much though, you’ll risk clogging the toilet.
9. Take a bottle of water with you
About 60%* of ostomates rinse their ostomy bag after emptying it. This can be done easily at home with a reusable pouch flush bottle, a syringe, a plastic bottle with a spout, or a cup.
Instead, how could you flush the collection system when you are away from home?
Carry a water bottle with a spout or a simple water bottle. You can use it both to hydrate and to clean your bag.
Should your bottle water run out, you can always refill the bottle with tap water.
10. Avoid germs by standing or squatting
In case you find yourself in a public restroom without disinfectant wipes and without even a few tissues, remember that public restrooms are anything but clean. So, don’t sit on the toilet or kneel down.
What can you do?
About 30%* of ostomates empty the pouch while standing. We have written another article that gives someeffective tips and methods for emptying the ostomy pouch. You can do it too when you find yourself using public toilets. By emptying the bag standing up, you can avoid the transmission of germs and bacteria, however, you may get dirty with some splashes during the emptying operation.
11. Use the bathroom for the disabled
Unfortunately, public restrooms still do not adequately meet the needs of ostomates. However, most public places, such as restaurants, movie theaters, train stations, shopping malls and gas stations are equipped with bathrooms for individuals with reduced mobility or for diaper changing of infants.
Disabled toilets can be very useful for ostomates when they need to empty their pouch. They are usually larger and have shelves where you can place your things so they are within easy reach.
In addition, you can also throw your bag in the appropriate bin for disposal of baby diapers. Many facilities also provide wipes and cleaning products that can make the whole process much more convenient and effective. As time goes on, emptying the collection system in public places can become a simple and convenient operation, such as in your home bathroom. As a final note, to avoid any hygiene problems, always carry Bioderm Stoma Plus with you.
You will just need good preparation to properly deal with all the different circumstances that might arise.