If you have had a stoma for any significant amount of time, then I am sure you know the importance of finding the right ostomy pouch. People who don’t know very much about ostomies may have no clue what an ostomy pouch is, and that is okay. Before my own ostomy that I had several years ago, I really had no idea that such things existed. In fact, if you were to tell me what an ostomy was 10 years aao before I actually had one, I probably would have slapped you in the face for telling me such a bold lie. That’s how crazy the world of ostomy is! Anyways, it is safe to say that I have fully adjusted to life with a stoma. One of the biggest adjustments that one has to make is when you are trying to figure out which ostomy pouch to use. What they don’t tell you before getting surgery is that there are a lot of different types of ostomy pouches out there, and each one has a different brand, size, type, and purpose. If you are walking into the world of ostomy without some low-level knowledge on ostomy pouches, then you are basically walking with a blindfold on. Here’s the thing; I have become so experienced and so knowledgeable on the world of ostomy that I would like to impart some of my wisdom onto those below me who are less than clueless. Don’t feel bad if you do not really know anything about ostomies, because I can promise you that I used to be just like you one day.
The main thing you need to know about ostomy pouches is that there are two main types. The first type of ostomy pouch I am going to be talking about is called a disposable ostomy pouch. Now the disposable ostomy pouch is pretty much exactly what it sounds like – it is an ostomy pouch that is good for a one time use and then should be properly disposed of in a garbage can or waste container system.
Some people swear by disposable ostomy pouches, and won’t be caught dead without one. Personally, I know that there are some pros and cons to disposable ostomy pouches. Luckily for you, I am going to tell you both sides of the story so you can decide for yourself if the disposable pouch is right for you. So, the benefit of the disposable pouch basically comes down to convenience. When you are changing your ostomy pouch, it is a lot less of a hassle when you can just toss away the disposable pouch and slap on a new one. There is usually less smell involved with this setup as well, because you don’t have to try and empty the contents of the ostomy pouch when changing it.
A big con with the disposable pouch, however, is that it can get expensive to keep buying these pouches over and over again. Since these ostomy pouches are one time use only, you’ll end up spending a lot of money on replacement pouches as you live your ostomy life. Also, having disposable pouches means that you will always need to be carrying additional pouches with you, because in the case of your pouch needing a change you will not be able to just empty it.C
Ostomy Basics 