(14-18yo)
Clothing & Concealing the Appliance Under Clothing
There is no reason why you cannot have your own unique sense of style with clothing. Some young people find it difficult to completely conceal their ostomy appliance under certain types of clothing.
Here are some ideas that may help:
You can wear the same clothes as before unless your stoma is above your waistline, then you may consider a pouch cover.
You may choose to wear clothing that does not tuck in or is snug.
Spandex support garments, bike shorts, high waisted underwear can help support your ostomy while wearing tight fitting jeans or tops.
Empty the pouch regularly. A full pouch is much harder to hide than an empty one.
Wearing a pouch cover can add a personal touch and some teens even recommend adding colored duct tape to the cover.
Many companies have many options.
Accessories, Pouch Covers, & Wraps
There are many options for covering and/or supporting your pouch to help you to feel more confident. An ostomy wrap or ostomy band offers both support and will conceal the ostomy appliance. They are worn around a person’s abdomen and often will have one or two inner pockets in which to place an ostomy appliance. A pouch cover fully encloses the ostomy bag and provides a customized pocket for drainage. It is usually worn vertically, and comes in a wide range of fabrics, colors, and designs.
Experiment and find what works for you. Some teens decorate their pouch with colorful duct tape to reflect their personal style.
Smells, Noises, and Bulging
Talk with your parents and your WOC nurse about your concerns and what options are available. When in bathrooms, turn on bathroom fans and you can use potpourri or wax melts in the bathroom to help keep the bathroom fresh. You may try perfume or cologne but do keep these away from the actual ostomy site. Check out products available to help with the smell. Practice caring for your ostomy and always keep supplies close. The worst is when the bag is sliding off and you must wait until you get home to do anything about it be prepared.
It is not uncommon to be worried and embarrassed about the noises coming from your pouch or appliance. Remember that every sound your body makes is natural and you should not be ashamed or embarrassed. If your pouch or appliance begins to bulge, excuse yourself and go to the bathroom to let the air out or empty it. Have you and your parents work with the school so you can have bathroom breaks whenever needed. (some schools may even have an individual bathroom you may be able to use).
Work with your parents to develop a plan for how to handle situations at school and always be prepared.
Hot, Humid Weather
Many people find that hot, humid weather can make it more difficult to get their ostomy appliance to stay in place. Sweating and moisture around and underneath the appliance can break down the adhesive and lead to leakage or peeling.
Keep in mind that sweating can decrease the wear time on your ostomy appliance, so make sure to change it often.
Reinforce the edges with barrier protectors or breathable tape.
If possible, always change the appliance at least an hour or so before going out in hot weather, to help it get a good seal on your skin. Bedtime is a great time to do this if you live in an area with a hot or humid climate.
Use a personal fan or other device to keep yourself cool. Less sweating means fewer problems with appliance adhesion.
Hope, support, and finding community
Parent Stories
Contact Us
United Ostomy Associations of America
P.O. Box 2293
Biddeford, ME 04005-2293
Call us toll-free at: 1-800-826-0826.
Our Information Line hours are Monday-Friday, 9am to 3pm EST. If you have an emergency, please dial 911 or contact your local medical professional.
Please understand that UOAA is a private, nonprofit, advocacy and informational organization. We are not a medical facility and we do not have medical or legal professionals on staff. Therefore, UOAA does not provide Medical, Mental Health, Insurance or Legal Advice. Visit UOAA Virtual Ostomy Clinic provided by The Wound Company for non-emergency, virtual ostomy support.
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