Gina Johnson
Sleeping with an ostomy bag can be challenging, especially after surgery. It may take some time to adjust to new sleep positions and routines. It is recommended to sleep on your back or side, avoiding pressure on the stoma. Sleeping on your stomach is possible but increases the risk of leaks as the bag fills. Emptying or changing the bag before bed can reduce anxiety and prevent leaks. Using a night drainage bag can be helpful for urostomy patients. Adjusting eating habits and pillow arrangements can also improve sleep quality. Seeking advice from healthcare professionals is always recommended.
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What You'll Learn
Adjust your sleep position
Adjusting your sleep position can help you get a good night's rest with an ostomy bag. Here are some tips to help you adjust your sleep position:
Sleeping on Your Back
Sleeping on your back is a comfortable position for many people with ostomy bags. It may take some time to get used to this position if you didn't sleep like this before, but it can become second nature. Sleeping on your back helps keep your pouch secure and reduces the risk of leaks. It is also good for neck and spine alignment.
Sleeping on Your Side
If you prefer sleeping on your side, that is also a viable option. You can place a pillow under your ostomy bag for added support and comfort. Sleeping on the side opposite your stoma can help distribute your weight more evenly, reducing pressure on the pouch.
Avoiding Sleeping on Your Stomach
Sleeping on your stomach is not generally recommended for people with ostomy bags. This position can increase the chances of leaks and put pressure on your stoma and pouch. However, if you are dedicated to sleeping on your stomach, you can make it work with the right arrangement of pillows. The goal is to ensure that your weight is distributed so that your stoma and pouch are not crushed.
Using Pillows for Support
Whether you sleep on your back or side, you can use pillows to support your body and ostomy bag. Place pillows around you to prevent rolling over onto your pouch. If you sleep on your side, you can put a pillow between your legs or under your back for added comfort.
Wearing a Snug Shirt
Consider wearing a shirt that is a couple of sizes too small to help keep your pouch snug against your body. This can help hold your pouch in place and prevent leaks. However, some people find this restrictive, so it may not be for everyone.
Remember, it is normal to experience some adjustments to your sleep after ostomy surgery. Experiment with different positions and pillow arrangements to find what works best for you.
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Prepare for leaks
Leaking is a common issue with stoma bags, and it can be frustrating, uncomfortable, and embarrassing. However, with a few simple preparations, leaks can be effectively controlled. Here are some tips to help you prepare for and manage leaks:
- Accept that leaks will happen: While leaks can be frustrating, it's important to remember that they are a normal part of the ostomy journey, especially in the early days. Accepting that leaks will happen can help reduce anxiety and allow you to focus on managing them effectively.
- Keep spare supplies: Always keep a change of clothes, stoma supplies, and spare bed sheets on hand. This will make it easier to deal with a leak in the middle of the night or when you are away from home.
- Protect your bedding: Consider sleeping on top of an incontinence sheet, puppy pad, or dark-coloured towel. You can also fold a puppy training pad and tuck it between your pants to cover the stoma bag. This will help contain any leaks and protect your bedding.
- Use a waterproof mattress cover: A waterproof mattress cover can provide an extra layer of protection against leaks and stains. It is a good idea to invest in one to protect your mattress and extend the life of your bedding.
- Choose the right bedding: Dark-coloured or patterned bedding can help disguise stains caused by bag leaks. This way, you won't have to throw away your bedding every time a leak occurs.
- Empty your bag regularly: To prevent leaks, it is important to empty your bag regularly, especially before going to sleep. A full stoma bag is more prone to leaking, so make it a part of your nighttime routine to empty or change your bag before bed.
- Ensure a proper fit: A poor fit of the ostomy appliance or incorrect barrier fit can increase the risk of leaks. Use a measuring guide to measure the size of your stoma regularly and cut your pouch to the appropriate size. Ensure that the hole for your stoma is the right size and fits snugly to prevent leaks and skin irritation.
- Address skin issues: Moist, irritated, or uneven skin around the stoma can affect the adhesion of the pouch and lead to leaks. If you have skin folds or creases, use products to level out the skin surface and ensure a good seal. Keep your skin dry and avoid using creams or similar substances that can interfere with adhesion.
- Modify your diet: Dietary habits can affect the consistency of output, which can impact the risk of leakage. Monitor how different foods affect your stoma output and try to include foods that help thicken your output, such as marshmallows, jelly beans, or ripe bananas. Also, stay hydrated, as insufficient fluid intake can lead to thicker stoma output, increasing the risk of leakage.
- Use high-quality products: Sometimes, switching to high-quality products from brands like SIIL Ostomy, Coloplast, Hollister, and Convatec can make a significant difference in preventing leaks. These brands offer advanced solutions, such as ostomy wraps and belts, that can provide extra security and reduce the risk of leaks.
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Use a night drainage bag
If you have a urostomy, you can use a night drainage bag to sleep through the night without having to get up to empty your pouch. A night drainage system collects and stores urine overnight, allowing you to sleep uninterrupted.
The Assura 2-piece ileo night drainage bag is a bed appliance with a capacity of two litres. It combines the unique Assura spiral adhesive with a bed appliance designed for a comfortable night's rest. Its long, anti-kink neck allows for movement in bed, while a transparent, anti-kink tube within the neck minimises the impact of twisting and ensures air can pass to the collection bag.
- Place the night drainage container in a basin or a small trash can on the floor next to your bed to prevent it from tipping over.
- Connect the tubing to the pouch.
- Open the closure on the pouch drain to allow urine to flow through the tubing.
- Use a leg strap to keep the tubing next to your thigh and prevent the pouch or tubing from twisting.
- Each night, connect the other end of the tubing to your pouch. You may need an adapter to do this.
- To detach the night drainage system in the morning, first return the pouch drain to the closed position to prevent leakage.
- Remove the lid from the night drainage container and empty its contents into the toilet.
- Rinse out the tubing and container with cool water and clean the night drainage system every 1-2 days.
Remember to always consult your ostomy nurse or healthcare provider about what will work best for you.
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Change your eating habits
Eating a heavy meal before bedtime can make your stoma more active at night, resulting in you needing to get up and drain or change your ostomy bag. To avoid this, it is recommended to eat your main meal before 7 pm to allow your body to process the food before you go to bed. This can be a light dinner in the early evening, preferably at least two hours before going to sleep.
If you have a urostomy, your stoma bag will continue to collect urine and will need to be emptied during the night. To avoid getting up every few hours, you can use a night drainage bag, which is a larger bag attached to the drainage end of your stoma pouch. This can collect up to 1-2 litres of urine while you sleep.
It is also important to pay attention to how certain foods make you feel and whether they cause any issues with your stoma. Over time, you may be able to identify food types that cause problems and should be avoided, especially in your evening meal. For example, it is generally recommended to avoid foods that cause diarrhoea, as this can disrupt your sleep.
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Seek professional advice
If you are struggling to sleep with an ostomy bag, seeking professional advice from a healthcare professional is a good idea. They can advise you on treatments and products that can help you sleep better. For instance, if you have a urostomy, your healthcare professional may recommend a night drainage bag, which is a larger bag that can collect up to 1-2 litres of urine while you sleep. This can save you from having to get up multiple times during the night to empty your bag. If you have had an ileostomy or colostomy, your healthcare professional may advise you on treatments to slow output overnight. They can also offer advice on diet and liquid intake.
If you are struggling to find a comfortable sleeping position, your doctor may be able to help. They can advise you on the best sleeping positions based on your surgery and personal circumstances. For example, if you have recently had surgery, sleeping on your back is often recommended. If you are a side sleeper, sleeping on the side with your stoma means your mattress will support the bag as it fills. If you sleep on the opposite side, you can hold a pillow against your abdomen for support. If you are a front sleeper, this may put pressure on your stoma and cause problems, so you may need to adjust your sleeping position.
If you are experiencing leaks, your healthcare professional can advise you on products to prevent this. For instance, there are products that can help to level out uneven skin surfaces and ensure a good seal. They can also advise you on the correct size of the hole for your stoma, as if it is too large, it can cause leaks.
If you are still struggling to sleep, your healthcare professional can offer advice on other factors that may be affecting your sleep. For example, they may recommend that you go to sleep and get up at the same time every day. They can also advise you on products to help you feel more comfortable, such as investing in a more comfortable mattress and pillows.
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Frequently asked questions
The best sleeping position is on your back or your side. Sleeping on your stomach is not recommended as it increases the chances of leaks as the bag fills. If you sleep on your side, you can place a pillow under your stoma bag for support.
Always change or empty your bag before going to sleep. If your bag overfills at night, there is a risk of leaks. Before you go to sleep, double-check that your bag is secure and check that the hole for your stoma fits snugly around it. Keep ostomy supplies and a change of clothes and sheets nearby in case of leaks.
Set an alarm to remind yourself to empty your bag. If you have a urostomy, you can use a night drainage bag, which can collect up to 1-2 litres of urine while you sleep.
Try to go to sleep and get up at the same time every day. Avoid eating large meals before bed as this could increase your output overnight and disrupt your sleep.
