Managing Stoma Bag Leaks in Public

Tips for Dealing Stoma Bag Leaks in Public

Leakages in public may be a stoma wearers' worst nightmare. Leaks happen, but the good news is that it doesn’t have to be a big deal.

There are ways to deal with stoma leakages to help prevent them and to make it easier if it does happen. Here are our tips for dealing with stoma bag leakages.

Preparation

By preparing for the worst-case scenario, it will mean you are able to handle the situation better.

You may want to keep a small bag of your supplies with you, just in case you need to change your stoma bag when you are out and about.

a person wearing a red garment and black heels

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What to have in your bag:

Spare stoma bag
Accessories (for example, ESENTA Skin Barrier and ESENTA Adhesive Remover)
Water bottle
Dry wipes
Disposable bags
Spare clothing

Top Tip!

Pre-cutting your base plates will save you a lot of time, especially if you are in a rush, panicking or upset.

Stay calm!

Find a public restroom or an establishment like a cafe or restaurant which has restrooms.

Top Tips for dealing with small bathroom stalls:

Space can be an issue in a small bathroom stall and you may need to think about how to use the space creatively. Can you use the back of the toilet as a shelf or even the toilet paper dispenser to balance your supplies?
Accessible restrooms are good as they usually have more room, a sink and places to put your supplies when getting ready to change

Take your time

Having a leak is troubling and you will want the whole experience to be over quickly, but try not to rush.

Take time to apply your new bag correctly and avoid another leak.

Seek advice

If you are getting repetitive leaks, then it could be a good idea to review your appliance, any accessories you use and your application routine with your healthcare provider.

Common causes for leakage:

Stoma has changed size or shape since you last measured.
Misalignment when applying appliance - so may not fit properly
The skin has become irritated so adhesion has become poor
The output is aggressive and therefore breaks down the adhesive sooner than expected.
Not using a barrier spray or a barrier pad
Gelling products can help ‘solidify’ output and therefore help avoid leakage and make it easier to empty.
Empty your stoma bag regularly

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