New Ostomates And The Depression Problem

Depression can have an impact on thinking and overall perception of life. A surgery that tends to bring a permanent change in life, such as an ostomy, is one of the most common reasons for depression. According to a study, there are over one million people in the USA with ostomies. This number increases at a rate of 100,000 per annum.

The loss of control over stool and gas is an understandable consequence of ostomy surgery. In most of the cases, this consequence tends to be permanent. According to a study, people who have ostomies usually have decreased health-related quality of life. The study further elaborates on the level of difficulty those people face while dealing with their life and relationships.

The lifestyle changes occurring as a result of ostomy surgery are usually quite complicated to adapt. More specifically, the first few weeks after the surgery bring a lot of insecurities and fear to the minds of ostomates.

The negative psychological impact

An ostomy is much like a learning curve for the new ostomates. If they do not have proper guidance about it, they can end up frustrated and depressed. The newly developed body change brings with it the feeling of helplessness, anguish, fear, and sadness. These feelings further result in the loss of self-esteem and health, coupled with other negative emotions such as a sense of uselessness. Many of the ostomates also get caught by insecurity and fear of rejection in society.

Further down the road, ostomates also develop a fear of isolation due to the negative experiences in managing ostomy appliances. The leakage of gas or stomal output in public causes real embarrassment for the ostomates.

All these issues can result in a much negative psychological impact on an ostomate's life.

Overcoming depression

It is understandable for new ostomates to develop difficulty coping with a new phase of life after ostomy surgery. But it doesn't mean they cannot live normally. All it takes is the right guidance and a will to cope with the new change. The selection of the right ostomy supplies has a huge role to play in this regard. The use of the right ostomy supplies in the right way results in much-needed satisfaction, which is necessary to gain a psychological advantage.

Posoperative education

Most of the new ostomates are not familiar with the experience of dealing with an ostomy. In that case, it becomes necessary to pay attention to the instructions by ostomy care nurses and medical staff. These detailed instructions tend to educate the new ostomates about how to get their lives back on track.

The Right Time To Use Stoma Paste

The stoma paste is a type of skin barrier that comes in a tube. The primary purposes of this paste are to fill the skin indentations and prevent the skin from coming in contact with the cut opening of the pouch skin barrier. Note that this paste is not the glue that can hold a pouch.

The primary purpose of the stoma paste is to fill in rough skin surface around the stoma. The skin smoothness, which develops after the paste application, allows the skin barrier to sit well over the peristomal skin, forming a leakproof seal. This seal prevents the stomal output from leaking out of the pouching system. Stomal leak can result in social, psychological, and physical discomfort for ostomy patients. And these leaks can occur as a result of the poor fitting of the ostomy pouching systems, mainly due to irregularities of skin outlines. Stoma paste is the best means to counter such skin irregularities.

Benefits of using stoma paste

Prevention of stoma drainage and resultant discomfort in the peristomal skin is the primary benefit of stoma paste. Patients need to apply this paste while changing the pouching system. To avoid evacuation from the stoma during the pouching system change, doing it before mealtime is a good idea.

Instructions to avoid adverse effects

Applying stoma paste in excess can do more harm than good. Many of the cylinder pastes available in the market contain alcohol. Sensitive patients might start getting a burning sensation after the application of such paste. Strips stoma pastes do not usually contain alcohol. Patients who are sensitive to alcohol-based cylinder pastes can consider using the strips pastes to avoid any skin discomfort.

Also, the stoma paste can leave an adverse effect on the ideal wear time of the wafer. So, before using the stoma paste, patients need to be sure that they need to apply it.

Adverse effects of adhesive agents

Some adhesive agents in the stoma paste can cause damage to the skin, especially at the time of pouch change. While stoma paste is not primarily an adhesive agent, it fortifies adhesion to a certain degree. Individuals whose skin is fragile or the ones who have to change pouches frequently should not use this paste without the nurse's advice. Individuals who are benefitted more from this paste are the ones who fail to prevent leakage with the pouching system's normal adhesion.

How to apply the stoma paste

There are a few steps that you need to follow while applying the stoma paste.

• Wash the peristomal skin thoroughly to remove any residue. Then, dry it until there is no moisture left.
• You can apply stoma paste directly on the peristomal skin or the inner side of the wafer. Allow it to sit for two minutes after applying it to the peristomal skin.
• If you are applying the paste on the wafer, place it on the skin as usual. There you need to hold the wafer against the abdomen for one minute.