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Storing supplies

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(@john68)
Joined: 7 years ago
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Hi all, just watched the webinar interview. very interesting and useful points/guides discussed. During the interview Eric you said about keeping your supplies in the bathroom. I have always been shy about doing this. my reason has been its to hot then gets to cold, what about steam from a hot bath shower etc. I keep mine in a chest of drawers in the bedroom but the disadvantage to that is I have to make sure I have all with me when I am doing the change. The number of times I have been doing the deed only to find I have left an item behind and it ok when its only yer partner but what if other folk family are around. not even so bad them seeing the stoma that would not bother me, but I shower as well and it not the first time in have nearly met my visiting Mother in Law in the hallway LOL.

ileostomy 31st August 1994 for Crohns


   
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Robert
(@njewell1)
Joined: 7 years ago
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Hey john . I just have to say that's funny and meeting your mother in law in the hallway like that . Would be a surprise for you both !!!!! Maybe even be good for a laugh for later ! Hahaha . I too store the main part of my supplies in the hall cabinet n get them as needed . But I keep the routine supplies just for emptying in the bathroom . We live in a 2 story so I keep some upstairs n some downstairs . I have never thought about temp changes now that you mention that though . How about places where people maybe have high humidity and no means of acclimating the air like an A/C or maybe they only use a swamp cooler ? Could the humidity effect supplies ?

Proctectomy , Ileostomy , Ulcerative Colitis


   
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(@john68)
Joined: 7 years ago
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Posted by: Robert

Hey john . I just have to say that's funny and meeting your mother in law in the hallway like that . Would be a surprise for you both !!!!! Maybe even be good for a laugh for later ! Hahaha .

Hi ya Robert, I do hope yer talking about the size of my ostomy appliance! lol. My thoughts have been stored some where at a constant temp not to warm not to cold.

ileostomy 31st August 1994 for Crohns


   
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Marcie
(@shulmjs)
Joined: 6 years ago
Posts: 1510
 

John, your too funny!!!  Always have a towel or something to wrap yourself.. :-) -- I keep my supplies in my bedroom closet. BUT, I did get a storage plastic system that fits between my shower and bathroom counter perfectly-I keep 5 mio's and 5 of my 2 piece's ready for Nellie.. Depends on her attitude of her dress that she likes for that day.  These are wrapped in a nice plastic bag and I have everything in these drawers....... And I found a nice fitting chair for me to sit on by the sinks.. I have things in there for anyone that is in need as of an Ostomate that visits.. I just keep a check on these supplies every 2 weeks.. They are out of the way and neat.. If I decide to take a shower (which I bought a hand shower connection that is great for nite leaks, if I don't want to take a full shower at night) or a bath- I have everything there for ME and Nellie..  Such a happy experience.......for both of us  :-) Works well. 

Robert what is a swamp cooler????? 

2014 - 3 strangulations of colon, Ulcerative colitis, removal of colon, illiostomcy named woooh Nellie..


   
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(@john68)
Joined: 7 years ago
Posts: 2022
Topic starter  

Hi Marcie, yep a well organised draw lets ye know where you are with supplies, a tip for putting on the wafer is standing, I know for some it more comfortable to sit but when putting the wafer on stand up. that way their is no pulling on the skin and better contact. if I am wrong on that any one please say!1

ileostomy 31st August 1994 for Crohns


   
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Marcie
(@shulmjs)
Joined: 6 years ago
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I stand or sit, But the chair is for me as I cant stand for long periods.. I can get weary at times.. Still weak--  So when I get out of the tub, or shower or putting on make-up, I sit in my chair.. :-) And if Nellie is having her spitting fits, it is best to sit it out.. :-( And yes, I do change her dress when she is NOT (to my knowledge) not active.. But she is can be a yaker!!!!!! 

2014 - 3 strangulations of colon, Ulcerative colitis, removal of colon, illiostomcy named woooh Nellie..


   
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VeganOstomy
(@veganostomy)
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Posted by: john68

 Eric you said about keeping your supplies in the bathroom. I have always been shy about doing this. my reason has been its to hot then gets to cold, what about steam from a hot bath shower etc.

Actually, that's a valid concern!

At some point, I will write about storing supplies, but let me share my experience about it here.

All of my bathroom supplies are in a bag designed for ostomy supplies (sent by Coloplast after my surgery). It has several zippered compartments and that alone is a good "first defense". I keep them in a spot that tends to be pretty stable as far as temperature goes.

Nearly all of my major supplies are in sealed packages (i.e. wafers, barrier rings, stoma powder, etc), so there's no risk of them being damaged at all. 

Keep in mind that my bathroom stash is only a small amount of supplies needed for a few changes and they get turned over very quickly so there's no risk even.

 

Just your friendly neighborhood ostomate.
~ Crohn's Disease ¦ Ileostomy ~


   
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Robert
(@njewell1)
Joined: 7 years ago
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Hi Eric

Do you think humidity would be a problem at all ?

Proctectomy , Ileostomy , Ulcerative Colitis


   
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VeganOstomy
(@veganostomy)
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Posted by: Robert

Do you think humidity would be a problem at all ?

It really depends on the supply and the amount of humidity, I suppose. Are you concerned about any particular product? How else are they being stored? Are they in a sealed package? etc.. 

Constant heat and humidity, like what you'd get if you keep your supplies in a vehicle all summer, would most definitely cause damage to them, but I don't think regular bathrooms would get that humid or hot for long periods of time without having major mold and mildew issues first! 

Just your friendly neighborhood ostomate.
~ Crohn's Disease ¦ Ileostomy ~


   
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Marcie
(@shulmjs)
Joined: 6 years ago
Posts: 1510
 

John, I think that the fact is I that I am thin and not much if any rolls in the tummy area make it easier for me just to sit and when I do put on the wafer I sit tall & straight  for this performance--but I do at times stand and seal.. Then I bend forward, push all around, while standing, etc-- to make a positive seal.. So far I have been lucky--One time, I didn't pull off the seal cover--I am like what the heck???? Got my seal ring in place and properly shaped to my size--all that work for nothing.. Live and learn-- NOT TO RUSH WHILE dressing Nellie in her chosen dress for success huh?  

2014 - 3 strangulations of colon, Ulcerative colitis, removal of colon, illiostomcy named woooh Nellie..


   
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(@john68)
Joined: 7 years ago
Posts: 2022
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Not the first time Marcie I have been about to put the wafer on and dropped it in the loo, LOL.

ileostomy 31st August 1994 for Crohns


   
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Marcie
(@shulmjs)
Joined: 6 years ago
Posts: 1510
 

You need a chair John.......... The one with no hole!!! 

I have a heater on by my chair so I warm up the wafer before I slap on Nellies pretty dress. This helps a lot.. As far as keeping bathroom supplies in the bathroom- I found no harm in this for the past 3 years.. But like I said before, I keep most of them in my bedroom closet.  I only have enough for 2 weeks supply in bathroom BY MY CHAIR with no holes.. :-)

2014 - 3 strangulations of colon, Ulcerative colitis, removal of colon, illiostomcy named woooh Nellie..


   
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Robert
(@njewell1)
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Hi Eric Its not really a question for me but just in general . I was just wondering about humidity like in more in the Midwest or south east here in the US where people don't use an A/C and the weather gets really humid . Where I am you can't leave anything in a car in the summer things melt and people n animals actually die if left in a car in summer .

Proctectomy , Ileostomy , Ulcerative Colitis


   
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(@john68)
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Posts: 2022
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Hi ya Robert, That sort of heat would even make keeping at back up kit in the car nearly impossible. only way I can think round that would be one of those cool bags which you put an ice block in.

ileostomy 31st August 1994 for Crohns


   
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Robert
(@njewell1)
Joined: 7 years ago
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Hey John . I'm afraid even one of those might not last very long here in a car . I just have to remember to make sure n throw my backpack in when I go . With my memory sometimes that's a challenge in itself ! Lol

Proctectomy , Ileostomy , Ulcerative Colitis


   
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(@john68)
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Funny how different this Big Blue Ball is, at the moment here its 7.10pm dark, very wet and cold.

ileostomy 31st August 1994 for Crohns


   
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Robert
(@njewell1)
Joined: 7 years ago
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Wow what a difference a couple miles can make . Here it is 11:14 am sunny n 72 degrees . Just finished breakfast and yes Marcie if your reading this we had Bacon ...... :-)

Have a good evening over there Lad !

Proctectomy , Ileostomy , Ulcerative Colitis


   
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Marcie
(@shulmjs)
Joined: 6 years ago
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YEs, I am reading this-- Robert.. If your body can handle this? eat the bacon.. :-)

In the summer here in the east of USA, I have cooked an egg on the cement and baked cookies in the car-rear window-just to see if they cooked.. They did.. I think that the humidty is NOT a good thing to keep you supplies in.. Did u read how I keep most of mind seperate and some in the bathroom? Your in a HOT area no matter time of year.. AS heat rises, maybe keep your lots of them on the floor wrapped up in a towel for moisture protection.. Try to have something on your steering wheel to remind you that you FORGOT something?  Like a string? or tie a string about 5 inches long hanging from your rear view mirror? I have a handi-cap sign on my rear view mirror, and that is the first thing I see.. The string wont block your vision.. :-) 

2014 - 3 strangulations of colon, Ulcerative colitis, removal of colon, illiostomcy named woooh Nellie..


   
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VeganOstomy
(@veganostomy)
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Posted by: Robert

Hi Eric Its not really a question for me but just in general . I was just wondering about humidity like in more in the Midwest or south east here in the US where people don't use an A/C and the weather gets really humid . 

Generally speaking, try to keep your supplies stored the same way you would bread or potatoes - cool, dry, and free of excess humidity. 

A dehumidifier may be useful in the absence of an a/c, but most sealed supplies shouldn't have any real problems. 

Interestingly enough, I know many of us are upset when brands don't bring certain products to our country. Sometimes, this actually has to do with certain products being targeted to certain ostomates and their particular environment. The products they sell in Africa are often much different from what we see here in Canada - both in formulation and packaging. 

 

Just your friendly neighborhood ostomate.
~ Crohn's Disease ¦ Ileostomy ~


   
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(@john68)
Joined: 7 years ago
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Hi Eric, that's a good one, cause when Robert said about how hot it gets I made me think the wafer I wear don,t like heat!

ileostomy 31st August 1994 for Crohns


   
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