Chelly ... May I suggest you try using 3 ply tissue rather then buying gauze to clean with.  Its flushable where gauze is not.  I use 3 squares of either 2 or 3 ply tissue to wipe my pouch opening with. We recently couldn't get 3 ply tissue in our town so I was using 2 ply again for a while. I was thrilled the day my Son came home with a pack of 3 ply toilet tissue for me! Lol! It very rarely leaves behind pieces after using it.

I left you a comment about how I use tissue under your question about rinsing.

I'm not a fan of using anything but 2 or 3 ply toilet paper. Mostly for the cost difference, but also because even "flushable" wipes can be problematic in our municipal water treatment plant.

If you get the technique to cleaning the outlet down, then toilet paper will be more than sufficient, in my opinion.

Hi Chelly,

Try wetting the last swipe of the toilet paper, then do one last little swipe with just one or two squares to dry the inside of the outlet. I often do that, but do keep a package of non-scented wipes in the bathroom closet for if I feel that one is needed (usually I just tear one in half).

LL

Hi,

Toilet tissue, anything else is tough on the plumbing.  I rinse my bag well let it drain / drip for a few seconds then wipe the residual water off the opening with a few squares of tissue.

cygo

Hi Chelly.  

I too rinse and wipe with toilet paper . I use 2 ply with 4 squares works well . I carry a couple pieces with me just in case and I carry a collapsible cup for water . 

Good luck

@dlkfiretruck good idea!

@veganostomy I agree about the flushing. I won’t flush them as I always wear gloves and I roll it up into the glove and discard but hey gloves are so expensive.

@chelly  ... with sensitive skin, I use gloves as well but not for changing, lol, I'm not that gifted, only for emptying.  Then bcuz of eczema & the slow break down issues of plastic, I wash & dry them just like I would my hands to reuse them often.  Its funny the little things we learn as we go along with ostomies & the ostomates here are fabulous for ideas & I so appreciate that ! Thank you ALL for continuing to come back & reply where you can help!!

   ** Eric, what would we have done without your insight for the need for such an amazing site!!   I remember reading your well documented story & being in tears for you, some of it was so similar to mine &  before I became a member & thinking that this had to be the good that came out of all the agony,  turmoil, misery & hard work & honesty that you went through ... this site just had to work and look at it... its working & needed Eric! Thankyou, Thankyou, THANK YOU !!!

@dlkfiretruck see I have to use gloves for changing and emptying. I like you have very sensitive skin and the adhesive and the adhesive removers will literally crack my skin wide open. I’d love to read Eric’s story. Where is it located? 
yes thanks to Eric we have somewhere to come to get help from others who have experience and advice for different problems and issues. 
sometimes our stoma nurses don’t have all the answers but those who wear the bags have many answers.

@chelly  ... ugh!! Those skin cracks on fingers are horrid things! My 2 thumbs are wider at the tops around the nail area then they used to be from cracking & healing so slowly open.  There's also leathery looking areas from having to heal so often from Eczema.   I learned a long time ago to gently file down the dry area on the sides of a  split to keep from re-cracking the area again, or to clip it off if its too thick then file it down. Gloves have been a true hand saver since I started using them! 

Reading Erics story, is something I recommend for sure.  It increases the appreciation of our young Man running this site!! Thank you again Eric!!

.....Okay, when your done here tap the arrow at the bottom Right of the page to go to the top. At the top, hit the 3 lines &  a window opens,  tap on  "About", then on  "About Me". Scroll down & it should be right there. Beware there were a few pictures of Erics skin but its Erics honesty of the reality of living with a bowel disease & then the  ostomy world.  It brought a lot of emotions & memories back for me, so be prepared if your sensitive to the suffering of others.

@dlkfiretruck I have the same problem with my hands. I do some cleaning at work and even with gloves it goes right through to my skin. I’m always walking around with leather hands and at least 5 cut open spots on the fingers. It’s painful.

For us ostomates, hand lotions are not our  friends either. That stuff on our hands can loosen up a pouch in a split second. Although I do put it on when I know I won’t be dealing with the pouch for a few hours and then if I need to empty I have to use a harsh soap to get it off before I go grabbing my gloves. 

I can tell you of a very, very fast healing and soothing lotion though. It’s called purple emu and very cheap.
i would not buy from Amazon though as I have found that personal care products on Amazon a lot of them are not genuine and the sellers can have bottles made up exactly like the real deal. 
Once I purchased pouches on there and here I went to empty and the bottom of the bag was melted or fused together. I was freaking out and thank god I was at home. They did refund my money and when I went back to look at the reviews other people had the same issue. They even posted pictures of the bottoms melted together. 

I’ve purchased expensive makeup and shampoos that were not the real thing either. One shampoo literally took some of my hair with it down the drain. Scarey. 
im going to try and find Eric’s story now