To irrigate a colostomy, you MUST MUST MUST first see your ostomy nurse and discuss it with him/her.  You may not be a good candidate for irrigation, and you must get medical advice beforehand.  It is most definitely NOT something you can undertake on your own without first talking with your ostomy nurse (and/or surgeon).  This is VERY VERY IMPORTANT!!!

To irrigate a colostomy is not a difficult procedure, but it takes an hour (sometimes a little more), and it is done to clean out the colon.  Irrigation is essentially rinsing out the colon.  There are several videos on YouTube and you can Google them.  Randy Henniger has put an extremely good video on YouTube and it is about 30 minutes long.  I would refer you to that video for information.  When I irrigate, I do the same things Randy does in the video.

My over-night sleeping procedure with the irrigation bag is quite odd, but it works and it works very well for me.

I use Hollister products, so my irrigation bags are not able to be pinch-closed at the top.  I use waterproof tape along the opening, fold the taped top over three times and tape it again, making sure that the tape extends all the way across the bag so there will be no leaks.  I then clamp off the bottom of the bag the same way I would if I was irrigating.  When I attach the bag to my barrier, I always use a belt because the bag can get quite heavy (depending on how much I've eaten during the day).  Then I put on my nightgown and gather my blankets and cellphone, and get comfy reclined on one end of the sofa.  The cats always snuggle in after I get situated.

When I need to pee, I wake up, support my irrigation bag with a hand, and trek off to the bathroom.  Standing with my legs touching the toilet, I unclamp the clamped end and empty the contents straight into the toilet.  Then I rinse out the bag (from the bottom because the top is all sealed off), re-clamp it and go back to the sofa.  I never have any trouble falling back asleep, so I snuggle back under my blankets and fall back asleep.  (My bathroom is arrange3d perfectly for managing my colostomy.  The sink and toilet are right next to each other, so access to the toilet and sink are very easy.  I keep all of my supplies on an over-the-toilet shelf unit, so they're well within reach, too.)

This procedure is fairly automatic now, and it really has saved me a TON of trouble.  It's not the best arrangement, but it works for me.  My husband thrashes around all night when he sleeps, so I actually think my sleep is better!!!  I know it's quieter because he's a snorer, too!

If you are a colostomate - NOT an ileostomate or urostomate - talk to your ostomy nurse and have him/her show you how to irrigate.  Please PLEASE do not ever attempt to irrigate without instruction.  You will have questions and only a trained nurse or doctor can answer them fully.

I am an ileostomate.. So your wonderful plan of no leaks wont help me.. But you have a great thing going on for you-Yes, I sleep better alone too. Tom decided to sleep in the guest room across from me at the beginning-but lasted... I snuggle up with my pillows etc. and now the electric blanket is on-so I watch old movies how ate I want etc.  Sometimes the cat will come u and say "HI" but sleeps on the other side bottom of the king size bed--so u can imanage the heavy work that I have changing a king size bed with heavy comforter-along with the fact I have like everything on it for my easy access.. I love my master bed room and master bath-My sancurtary-- I worked hard on decorating it for Tom and I- But??  I have a system of heave -hooooo - the biggest problem is getting the cat to move if I need to change-- As far as the comforter goes back on? to heavy and I am to tired? I just plunk it on top and tangle with in the morning.. You  have a nice day!! Not going to tell you to sleep well, as u do well at it, unlike most people on this blog-- but sweet dream??? how's that?

Your a smart lady to think of this operation or yours and get the rest u need.  When I need to pee? I empty anyways.. But like I said, it is an adventure of my life.so be  it.. Today is hair washing day in the kitchen sink-long hair and shower doesn't have the power I want-and then a nice bath-then the changing of the guards of my Nellie.  Sometimes I have a nice cup of tea, or a bit of wine with my bath- Think I may do my toe nails this time too.. Make those pretty size 10's look something more lady like-- gotta try huh?? 

Husband and I have a configuration for the sofa we call the Nest. When we camp we use a futon mattress and memory foam topper to sleep on, no flat air mattress for me. When we are at home those go on top of the sofa with the two long futons pushed up to the sofa making a bed. Cozy sheets, a blanket and pillows make it nice to watch tv/ movies. I also have my armchair alongside on the off chance I want it.

I empty when I get up to pee. Oscar is quite a drippy guy into the early morning. He's also quite gassy, if my filter is not working I have to get up and burp it. No leaks so far, I know it will happen eventually...

So far your  have been lucky!! If this ever happens, I want to  hear about it!! I don't think that there is any filter that works!!!! I just empty and let the air out-- to me that is a fill-- which = into a leak--- 7 days huh?  looking for trouble?? From what u have read, u don't want trouble..

Good Luck!! 7 days huh???????? amaizing grace how still are we.......... la la la laaa

Marcie and Barbara... Linda here...I am from  British Columbia.  You have a real live appologizing, please and thank you saying Canuck on your hands here!  The last time I travelled was for a trip to Hawaii when we were sent after my husbands diagnoses of pancreatic cancer.  Wish I had met Eric  before that trip.  It was in 2008,  but then he was not an ostimte at that point but I sure was.  I packed as he advises three times more then I thought I would need, and my GP sent me with notes, prescriptions for myelf and for my man incase his cancer did something wierd to him and incase I picked up an infection of some kind.  No travel medical  insurance made for a tad of a scarey trip.

I have not and will not have a nervous breakdown, I believe in  sucking it up.  This is the hand I was dealt so I live with it and have been rather proud as to how I have handled it and whatever else has sucked itself to me.  I think it is important to think hard about what we are going thru and to share when we get a chance as that leads us to special poeple like us gals! Plus sharing is good for the soul and the heart. No one should have to carry there burdens alone.  However I did say that it was about 8 years before I really talked about my situation. That was because I needed to figure out a lot of what I had gone thru in the then past three years,   in order to get along with it.   I learned real quick that it is true, if it does not kill you it makes you stronger and I stand by that.  Menopause has its own set of rules for ostimates I believe.  My bags need to be changed more frequently due to the blessed hot body thing.  I enjoy the heat of summer because the wind and the heat dehydrate the swet right off my body. In wnter and we get great winters in Canada, I dress cooler then most woman my age.  I sleep outside of the blankets most nights, and I miss my sweaters. I will only be 60 in the new year.  In year 10 of menopause.  I hate it but decided to make friends with it and laugh at it a long time ago.  That sudden burst of heat at my knees  rushing up to greet my face give me such a healthy glow! The swet pouring off my back as I rush out of church on Sunday morning to go home and change only to miss the service...again.  My hair dripping onto my shirt and in my eyes and then I feel that tickle of something not right with Roses apparatis!  When she is volcanic  we all know the change, not the menopausal one, can take up to 45 min. or so.  The fun has started.  We walk around with our secret and curse it as well as being thankful for it.  This is our life...we only live so long so why not enjoy it.

Linda K.

canunk?

Canuck....after the Vancouver Canucks...hockey team.......very Canadian.

Right on Linda. We do what we have to do and suck it up.  Don't want the grandkids to think of me as an old curmudgeon.  Finding this wonderful group was a godsend for me.  I hadn't been able to really talk to anyone about what happened.  Just things like, "yup I had some surgery, but I'm on the way back". It's good to find people who just get it and understand.  I love BC, eh!  Used to love to camp outside of Nelson by the lake!  Barbara 

Hi Linda, Canadians do kind of remind me of the old Germans here in Cincinnati, Ohio. Lots of please used from the German "bitte", it's used like excuse me, say that again and kind of like huh? It's dying out along w the old folks. Very good manners from both groups. Used to go visit Toronto often, loved it.