The new year is upon us and many people have set some new goals and objectives for the year ahead. A great new year’s resolution idea for ostomates is to become more organised with the way you store your stoma supplies.
It’s really important to make sure you never find yourself running out of stoma supplies when you need them. This means storing your stoma bags and supplies in a way that lets you clearly see how many you have, being organised and ordering supplies monthly.
A good rule of thumb is to make sure you always have two weeks worth of supplies and stoma bags, this will give you extra peace of mind in case of any delays or problems. You can easily order stoma supplies by delivery. Once you have all the supplies and stoma bags you need, you need to organise them effectively and in a way that works for you. It’s also important to make sure you always have an emergency stoma bag on hand in case you need it.
There’s no right way of storing your stoma supplies and what works for one person may not be suitable for the next. We’ve put together some of our top tips below, so read on to find out more.
Store your stoma bags on a shelf
One way of storing your stoma supplies is to allocate a shelf or cabinet where you can keep your stoma bags and accessories.
It’s important to note that you shouldn’t store your stoma bags in the bathroom as the steam and damp can make the adhesion brittle, making them less effective. Likewise, you shouldn’t store your bags in an airing cupboard near the boiler as the heat can also affect the adhesion. We would always recommend that you try to keep your stoma bags at room temperature.
Once you have created some space, line up your supplies by type so that you can easily take what you need as and when. For any multi-use items such as scissors or sprays, you could put them all into a little basket and keep them next to your other supplies.
While this method does require a little more space than others, you can rest assured that everything you need is in one place. Another benefit of storing your supplies this way is that it’s easy to see when you are running out, meaning you can get another delivery arranged.
Create a grab and go bag full of stoma supplies
Many ostomates find it useful to make a number of little bags or containers with all of the supplies they need when they are going out. Plus, if you prepare these ahead of time it’s really quick and easy to grab one before you leave the house.
You could use tupperware boxes, a travel bag or any other type of storage container for this. Lay out all of your stoma supplies that you need and separate them out into categories, then simply pick out one of each to form a set.
With this method, you’ll have access to your supplies whenever you need them and you won’t need to waste any time gathering what you need if you are in a rush. Another benefit of this method is that you can rest assured, no matter where you are, that you have all of the supplies you need in one place.
Keep your stoma supplies neatly in a drawer
While this is a similar method to storing your products on a shelf, many ostomates prefer to have their products stored neatly in closed drawers rather than having them more on show.
Arrange your products by category and place them neatly in a drawer of your choice, you could even use a separate drawed for your different bags and accessories to keep things organised. This method helps you keep track of how many supplies you have and when you need to place orders, it’s also quick and easy to go to the drawer where you know certain supplies are kept.
Keep your stoma supplies in a box
Another popular method is to place all stoma supplies in a box and keep it in the bottom of your wardrobe, under your bed or anywhere else that is convenient for you. The benefit of this method is that you know where all of your supplies are and you can keep them discrete rather than storing them somewhere they are on show.
Many people are provided with a holdall or a box by their stoma nurse when they are discharged from hospital. This can be used to store all of your supplies and accessories. Of course, if you do opt for this method, you should make sure that you always have an emergency kit on hand in case of any incidents when you are out and about.
We hope this has given you some ideas as to how you can be more organised with your stoma supplies in 2023. If you need some more resolution ideas for ostomates, we’ve got plenty of inspiration for you.
