Tips for Emptying Your Ostomy Bag To Avoid a Mess

Whether at home or on the go, finding a sufficient way to empty your ostomy bag is easier said than done. There’s always a potential for things to get messy, which is something you won’t want to deal with, especially when out in public. Fortunately, we’ve developed some tips for effectively emptying your drainable ostomy pouch without having a mess to deal with afterward. We’re positive you’ll have more success while using these methods.

Put Down Some Toilet Paper

Before trying out any of the other tips in this list, you first need to put some toilet paper down into the bowl itself before emptying your ostomy bag. Splashback is the biggest issue that causes messes, and the layer of toilet paper in the water will help significantly reduce that. Clump up a handful or two of toilet paper and throw it in. Just be sure not to do so much that the toilet doesn’t flush afterward.

Change Up Your Stance

In general, most people either sit down on the toilet or stand next to it when emptying their drainable colostomy bags. While these are the easiest methods, they’re also the most likely to create a mess. When you stand up, the contents of your pouch have to travel much further to reach the toilet water, making a splash inevitable. Sitting down makes this less likely, but any splashbacks that occur will likely hit the underside of your pants.

Even though our toilet paper method should help with both of these positions, it’s still far safer to use a stance that won’t cause these issues. These methods are kneeling or squatting in front of the toilet. They will get you close to the waterline without putting you or your clothing over the bowl.

However, both of these positions will be difficult to do if your joints don’t work like they used to. You could try sitting on the front of the toilet seat backward, but depending on the design, it can be difficult to balance on. In the end, you can test each stance on your own to see which works best for you.

Find a Bathroom With Some Space

Next, we’re going to suggest finding yourself a bathroom that has some extra space. This tip for emptying your ostomy bag without the mess is one more targeted at people on the go. If you’re at home, we expect that you have a bathroom with plenty of space.

Out in public, though, you have less control over the space you get. Most bathroom stalls are very small and difficult to maneuver in. If you can secure a handicap stall, you should be fine, but most people tend to go to these first. That’s why it’s better to find a place that has individual or family bathrooms. These will allow you to have much more room and privacy, giving you more freedom in how you empty your pouch.

Use a Disposable Bag if Needed

Ultimately, you should try emptying your ostomy pouch into another bag if nothing else works. This will avoid the backsplash and other messes altogether. Just make sure the bag isn’t see-through and seals tightly. That way, you can discretely dispose of it without anyone knowing what you just threw away.