Emptying your pouch

People have different ways of emptying their ostomy pouch. It can take practice to find the way that works best for you.

In general

  • Empty your pouch when it is 1/3 -1/2 full
  • Place some toilet paper in the bowl to prevent splashing
  • Flush at the same time as emptying pouch can help eliminate odours
  • You do not need to flush the pouch out with water – this may actually loosen your seal if you get water up around the stoma
  • Ensure that the end of the pouch is clean
  • People with an ostomy find using wheelchair accessible washrooms convenient as the toilets often have larger bowls to facilitate emptying.

Here are some suggestions for different ways to empty your pouch

  1. Sitting back on toilet with legs apart and drain pouch between legs
  2. Kneeling in front of toilet
  3. Squatting front of toilet
  4. Standing in front of the toilet
  5. Empty in to a container then empty it into the toilet (an option if mobility/ flexibility is an issue)

Another good resource

Ostomy Canada Community – Emptying your pouch

 

If you use a urostomy pouch, don’t forget to close the “faucet” of your pouch!

This is an excellent YouTube video giving different options.