Here are some links to Ostomy products that are available. I have used Hollister through Byram Health Care Distributors with excellent service.
https://www.byramhealthcare.com/ostomy
https://my.edgepark.com/ostomy
https://products.coloplast.us/products/ostomy-care
https://parthenoninc.com/search.php?search_query=urostomy
https://www.medline.com/search/products/urostomy
https://www.180medical.com/ostomy
https://www.convatec.com/ostomy-care/guide-to-ostomy-products
https://www.liberatormedical.com/ostomy
https://medicalmonks.com/ostomy
https://www.vitalitymedical.com/ostomy-supplies.
https://www.hcd.com/need-medical-supplies/ostomy
https://www.exmed.net/ostomy-supplies
https://www.abc-med.com/ostomy-supplies
https://joinbetter.com/pages/ostomy
What can I put in my urostomy bag to lessen bacteria growth and not harm my stoma?
To lessen bacteria growth and control odor safely, use medical-grade, specialized ostomy liquid or drop deodorizers inside your pouch. Never put household chemicals, bleach, rubbing alcohol, or essential oils directly into the bag, as urine contact can irritate or harm your stoma tissue.
Safe Pouch Additives
- Specialized Deodorizing Drops: Products like Hollister M9 Odor Eliminator Drops or Na’Scent Ostomy Odor Eliminator target odor-causing bacteria and neutralize smells without harming appliances or tissue.
- Lubricating Deodorants: Brands like Brava Lubricating Deodorant or Hollister Adapt neutralize odors and coat the inside of the pouch to keep urine moving downward.
Hygiene and Bacteria Prevention Tips
- Stay Hydrated: Drinking plenty of fluids helps flush your urinary tract naturally and reduces strong urine concentrations and bacterial crystallization.
- Empty Frequently: Drain your urostomy bag when it is one-third to one-half full to prevent weight from pulling on the seal or bacteria from pooling.
- Clean Night Bags Properly: For reusable bedside drainage bags, rinse them daily with a mixture of cool water and white vinegar to control germs, then air dry completely.
Because you do not have a standard bladder, you will not experience the typical burning sensation or urgency associated with a urinary tract infection (UTI). Instead, cloudy urine and a foul, strong odor are the primary warning signs of a UTI in individuals with a urostomy.
You should contact your doctor, urologist, or stoma care nurse today to request a urine test. Left untreated, a urostomy UTI can quickly travel upward and cause a serious kidney infection.
Immediate Next Steps
- Call Your Care Team: Let them know you have a urostomy and are experiencing foul-smelling, cloudy urine.
- Do Not Take a Sample from an Old Bag: If your doctor asks for a urine sample, never collect it from a pouch that has been worn for a while. It contains stale urine and will give a false-positive result. The sample must be collected using a sterile catheter directly from the stoma or caught as fresh drops directly from the stoma into a sterile cup after thoroughly cleaning the skin.
- Label the Sample Clearly: Make sure the lab container explicitly states “Patient has a urostomy / ileal conduit”. Urostomy urine naturally contains harmless mucus shreds from the piece of intestine used to create the conduit. Labs unfamiliar with ostomies may mistake normal mucus for a severe bladder infection.
- Flush Your System: Unless your doctor has given you a fluid restriction, immediately increase your water intake to 8 to 10 glasses (2 to 3 liters) per day to help flush out the multiplying bacteria.
Watch For Urgent Symptoms
Go to an urgent care clinic or emergency room immediately if your cloudy urine is accompanied by any of these worsening signs:
- A fever of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher, or sudden chills
- Lower back, side, or flank pain (where your kidneys are located)
- Nausea, vomiting, or sudden confusion
- Visible blood clots or dark red blood in your pouch