A urostomy involves the removal or blockage of the urine bladder. During the procedure, a stoma is constructed that will now rid the body of urine daily instead of passing through the bladder. This procedure is much more common than people think, and living with a urostomy is nothing to be ashamed of or fearful of, because you are not alone. You can still live a very normal life with a high level of activity and no one will ever know the difference.

One of the main things you will have to get used to when living with a urostomy is your urostomy bag. This bag will empty urine through a stoma in your abdomen. You will need to drain the bag through the small tap at the bottom during the day.

Most urostomates' main concern is the proper function of their kidneys. Your kidneys are now more susceptible to infection because there is a higher possibility that urine will back up into them. Since urine is full of bacteria, this can easily cause infection. However, the way to avoid this is to use a bag that has an anti-reflux filter or valve to prevent backsplash.

At night, though, the bag will fill up and urine can gather near the stoma as you lay. To prevent this, there are tubes and night drainage systems available to keep your stoma clear of urine. There are also special "leg bags" made for long trips where you wouldn't be able to drain your bag frequently. To view a variety of these products, visit our website at www.sgvmedical.com or give one of our friendly customer support representatives a call at 818-787-0162.