to ask about care after an ileostomy

[VeganFromSveden]

I know this is a specialised area, so not explain huge response...

I've been caring for a man who was discharged from hospital a week ago today, after a successful ileostomy reversal.

He was given a few fresh wadding pieces that a nurse would need to use after removing the previous wadding, then replace it with the fresh dry wadding.

He's been advised to have this done every two days for anything up to eight weeks.

Every time we've attended a wadding change, the nurse has expected him to have brought the fresh wadding. which is ok, but he's not got enough supplies to see him through eight days let alone eight weeks.

I have no idea on how to obtain more packets via nhs.

In fact I've spent the last hour researching care after ileostomy reversal, and this wadding change procedure has not been mentioned once....

I'd be so grateful for any advice from someone who has experience of this and how I can help get more wadding.

Thank you for reading, and I'm sorry if I'm being unreasonable to ask..

There will be an ileostomy after care service, possibly? I looked after my grandfather after his was first done for the first few months while he got used to it all and had to phone them for regular supplies. In my area, it was contracted out and the contact details could be got through the ward who discharged him.

He was discharged with a weeks worth of supplies, then when I phoned the supply people, they would deliver a month at a time. I had to do all wound care and bag changes at the time though, so I don't know I it would be different with the ileostomy nurse coming themselves. I'd phone his discharge ward and ask them who you should contact.

Of course you're not being unreasonable . I'm sorry not to be any help but if it were me I'd just explain what you've said here to the nurse. She sounds extremely unhelpful!!
And maybe look here - it's a v good forum
https://healthunlocked.com/crohnscolitis

So he's had an ileostomy reversal and he now needs wound packing where the ileostomy used to be?

Either ask the district nurses for supplies and say he hasn't got any more, so could he have enough supplies please or just tell them that he hasn't got any gauze (wadding) really the hospital should have sorted this out on discharge.

Definitely tell him to ask his doctor/practice nurses to order the supplies he needs initially. Not sure how they expect him to get the wound healed without the supplies!

Thank you... I believe that your correct in us having to contact the ward that discharged him.
The procedure is so painful for him, as well as distressing, so not having enough supplies, is an additional worry we could both do without.
If it's known that it can be up to eight weeks of every other day changes, surely they should either send the patient home with enough to cover, or at least advise on how and where to obtain more.
Sorry about your grandad... you are brave to look after him.

There are definitely services who do this and many will send you just a short term amount of supplies to help tide over without needing to actually sign up - although it might be helpful for him to if he's going to need them for a while. They can provide him (and you) with ongoing support. Try the likes of SecuriCare, Medilink or Charter.

Witchgreen6 .... thank you for the link, I'll look now.

Thank you to ever else that's posted too.

I've not a clue why it's all made so flipping difficult.

🫣

Have you asked his GP? or a chemist?
I'm assuming you are in UK ?

I am in the U.K.

No doctor at the weekend, so it's hopefully a good idea to try the chemist/pharmacist.

Thank you

You need to tell the nurse doing the change that his supplies are running out and ask her to order some more.