Adjusting Sleep Habits After Ostomy Surgery

Not a me+ member yet?

Join today!

Here are some tips:

a red circle with a black circle in the middle

Use pillows

Wear a tight fitting top

Try sleeping on your back

Check your pouch's condition

Put pillows around you to prevent you from rolling over on your pouch.

Wear a tight fitting top

It will help keep your pouch snug against your body while you sleep.

Try sleeping on your back

It may take a little getting used to, but after a while it can become second nature.

Be conscious of your pouch’s condition

Be ready to empty or change your pouch at night, if necessary.

Pillow Talk

As these people living with an ostomy will tell you, sleeping gets easier with time.

Secrets for a Good Night's Sleep

“I have a night drainage system so I don’t have to get up every hour to drain my bag. If I don’t sleep with my night drainage on, I just get up, drain it and go back to sleep. It’s second nature.”

Jearlean: Living with two ostomies since she was two years old

;

“I’ve always slept on my side, having an ostomy hasn’t changed that. If I have a leak when I’m asleep, I’ll wake up because my skin will itch and I’ll feel it and think, ‘oh, my pouch is full,’ the same way someone wakes up and says, ‘I have to go to the bathroom.’”

Stephanie Living with an ostomy since 2010

;

Stephanie - Living with an ostomy since 2010

;

Featured Articles

me+ Hub

10/10/2024

Travel

a man with a hat and a backpack standing in a field

Traveling with an Ostomy: What to Pack

The idea of taking long trips with an ostomy may seem daunting at first. But with a little extra preparation, you can...

Read more Read more

28/06/2026

Fashion

Fashion tips for women living with an ostomy

Here are some practical fashion tips from Jearlean Taylor, a successful model, author, and businesswoman who has neve...

Read more Read more

27/11/2024

Everyday life

Peristomal Skin Care

Knowing how to identify irritated skin around your stoma early and keeping it healthy could help avoid greater compli...

Read more Read more

27/06/2026

Everyday life

Sleeping with an Ostomy

‘Learning’ how to sleep again after ostomy surgery may be odd. But when you have a stoma, your old sleep positions ma...

Read more Read more

28/06/2026

Everyday life

Travel

Managing Humidity and Extending Pouch Wear Times

For people living with an ostomy, humid climates and certain situations may cause concern in pouch wear time. The me+...

Read more Read more

27/11/2024

Activity

Everyday life

Reducing Risk of Parastomal Hernia

You may have heard about a complication known as a ‘parastomal’ hernia, an abnormal bulge around the stoma. These tip...

Read more Read more

27/06/2026

me plus Community

me+ Community Stories - Taylor

My name is Taylor Mitchell-Ross and I'm in my 30's. I had ostomy surgery due to severe idiopathic constipation and un...

Read more Read more

27/06/2026

me plus Community

me+ Community Stories - Maggie

My name is Maggie and I received my ostomy at the age of 16. Originally, I had gone in for a resection of my terminal...

Read more Read more

27/06/2026

me plus Community

me+ Community Stories - Meghan

Instagram Star, Meghan Brown, Shares How Easy Pouch Removal is with ESENTA™

Read more Read more

5/03/2025

Relationships & Intimacy

a man and woman sitting on a hill overlooking a body of water

Intimacy with an Ostomy

Tips to enhance intimacy with your partner and answers to some of the most frequently asked questions.

Read more Read more

me+ Hub

Register with me+ today

Our dedicated community support program is free to join, and offers expert advice and lifestyle tips for everyone living with an ostomy.

First Name

Surname

Email address

Phone number (with area code)

Country

Surgery Type

Surgery Date

Product In Use

We need your consent to continue

Your privacy is important to us. Please take a moment to read our privacy policy to understand how Convatec uses and protects your personal data. We never share your data with other companies without your permission.

We need your consent to continue

I agree to Convatec processing my data (Required)

We’ll process and use your data to deliver the products or services you’ve requested. This may include contacting you to verify your details.

I’d like to be sent information about relevant Convatec products and services (Optional)

From time to time we’ll send you our latest news, support articles relevant to your condition or product ideas you might like to try.

You can manage your consent at any time by unsubscribing through a link in our emails, contacting us at 0800 225 4309 or by email at connection.nz@convatec.com.