Top Ten Urostomy Tips and Tricks

23 March, 2026

1. Hydration is Key!

Fluids are the most important way to protect your kidneys’ health and reduce the risk of infections as people living with a urostomy don’t retain fluids in the same way as most people, meaning good hydration is absolutely critical.

Many people living with a urostomy find it helps to drink little and often throughout the day.
A good barometer is 250ml every few hours.

You can easily tell if you are well hydrated by the colour of your urine:

• Good hydration –> pale straw-coloured urine
• Low hydration –> dark yellow urine

While straw-coloured urine is ideal, very clear urine may indicate that you’re drinking too much, which can flush essential electrolytes out of your body.

It can also help to consider what you’re drinking. Fizzy drinks, acidic drinks, alcohol, and strong tea/coffee make the kidneys work harder. These ‘stimulants’ can then affect the how frequently you may have to urinate or irritate the system in some other way.

Reducing or avoiding these stimulants can help with these issues, as can switching to decaffeinated tea and coffee.

2. How to Manage Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs)

UTIs are a common problem for people living with urostomies. Yet they can be difficult to detect because the usual telltale signs (burning, urgency, frequency) aren’t always easily noted.

This means problems associated with UTIs can escalate quickly, so taking action early really matters. Look out for:

• A noticeably stronger smell of urine
• Darker urine – especially if you’re keeping well hydrated
• Blood in the urine
• Increased sediment or mucus
• Pain or discomfort around the kidney area or around the abdomen
• Purple urine in your stoma bag (yes, purple). This can happen when certain bacteria present in the UTI produce pigments that discolour the urine and stain the stoma bag. It’s also a sign that you need to seek medical attention urgently.

If you are particularly prone to UTIs, you can request to have your urine tested on a monthly basis through your GP or Stoma Care Nurse.

3. The Dos and Don’ts of Taking a Urine Sample

The most ideal way to take a urine sample is direct from the stoma itself. Your stoma nurse might offer to support you with this, with the aid of a catheter inserted into the stoma.

A urine sample taken from a stoma bag is not recommended as it can be contaminated, leading to inaccurate results and potentially the wrong type of antibiotics being prescribed.

4. Managing a Urostomy Throughout the Night

Many people living with a urostomy connect to a night drainage bag. Being larger than a standard stoma bag, it takes longer to fill and therefore reduces how often you have to wake at night to empty it.

A night bag stand, positioned next to the bed, is also used to prevent the night drainage bag from kinking.

There are many night bags on the market. Most are designed for multiple use and cleaned each day. Others are designed to be single-use (particularly helpful if you’re at a high risk of UTIs or other infections).

5. Out and About

You might find it helpful to carry a container or emptying vessel when out and about, for those moments where toilets aren’t accessible. This obviously still requires you to find a secluded place to empty your bag, but many people living with a urostomy will tell you this technique has been a saving grace at times!

For longer trips, such as travelling by car for example, some people use a small drainage bag attachment, as this reduces the need to stop so frequently. These work just like night drainage bags, but aren’t quite as big and bulky.

6. Travelling Further Afield

When going on holiday or an extended trip abroad, all the above advice still stands, plus one additional rule of thumb: pack double what you think you’ll need.

Heat and sweat can shorten wear time, meaning you may find you may need to change your flange and bag more frequently than you would at home. Spare supplies can also just take the worry out of travelling.

7. Skin Care and Management

Urine is acidic, so prolonged contact with the skin can quickly damage the tissue, causing it to become sensitive, raw, and prone to infection.

A good stoma care routine is essential to avoiding these issues. This should include regular cleaning of the stoma area and changing of the stoma bag.

Daily essentials could include:

• A small pot to place clean (warm) water in
• Adhesive remover spray to help gently remove the flange and bag
• A clip/large peg to secure clothing away from the urostomy site
• Disposable bag to place soiled items
• Wet wipes to remove excess sticky residue/urine
• Dry wipes to dry area around the stoma
• Adhesive contact spray

8. Swimming (and Other Sports)

Why are we covering swimming first and foremost in this section? Simply because we have had more urostomy-related questions about this activity than any other type of exercise or sport. Some people have asked if it’s still possible to swim with a urostomy.

The short answer is – yes – you absolutely can.

You may find that 30 minutes is the most comfortable length of time for a swim, as the adhesive on a urostomy bag may begin to show signs of wear when immersed in water for longer periods (but if the adhesive holds – continue swimming!).

Some people living with a urostomy feel more confident using a smaller and/or discreet pouch for swimming. Some also choose to wear support pants under their swimming costume, as this gives extra security.

Other sports, including most contact sports, are usually safe for the majority of people living with a urostomy.

Support wear, such as a hernia belt, can be worn to protect the stoma when exercising or playing sports.

9. Support Briefs and Hernia Support

Living with a urostomy may entitle you to up to six free prescription garments twice per year (dependent on where you live).  This includes underpants, support vests, and support belts.

Hernia support wear can be vital to protect the abdomen and stoma site, both immediately after surgery and longer-term.

Support garments have been carefully designed for optimal protection, whilst still allowing for the urostomy pouch to fill without bulking.

10. Advocating for Yourself Matters

It can take trial and error to find the right supplies for managing your urostomy. Work with your Stoma Care Nurse to explore what options are most suitable for your specific needs.

Our thanks to contributors: Caroline Knight, Katie Sainsbury, Debs Meredith, and Deb Armstrong.

For more support and advice please contact us on: 0800 328 4257 or visit our support page for more ways to get in touch: colostomyuk.org/support