LARYNGECTOMY FAQ'S

Is it necessary to keep my stoma covered?
(by Glenn E. Peters M.D., Director, Division of Otolaryngology
Head and Neck Surgery, University of Alabama at Birmingham,
Birmingham, Alabama, USA)

So you want to know about why it is necessary to keep your stoma covered, do you? Well we will give it a try. Stoma covers come in all sizes, shapes, colors. Some folks even use articles of clothing to cover their stomas. These include ascots, scarves, dickeys, turtle neck sweaters or shirts, cowl neck tops for women, etc. They all serve the same basic function and that is to keep the "bad" out and the "good" in.

Now let's talk about the bad first. Obviously, the stoma can present an exciting target for all manner of vermin such as gnats, flies, wasps, bees, hummingbirds, and possibly even a misdirected bat! If your stoma is large enough your children or your grandchildren at play may even pose a risk from any of a variety of projectiles. Most importantly, though, the air you breathe is dirty. Dust, dirt and pollen offer the biggest challenges. This is especially true for those who work or play in dusty, dirty environments. So much for the "bad" we want to keep out!

Now you might just wonder what "good" the stoma cover keeps in. The answer is "moisture". This is, moisture that is generated by your lungs and is lost with every breath unless something is done to retain it. And why is moisture so important? The most important reason is that the gas exchange in your lungs is most efficient when the humidity is high. A high moisture content also assists with the natural cleaning mechanisms in the lungs and helps cut down on what we all know as CRUSTS. Folks that keep their stomas covered have much less problems with crust formation; they cough less, have less mucous production, need to irrigate less, have fewer bouts of bronchitis, and on and on.

So, don't think of your stoma as your new nose. It doesn't work the same way. Keep it covered and you'll find you have much less difficulty with it.