OstoBuddy is designed to help you track and manage your ostomy care seamlessly. Here you'll find answers to common questions about using the app. If you can't find what you're looking for, check our changelog for recent updates or reach out to our support team.
Quick Links:
Getting Started
Standard Usage
When you change your entire appliance and want to reset the reminder schedule.
Partial Usage
When you use some supplies in between a full change, for example just changing out the 2-piece pouch.
OstoBuddy Settings
Language
OstoBuddy is currently available in English (default), Spanish and Dutch. If you have a request for the app to be translated to another language please contact us and we will do our best to accommodate.
Ostomy Date
Your surgery date when your stoma was born.
Ostomy Type
The options available are ileostomy, colostomy and urostomy. This setting helps personalize the output tracking capabilities in the app.
Currency
The options available are USD (default), ZAR, GBP, EUR, CAD, CDN. This setting helps personalize the order tracking capabilities in the app.
Measurement Unit
The options available are cc (default), ml, oz. This setting is used in the oputput tracking section of the app. It depends on which metric system you use to measue your output.
Usage & Output
When you first download the app we ask you for permissions to send you notifications and this setting is turned on by default. You will receive notifications for upcoming usage alerts and if your output is over the maximum output threshhold.
Remind Me
This is the reminder schedule on which you would like to receive usage alerts.
The options available are:
- On Interval (default) – Most ostomates change their appliances on a regular schedule every "x" number of days. This setting allows you to stay on schedule but also have the flexibility to have changes in between schedules if needed.
- Specific Days – Some ostomates prefer to have set days of the week to change their appliances, for example Mondays and Fridays.
Usage Interval
This setting is only visible if the "Remind me" is set to "On Interval". Set the number of days you can go before you need to change your appliance.
Usage Alert Time
This is the time of day you prefer to receive a notification to change your appliance.
Maximum Output
This setting is typically set to 1200 cc by default as a standard. You can adjust this based on your personal need or as directed by your doctor. This is the threshod at which OstoBuddy will alert you if your output is too high and you need to either hydrate or slow down your output to avoid potential dehydration.
News & Updates
Stay up to date on what’s new with OstoBuddy. We will never send any spam or promotional information.
Biometric Authentication
Tracking your ostomy information is private and we recognize that. If your device has the ability to use biometric authentication (FaceID or Fingerprint), you can secure access to your data so that only you are able to launch the app and see your details.
Menu Bar
We recognize not everyone is going to use all of the modules of OstoBuddy. For example, when you are a new ostomate you need to make sure you are tracking your output until you get a handle on things. As you progress on your ostomy journey this may no longer be important to you so you may want easier access to your supplies list.
The Home and Usage modules are turned on by default as they are at the core of the OstoBuddy functionality. We allow you to customize the third option on the menubar so that it is at your fingertips
It is important to keep track of certain metrics when changing your appliance and while we allow you to keep notes for your personal use, sometimes it’s easier to tap on predefined tags. By default we include the following tags: Itching, Leak, New Product, Exercise, Swimming, Balooning
You can create your own tags and enable/disable them in the settings so that they are visible in the usage module of the app.
Many ostomates typically keep multiple types of supplies when starting out. By default we include the following categrogies: Pouches, Accessories, Skin Barriers, Paste/Strips, Cleaners
We allow you to create your own categories and enable/disable them in the settings so they are broken out on the Supplies page of the app.