I got a sample of the Hollister New Image pouch and convex flange. I must say that the pouch is really awesome. It was super light and I barely would realize it's there. The one problem with the pouch is that the first day or two it's a little hard to open it, I like the clamp style and I probably should have cut a small diamond pattern in one side so I could get a finger under the edge. The problem is the edges are together so you have to work it a little to get your finger under there. It's a very small problem and in hindsight very easy to fix.
The convex flange worked well enough but there were things I didn't like. Since it's got the edge where you can attach the bag and put your finger underneath it creates a type of floating surface which at times can make the bag feel as if it's moving away from you. This made my confidence in the flange much lower as I kept feeling it was falling off due to the way it was made. I also was nervous do to the cloth material the flange was made of. It felt like it was slipping and sliding after a shower. I was never confident that the tape would stay tacky.
Now onto the Coloplast bag. I really like this bag. It's also very light. What I don't like is my own fault, I asked for a sample of the opaque bags so I can't see anything and right now that's a bit of a problem as I'm wanting to see around my stoma. I really like how the bag attaches to the flange though and locks into place as I feel very secure with it on. I'm not sure the model I'm trying but it's got the soft fabric covering the entire bag which is nice as it makes hardly any noise but then again I can't see what my stoma is doing which sucks. I also wish the bag was larger as I feel the need to empty it more often.
The Coloplast convex flange is not my favorite. I like parts of it and absolutely despise other parts of it. I really like the convexity it has. It's the semi-convex flange and it felt real easy to go on and in that sense I'm confident I won't have a leak. I also like how it's plastic-like as I feel more confident that my appliance won't fall off when I'm in the shower. Now onto the bad things. I don't like how large the bag attachment ring is. The thing is huge compared to Hollister's which makes me really nervous sometimes. I also don't like the plasticity of it because it's such a thick plastic, especially on the edges, that it doesn't want to stay on my skin. I've only had it on a day and an edge already pealed up while I was sitting down. This should not happen. Maybe I need to try it in other positions but it should not just peal off the skin. It's only in the area of my belly button and I cleaned the area and dried it thoroughly. This is the huge downfall of this flange for me because the center part sticks really well it's just the outer part that does not want to stick. I don't like having to constantly use tape to tape down corners. I don't like how it doesn't want to form to m body but instead the flange makes my body form to it. It is not uncomfortable though but it makes me loose confidence in it.
Conclusion:
Honestly, it's inconclusive for me. I love both bags very much as they are both very comfortable as well as very light and I like that. I do like the clamping style of Hollister but the Coloplast people did not offer me that in a sample so I'm not sure what they have. For flanges, I believe both are at the opposite ends of extreme. One has too much cloth which is it's fatal flaw as it feels like it wants to slosh off at the end of every shower. The other is so plastic-like and hard that it doesn't want to mold to the skin. So I'm at a crossroads here at where to go to next.
If you guys can give me suggestions on a flange style that may work better for me please let me know. I have confidence that Coloplast would work well in exercise and swimming applications yet during every day life Hollister is much nicer. So, yeah I'm very confused at the moment. Thanks for reading if you've read the whole thing.
Jeff
The convex flange worked well enough but there were things I didn't like. Since it's got the edge where you can attach the bag and put your finger underneath it creates a type of floating surface which at times can make the bag feel as if it's moving away from you. This made my confidence in the flange much lower as I kept feeling it was falling off due to the way it was made. I also was nervous do to the cloth material the flange was made of. It felt like it was slipping and sliding after a shower. I was never confident that the tape would stay tacky.
Now onto the Coloplast bag. I really like this bag. It's also very light. What I don't like is my own fault, I asked for a sample of the opaque bags so I can't see anything and right now that's a bit of a problem as I'm wanting to see around my stoma. I really like how the bag attaches to the flange though and locks into place as I feel very secure with it on. I'm not sure the model I'm trying but it's got the soft fabric covering the entire bag which is nice as it makes hardly any noise but then again I can't see what my stoma is doing which sucks. I also wish the bag was larger as I feel the need to empty it more often.
The Coloplast convex flange is not my favorite. I like parts of it and absolutely despise other parts of it. I really like the convexity it has. It's the semi-convex flange and it felt real easy to go on and in that sense I'm confident I won't have a leak. I also like how it's plastic-like as I feel more confident that my appliance won't fall off when I'm in the shower. Now onto the bad things. I don't like how large the bag attachment ring is. The thing is huge compared to Hollister's which makes me really nervous sometimes. I also don't like the plasticity of it because it's such a thick plastic, especially on the edges, that it doesn't want to stay on my skin. I've only had it on a day and an edge already pealed up while I was sitting down. This should not happen. Maybe I need to try it in other positions but it should not just peal off the skin. It's only in the area of my belly button and I cleaned the area and dried it thoroughly. This is the huge downfall of this flange for me because the center part sticks really well it's just the outer part that does not want to stick. I don't like having to constantly use tape to tape down corners. I don't like how it doesn't want to form to m body but instead the flange makes my body form to it. It is not uncomfortable though but it makes me loose confidence in it.
Conclusion:
Honestly, it's inconclusive for me. I love both bags very much as they are both very comfortable as well as very light and I like that. I do like the clamping style of Hollister but the Coloplast people did not offer me that in a sample so I'm not sure what they have. For flanges, I believe both are at the opposite ends of extreme. One has too much cloth which is it's fatal flaw as it feels like it wants to slosh off at the end of every shower. The other is so plastic-like and hard that it doesn't want to mold to the skin. So I'm at a crossroads here at where to go to next.
If you guys can give me suggestions on a flange style that may work better for me please let me know. I have confidence that Coloplast would work well in exercise and swimming applications yet during every day life Hollister is much nicer. So, yeah I'm very confused at the moment. Thanks for reading if you've read the whole thing.
Jeff