One piece or two?

[Hobbes650]

I have been wearing one piece pouches ever since surgery, 20+ years ago. But I'm hearing more people tell me they prefer the two piece system. Why? I tried the two piece system once after surgery and back then I preferred the low profile nature of the one piece. However, I'd love to hear from the two-piecers out there. Maybe one day my needs will change, ya never know.

 

[Terriernut]

I prefer a two piece because I simply dont like changing every day. I can change the bag every day, but I dont have to change all the gear every day with a two piece. Saves me time!

 

[robbo87]

I moved over to a 2 piece and things have been so much better.

I find the 2 piece can take a lot more abuse than a one piece can, I can bath, shower play sports and it will still be fine for a few days where as with a one piece it would need to be changed straight after a bath for instance. the one piece also leaked a lot more for me.

I use the coloplast sensura and the profile is a bit higher but that's simply because of the plastic lock and clip system, but it's still not obvious it's there unless you wear skin tight clothes.

 

[Jaano711]

Hi Hobbes
I have been wondering myself. I use a one piece and need to change everyday, I have received some 2 piece samples, just waiting to try them,but I'm a bit curious as to why a two pieces base can last longer than a one??

 

[Susan2]

I prefer a two piece because I simply dont like changing every day. I can change the bag every day, but I dont have to change all the gear every day with a two piece. Saves me time!

You have to change every day, Terriernut, because you have a colostomy but Hobbes is like me and has an ileostomy. I can go three or four days without changing my one-piece bag (sometimes even 5 days!)

I tried various types of two-piece (just because they were there) but never had any success, so I went back to the one-piece.

 

[2thFairy]

Why would colostomy need to change every day and ileostomy not every day? I thought you had to change more often with an ileo because of liquid stool breaking down the baseplate faster. I'm confused..!

 

[Susan2]

Why would colostomy need to change every day and ileostomy not every day? I thought you had to change more often with an ileo because of liquid stool breaking down the baseplate faster. I'm confused..!

Some people who have a colostomy have formed stools (this can depend on how far the colostomy site is from the rectum) so can't use an opening bag. They have to throw away the container with the stools, whether it be the whole bag (with a one piece), the bag, but not the base plate (with a 2-piece) or the bag liner.

If my gut is behaving itself, I have a thick liquid or paste, so it doesn't break down the base plate and I can go three or four (or even five) days before I have to change my bag. If my gut is not behaving itself, of course, I have to change more often.

Does that make sense?

 

[2thFairy]

I didn't consider colostomates needing a closed bag...I was just thinking everybody had the drainable bags. Makes sense. Thanks!

I'm like you...every 3 or 4 days, though the first 6 months after surgery I was having to change every other day.

 

[katiesue1506]

I like the 2 piece system because I can release air from the top which is less risky than from the bottom. I also like it because I feel like with a two piece you can see the area better and take more time to ensure a good seal with the base plate. I put the base plate on and run my finger around the seal. I just feel like you can see everything a lot better when putting the bag on with a two piece.

I also don't like the one piece cause I was too thick to understand how to put it on

I tried it and when I cut the circle out I ended up poking a hole through the bag so I just gave up.

 

[Susan2]

I've always used pre-cut bags, so haven't had the problem of poking a whole in them.

And I've been putting bags on for so many years (13 or so) that I don't even think about positioning and so on.

 

[Franners]

i've been using a 1 piece coloplast sensura drainable bags ever since my surgery in June 2011. But recently i have been having more issues with leakages and bag deteriation that i still have to change the bag every day.
I am now struggling with positioning and was wondering how the two piece system works and if people find it easier to use (less chance of leakage and better seal around the stoma) I've done some research but it looks a lot more hassle than it's worth.
Any opinions would be greatful

 

[Hobbes650]

I prefer a two piece because I simply dont like changing every day. I can change the bag every day, but I dont have to change all the gear every day with a two piece. Saves me time!

Good info. But not relevant to me since I routinely get 6-7 days. If I only got a day or two I'd definitely switch!

 

[Hobbes650]

Hi Hobbes
I have been wondering myself. I use a one piece and need to change everyday, I have received some 2 piece samples, just waiting to try them,but I'm a bit curious as to why a two pieces base can last longer than a one??

I believe the wafer is larger. I'm not sure why people get so little wear time witht the one piece. For many years I got 3-4 days and didn't think much about it. Then I spoke a specialist at Hollister I believe and tried using a bag with convex wafer along with an large Eakin ring underneath. Now I get routinely get 6-7 days. The convexity is what helped me the most and the only reason I learned about it was that I asked. Had gone over 10 years before so if I had asked sooner I would have saved quite a bit of money, but oh well.

 

[Hobbes650]

Some people who have a colostomy have formed stools (this can depend on how far the colostomy site is from the rectum) so can't use an opening bag. They have to throw away the container with the stools, whether it be the whole bag (with a one piece), the bag, but not the base plate (with a 2-piece) or the bag liner.

If my gut is behaving itself, I have a thick liquid or paste, so it doesn't break down the base plate and I can go three or four (or even five) days before I have to change my bag. If my gut is not behaving itself, of course, I have to change more often.

Does that make sense?

Yes, very clear. I wondered about that myself actually.

 

[Hobbes650]

......I tried it and when I cut the circle out I ended up poking a hole through the bag so I just gave up.

Well, once the stoma stops shrinking you can get the pre sized bags so need to cut!

One thing I noticed is that some like the flexibilty of having different pouches they can snap on without having to change the whole thing. I found that interesting, but to me it seemed like more work.

 

[Hobbes650]

i've been using a 1 piece coloplast sensura drainable bags ever since my surgery in June 2011. But recently i have been having more issues with leakages and bag deteriation that i still have to change the bag every day.
I am now struggling with positioning and was wondering how the two piece system works and if people find it easier to use (less chance of leakage and better seal around the stoma) I've done some research but it looks a lot more hassle than it's worth.
Any opinions would be greatful

Since you like the one-piece methond, try a bag with a convex wafer before giving up. I also use the Eakin rings (large ones) underneath. The convexity is very helpful when the stoma gets below a certain height. I don't know exactly what height is the cutoff, but a specialist of some sort will know. Doesn't matter, you can get a sample and try it out.

 

[Terriernut]

I may have a colostomy, but I certainly dont have formed stools! No such luck for me I'm afraid. So the most I get out of my one piece bags has been 2-3 days. With the convatec wafer I get 5-6 days. The bag changing every day is because the filters get wet with my liquid output and are useless...unless of course I need to be a floatation device.

I also can burp (fart) at will with a two piece system...and folks, it's VERY satisfying!

 

[2thFairy]

I hate knowing the filters are wet... Every bag change, I go through a lot of effort to keep the filter clean on the first day.

 

[Crohn'sFor Life]

I have yet to find a 2 piece system that works for me. I have tried all the samples I could get my hands on.

I love my one piece Cymed bag! :thumleft:

 

[Misty-Eyed]

Because the base plates or flanges or whatever you like to call them last longer. Plus when the bag gets icky or starts to feel old and used and the filter no long works I can just change the bag part.

Plus I now let air escape from the bag from the top when it balloons at night.. although that backfired on me last night..

My bag actually leaked the other day when I was out and I only had a one piece on me. I hated it!!!! Yeah it felt flatter but it just felt so wrong! I'll never go back to a one piece.

 

[Nyx]

You have to change every day, Terriernut, because you have a colostomy but Hobbes is like me and has an ileostomy.

"You have to change every day, Terriernut, because you have a colostomy"..this is not true!! I have a colostomy and I change once a week (I've even gone 9 days without needing a change). I find that people with ilieostomies have to change much more often than people with colostomies because their output is much more liquidy.


But on to the question at hand. I prefer the 2 piece, because they do tend to last longer and I like that I can clean around my stoma every day. I'm anal retentive about having poop in my bag. If I can, I empty my bag as soon as anything's in there. With the 2 piece I can get in there and really make sure the bag's empty and clean. When I used a one piece I hated that I couldn't really get to the top of the bag to get everything out. My stool is very hard and is sometimes sticky so it tends to stick at the top of the bag rather than going to the bottom. Also, with the 2 piece I can use the liners inside my bag...I just love them to death!!!

 

[Hobbes650]

Thanks Nyx. I really should have been more specific at the beginning about having an ileostomy. Colostomy pouch wearers have different concerns and unless you have had both, it's tough to know these subtle differences.

"You have to change every day, Terriernut, because you have a colostomy"..this is not true!! I have a colostomy and I change once a week (I've even gone 9 days without needing a change). I find that people with ilieostomies have to change much more often than people with colostomies because their output is much more liquidy.


But on to the question at hand. I prefer the 2 piece, because they do tend to last longer and I like that I can clean around my stoma every day. I'm anal retentive about having poop in my bag. If I can, I empty my bag as soon as anything's in there. With the 2 piece I can get in there and really make sure the bag's empty and clean. When I used a one piece I hated that I couldn't really get to the top of the bag to get everything out. My stool is very hard and is sometimes sticky so it tends to stick at the top of the bag rather than going to the bottom. Also, with the 2 piece I can use the liners inside my bag...I just love them to death!!!