Ostomy bag survey

[Misty-Eyed]

Ok guys.. I have some questions that I'm curious about as I'm still trying loads of different makes etc.

1. What 1 piece or 2 piece system do you use?

2. If you use a 1 piece, how often do you change it?
If you use a 2 piece, how often do you change the bag and how often do you change the wafer?

3. Apart from leaking.. how do you know it's time to change your bag/wafer?

Thank you all in advance!

 

[Jeff D.]

I use a 2 piece Convatec

I am allergic to the tape of all brands so I change it when the top part of the wafer gets a little too uncomfortable. I use a belt so that helps keep it on well for really however I need it to last. Usually I guess about 4 days but if I really need to I can go longer, it just begins to get really uncomfortable if I do that.

I guess I answered this with the above.

 

[Nyx]

I use Coloplast SenSura two piece system. I can get about 7 days out of the flange, sometimes longer if I want to push it. I change the bag every day, but I reuse them because I have to pay for them out of pocket. So I just take it off, wash it out, and hang it to dry. I know it's time to change when the under the flange goes kind of whiteish...that means the glue's breaking down.

 

[glum chump]

1. Coloplast Sesura two-piece click system.

2. I change the wafer every four to five days (sometimes, gasp, I push it to six days). I change the bag on the third day. (When I was using Hollister, I would change the bag every day).

3. Other than leaks, nothing or no sign that tells me I should change. Just the voice in my head that says "For gawd's sakes, its been __ days, you better change or else you'll get a leak." That voice is often enough.

 

[Terriernut]

Coloplast SenSura Flex two piece drainable.

Its time to change after 4-5 days because the tell tale itch. Always a key indicator!

 

[PsychoJane]

1. I also use the Sensura Coloplast 2 piece Click

2. I change the wafer every 5-7 days, it does not break on it's own like previous brand so I can totally go and change it only because of the fact it's been a while and it should be changed. I wash the bag but I can keep mine for the week and it won't smell.

3. The coloplast wafer are kinda all in "paste" substance. After lots of showering or baths it kinda get thick from the water (or white like Nyx said) and it feels like it will stop sticking to the skin at that point. That is usually after 5ish days.

 

[Misty-Eyed]

Thank you so much. This is just what I thought. Been using both dansac and coloplast products and the flange starts going white after 2 days!!! Why are they not last long on me? ARGH. I'd say the maximum I've gone on a 2 piece is 3 days. My 1 piece dansac only lasts a maximum of 24 hours.

Any ideas?

And please, people are welcome to carry on answering the original questions!

 

[PsychoJane]

Are they precut?

 

[PsychoJane]

I think your surgery was in october right? If so, are the output quite liquid still?

 

[Terriernut]

Thank you so much. This is just what I thought. Been using both dansac and coloplast products and the flange starts going white after 2 days!!! Why are they not last long on me? ARGH. I'd say the maximum I've gone on a 2 piece is 3 days. My 1 piece dansac only lasts a maximum of 24 hours.

Any ideas?

And please, people are welcome to carry on answering the original questions!

I think you should ring Coloplast direct and ask them to help you out on that. They are very helpful!

 

[Misty-Eyed]

No, they aren't precut and I make sure they fit perfectly. I get leakage if it's even a little too big. But no, it's not that liquid anymore. It anything it's really thick most of the time.

I shall do, misty. Really need to order some more bags on Monday but don't know what to get now! Decisions.

 

[PsychoJane]

Can it be that it cluster up at the entrance? I used to break my wafer when I would eat too much fiber alone. For instance, I can eat fruit and veggies, as long as I eat other things around like meat, bread, cracker and stuff like that, otherwise the fibers would collect around my stoma and cause the wafer to leak as it would not go down the bag if that make sense. Could that be a part of it?

 

[Misty-Eyed]

I think it's leakage that's causing the problems The water had all broken down on one side and not the other after 48 hours and when I took it off, you could see where it had leaked and then dried. I had always assumed it was the breakdown in the wafer that had caused the problem but obviously not!

 

[lari]

I use the Hollister 2pc . Because of the hernia underneath my stoma is not flat on my belly so leakage can happen. But if I use the skin adhesive... the gooey stuff that dries hard, then I have no leakages. On light days I use a one piece convatec. It is not as noticeable under my clothes.

 

[PsychoJane]

I don't know if you already tried the SUR-FIT Natura® ConvaTec Moldable Technology™ Skin Barrier. I have not tried these but I know I saw the add at my ostomy supplies store once and well, I figure that could be something to try if you have not already. I'll copy paste directly what they advertise on the website:

Durahesive® and Stomahesive® skin barriers are designed for people whose stoma output is mostly liquid. Unlike other skin barriers that can break down around liquid output, Durahesive® skin barriers swell up or "Turtleneck" to better protect the stoma and peristomal skin. Convex is good for people with a retracted or flush stoma. Mouldable allows for improved skin protection over traditional barriers and provides ease of use and versitility. It requires no cutting or measuring, which makes it easy to learn how to use.

Maybe those once could help? It's a bit as if the flange was a paste ring itself. That's what it looked like when she showed (the woman at the supplies store.) Unfortunaly, I believe the reason I did not try them was that they are expensive and as I have no insurance, I took another option I believe.

 

[Terriernut]

Did Debbie give you some barrier rings?

 

[LOSTnut]

I use the convex ConvaTe c moldable two piece, drainable with a 1/2 Eakin seal around the slanting part of my stoma. I am a "swisher" and therefore hardly change the bag in between changes. And, since I work I have gotten on a regular changing schedule of 3-4 days, depending. So far, I had pretty good luck with this.

However, somehow, last week I had a couple of nightly blow-outs, not too bad and I admit I had changed my routine a bit, so I readjusted again and now it is fine .

I just love that I don't have to measure and cut anymore .. cutting the darn hole was painful because the flange is so stiff and in never really worked out, no matter how diligent I tried to be.

 

[littlefreebird]

i just use a 1 piece by coloplast, have been using it since my surgery in july.
i also use the eakin seals and skin barrier spray.

i change it every 3-4 days but i have changed it on day 7 before.

it's time to change if it feels itchy, or if the sides peel more than i'd like. also, before a night out/ big day etc. cause the filter on my bag only lasts 24hours so the bag is at its flattest lol.

i'm scared to try different bags because these ones have been so great, i've never had any kind of leak etc.

but i do get up automatically in the middle of the night around 4am. to empty the bag (it's like sleep emptying lol) sometimes i can't remember doing it but i know i have....i think cause the bags i wear are so small, if i didn't empty them i would possibly have a blowout.. not gonna complain though it's worth it.

 

[Misty-Eyed]

Jane- Thanks! I shall have to get some samples

Misty- She tried to give me the same ones you gave me but they are too thick for the bags I've been using. I asked the delivery company to send me samples of a thinner version and they never did! Seeing her next week though, so shall ask again then.

Heike- What is a swisher? lol

Hannah - I can't use the small ones because they just need emptying too often and at night with the air! Shame, but I settle for the medium bags which are a good compromise. I didn't have any leaks till my stoma started shrinking. I've only had output on my clothes 3 times. The rest of the time I realised there was a break in the seal before anything came out or the leak dried up on the inside without breaking the seal all the way outside. Why have you been using a seal though if you've never had any problems?

 

[Terriernut]

Oh, I'm sure there's thinner ones, but I make mine very thin actually, they are designed that way.

You can also cut them in half, etc.

I warm em up really good with the wax paper still on them, then I start squishing with the wax paper still on. If that doesnt work you can cut them and make them thinner and smaller.

 

[Misty-Eyed]

Oo I'd never thought of cutting them. You may need to give me a lesson in the art of putting them on!

 

[Terriernut]

Happy to!! When are you free??

 

[ameslouise]

Hi Michelle -

I use a Hollister 1-piece convex, # 8512. Knock wood - not a leak since I switched to convex wafer.

I change it every 4th, 5th, or 6th day depending on my mood and if I'm feeling lazy or not! Mostly I change it because the bag itself is getting funky around the bottom. Whenever I pull the wafer off, it still looks good an intact, like I could have gone another day or two!

- Amy

 

[LOSTnut]

LOL --"swishing" is squirting water in the bag and swishing it around to clean it up while it is on your body. I have a squirt bottle right by my toilet and when the output is sticky and I cannot clean it to my liking I swish. Unfortunately, at work, I don't want to run around with a squirt bottle when I go to the loo. Still trying to be inconspicuous there ....

 

[littlefreebird]

Why have you been using a seal though if you've never had any problems?

i just use the cohesive slims, the first couple of months whilst my stoma was shrinking, the itchyness was unbearable (though i thought it could have been the itchyness of the stitches around the stoma dissolving) my stoma nurse recommended them to me, didn't make a huge deal of difference, but the itchyness went away, i've just got used to wearing them. feel better knowing the skin around the stoma is protected from output.

 

[Anthonyx07]

I use the 2 piece Hollister with the colo-ring. They have been working great so far and I only have to change the wafer and bag every 4-5 days. I use the convex ones because my stoma is very small and I haven't had any leaking just like ameslouise after switching to convex. I leaked a couple times with the flat so if you have any leakage problems definitely give convex a try.

I had a bad experience with coloplast supplies but I here other people have had good experiences with them so I guess it really just depends on the person.

I want to try convatec sometime just to see what they're like because I might even like them more then the Hollister ones.

 

[Neko76]

I am so glad you guys are all here. It makes it easier reading about other people going through the same types of things. I just had a permanent ileostomy put in, (crohns with J-pouch since I was 11) due to the development of colorectal cancer. I am still in the hospital but am trying to figure out what products I want to try when I get out....it's kind of like shopping for something that you don't really want but I'm trying to make it fun...it's still shopping after all.....lol. I figure that finding the right product will just make things that much better. I will be trying samples from the diff companies but the above info helps narrow it down for me to start with...so thanks for all the info.

Question 1: what are Eakin seals are they like the paste that you put around the ring??

Question 2: do any of you use pouch covers?? I find the plastic annoying and sweaty sticking to abdomen, or do you do anything else to deal with this? I've heard that there are some pouches that have better "fabric" type backs any truth to this???

Thanks again (have I said that enough yet???)

Kat

 

[Terriernut]

Kat, sorry you are going through all this! Do you know when they will let you out of hospital?

Eakin seals, or any other seals are rings. Pliable, you mould them around your stoma to protect your skin, and to prevent leaks. They are an improvement on pastes. (so I'm told) I have been using the Salts seals and they are great.

As for pouch covers, I dont use them. I tried all sorts of bags until I found what I liked.

As you are trying products, dont forget your stoma will shrink for the first 8 weeks or so. So perhaps dont get the pre cut appliances until your stoma has settled a bit.

Welcome to the club!!!

 

[Anthonyx07]

I am so glad you guys are all here. It makes it easier reading about other people going through the same types of things. I just had a permanent ileostomy put in, (crohns with J-pouch since I was 11) due to the development of colorectal cancer. I am still in the hospital but am trying to figure out what products I want to try when I get out....it's kind of like shopping for something that you don't really want but I'm trying to make it fun...it's still shopping after all.....lol. I figure that finding the right product will just make things that much better. I will be trying samples from the diff companies but the above info helps narrow it down for me to start with...so thanks for all the info.

Question 1: what are Eakin seals are they like the paste that you put around the ring??

Question 2: do any of you use pouch covers?? I find the plastic annoying and sweaty sticking to abdomen, or do you do anything else to deal with this? I've heard that there are some pouches that have better "fabric" type backs any truth to this???

Thanks again (have I said that enough yet???)

Kat

Personally I wasn't a big fan of the Eakin seal because when I took it off it would leave a residue on my skin/around my stoma that was hard to get off. I also had a couple leaks while using Eakin seal so I switched to the colo-ring and it has been really great, no leaks yet. You might have a better experience with the Eakin seal though so I would give it a try just to see if you like it.

I don't use a pouch cover but I am thinking about getting one. I usually just empty before I go out anywhere and tuck it into my pants, nobody can notice it so I haven't really needed one. I was thinking about getting something to support it though like some sort of belt.

and as terriernut said, stay away from pre-cut for the first couple months because your stoma will definitely shrink. My got really small after the first 2 months (it's like 3/4 of an inch now).

 

[Kris]

I use the Hollister two piece with an Eakin ring. My wafer is a convex style. I change my bag everyday and my wafer every 3 days. I could probably go longer, but I like the feel of letting my skin air out and getting a new wafer.