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How to dress with this bag!?

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Posted 11/7/2011 11:26 PM (GMT 0)
So, I'm starting to make my way out of the house some, but it has raised a few problems. I have no idea what to wear that will cover the bag! I can't tuck it into my jeans, and I don't want to live in sweat pants for the next 3 months. When the bag fills while I'm out I have this giant bulge in my pants. I've heard most people say they could wear their normal clothes, but I'm not finding this true for me. Any suggestions?
Posted 11/7/2011 11:40 PM (GMT 0)
try this site...OstomySolutions.com

they have have ostomy belt that my son uses and it is like a cotton/spandex tube top with a velcro flap that the bag sits in.  He is a freshman in HS and no one knows he has a bag.  he just goes and empties it before it gets too full.  Its called the Better Life Ostomy belt. 

cool  

Posted 11/8/2011 1:14 AM (GMT 0)
Is the bag above or below your waistline on your pants? Mine fortunately was below so once the incision could stand it, I was able to wear jeans. That actually took awhile though. Do you have any yoga pants? I used them a lot in the first month or so. I also used to wear those maternity bands (belly bands) with the bag. You can put it on and just fold the bottom up/in to make a little lip for the bag to rest in. It keeps it close to your body and I felt more comfortable that way at first. You can find them at Target.

Once my ostomy settled down and the output was more normal, I never felt self conscious about the bag with any of my clothes. I was surprised to learn that many of the people I ran with in my training group didn't even know I had it and you know how small running clothes are! Once yours levels out, the bag won't fill up so often or it will be a bit more predictable. For example, if we were going out to eat, I knew I needed to wait about 20 minutes after I was done and then I would need to go empty before we left the restaurant.

It gets better.
Posted 11/8/2011 2:58 AM (GMT 0)
Why can't you tuck it in your jeans?

But anyway, heres what i do, tape the top of the bag to your stomach, this will keep it from flopping over your pants. Put the bag under your underwear, then turn the tail up into your underwear, so it's all the way under there. I wear hipsters or boyshorts. then just wear your clothes. unless your bag gets like super full noone will see it.
today i wore a pair of jeans, then a tank top and a sweater type thing i got at old navy. Couldn't see the bag at all!
To me, the key has always been taping it to my stomach, and keeping it tucked up off my leg, not flopping around all willynilly.
Posted 11/8/2011 3:05 AM (GMT 0)
I've had a lot of luck with OstomySecret's wrap available at http://ostomysecrets.com/wraps.php Its similar to belly bands that others have recommended but does have an interior pouch to slide YOUR pouch into so it isnt against your body. At $30 it seems kinda pricey to me, but very much worth it. I wear it with all pants, jeans included and it comes up to the top of my pouch so no taping needed. Its snug but is supposed to be, and I find it comfortable.
Posted 11/8/2011 3:25 AM (GMT 0)
My bag hangs below my waistline. It's really annoying. When I stick it in my pants it rubs back & forth on my leg. Plus, when I have output it clogs at the top b/c my pants are pressing into it. I've been wearing yoga/sweat/pjs etc but I want to where real clothes! My jeans are all low rise cut and fairly tight so, I don't can't tuck them into my jeans. Thanks for the websites. I'm going to look at them and see if I can order what I feel will be best for me. This bag is so annoying to me!
Posted 11/8/2011 3:27 AM (GMT 0)
sorry for all the misspelled words in that former post. I'm tired and took a pain pill. :)
Posted 11/8/2011 5:03 AM (GMT 0)
My stoma is low too and my bag rubs on my leg. I ended up buying a pouch cover that covered the sharp corners so when the pouch rubs against my leg, I don't feel it. Before the pouch cover, sometimes the pouch corners would actually cut my leg. I sew my pouch covers, but they are similar to the ones on this site. http://www.cspouchcovers.com/

Wraps work okay for me, but because my pouch hangs to the bend in my leg, I find that they roll up on the bottom and don't cover the last inch or two of my pouch. I much prefer the Comfizz briefs which are made of the same material as their wraps and compress just as well holding the pouch close to my belly, but don't roll up. The pouch ends right at the leg hole so it is completely covered by the briefs. However, I couldn't wear these until about 8 weeks post-op because they hurt my healing belly due to the tightness. Also, I don't wear them all the time, but when I want to wear my tighter low-rise jeans, I love them. I can even wear tight t-shirts and the briefs conceal the part of the pouch that sticks above my jeans really well. Remember too that people aren't walking around looking at each other's bellies. They will likely not notice a pouch under your clothes like you do. Comfizz link- http://www.stomawear.uk.com/ostomate-briefs-for-women/

You may still me swollen since surgery too. I had to wear really lose clothes for the first 8 weeks before I could wear my tighter jeans again.
Posted 11/8/2011 5:03 AM (GMT 0)
My stoma is high, so this may not work for a lower one.

I posted not long ago about wearing 2 pair of underwear.  The first pair I put on is bikini and the top comes right up to the bottom of my stoma.  Then I put on a pair of brief underwear that comes up and covers my bag.  Both underwear are of a light t-shirt material, so the bag stays snuggly tucked in place between them.   I also angle my bag a little bit to my left and fold the bottom of the bag a little and tuck it in between my ''underwears''.

Also, maternity jeans have worked wonderfully well for me.  Very comfy :)

Posted 11/8/2011 3:58 PM (GMT 0)
I'm surprised that tubetops are not more popular.  Especially, with women.  Go to tubetops.net and use your imagination.

Order the spandex or cotton version.  When placed on your body, instead of having the top of the tube just above your chest, pull the whole thing down so that the top of the tube is at your waist.  Cut a hole and pull your pouch through it.  Now pull up the bottom of the tube and you have formed an envelope.

Cost is between $10 and $20 each.

Posted 11/9/2011 12:13 AM (GMT 0)
Wow, thanks for all the suggestions. I guess I look at everything and find out what works best for me!
Posted 11/9/2011 2:16 AM (GMT 0)
I felt the same way you did about not being able to wear "normal" clothes for a while. It wasn't until I was comfortable with the pouch and confident in knowing how it would take being tucked into my jeans that I was able to do it. But to be honest, I didn't really tuck the pouch into anything most of the time. My ostomy is above the belt line and i have a 10in pouch that I simply let hang out and wear long shirts to cover it. Winter was best for me because I would always wear a fleece when I left home and covering it was never an issue. Summer is when it got more difficult but once I began buying short sleeve shirts that were longer at the waist and probably a few sizes too big I was comfortable. There was no problem in keeping it covered.

Like it was stated before, most people will never know you have it. Most of the issue lies within your own mind and getting over the self conscientious that you have. Especially if you're new to the pouch. It'll take some time but you'll find a way to adjust to any issues the pouch throws at you.
Posted 11/9/2011 3:37 AM (GMT 0)
if you tuck the bag up into your undies it won't rub on your leg, and tight pants won't hurt anything, you will just have to empty a little more often. I can't stand to have it touch my leg, ever! I even tape it up to take a shower so it won't touch. i found out that tucking it in my undies holds it in better than a wrap, unless i'm wearing a loose skirt, then i have to have a wrap also.
Posted 11/9/2011 3:38 AM (GMT 0)
oh but i just wear a belly band from motherhood maternity, it's sort of like a tube top.
Posted 11/10/2011 5:13 AM (GMT 0)
I had the same problem, nothing fit right. I have a colostomy. The waist of my jeans pretty much lays right over my stomie. I use the mini bags since I have a smaller frame, wish they had mini-minis. It took me a while before I would wear jeans. Any type of black pants work. The one thing I have always done in 5 years is wear a tank top under everything. It helps hold the bag close. If it's hot out, I just wear two tanks for the layered look. I also found a pair of shaping underwear I like. They are for tummy control so they end at the top of my bag, helps to muffle any noises too. I'm not sure if any of these things would work for you since you have a ileostomy. It's easier to find something after things settle down, I know output can be high at first.
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