Need Better Ostomy Appliances!

Having had an ileostomy for 40 years I beg to differ. I can definitely say that manufacturers are improving their products all the time. If you could see some of the products we used to use way back then and before then (I considered myself lucky to have had my ileostomy surgery when I did (in the mid 70's)and not before then) you would be amazed at how products have evolved over time.

Gone are the days of the heavy thick rubber reusable bags that were held on by nothing but a belt with a metal faceplate attached that you used to screw the bag on to and let's not even mention the odour it produced and the skin irritation. When I first started, we had wafers with karaya gum infused on them (making them squishy) which was used to help prevent skin irritation. They were very messy just to put on as the gum would get everywhere.

I know of at least 3 manufacturers over the years who frequently have had forums like this one asking for people's input as to what they would like to see improved and they do go about trying to implement those changes if practical (I used to be a moderator on such a forum for one of the major brands for a time - some suggestions were very impractical and others only one or two wanted the change thus making it uneconomical in the long run for the manufacturer to try it).

The biggest problem being, no one product suits everyone's skin type - that's why there are so many different appliances out there. We're all different with different needs and different skin types. What works wonderfully for one person may be the worst experience of your life for you. You need to experiment with bags and products from all the manufacturers and find the wafer/bag and skin products that are right for you. This, often ,can take some time but ultimately the vast majority of people eventually find a set up that works for them.

Another problem is that people are always asking for smaller, lighter appliances (the second wish being better gas filters which all manufacturers are currently experimenting with), hence the plastic and the thinner wafers. Manufacturers try and make what the public demands but they'll never please all of the people all of the time.

One thing I will say is that as a kid, I had bags that had yellow flower prints or blue stripe prints on them - I miss them, now they're all just boring beige or see through. I'd love to see patterned bags make a comeback.

Tbh I kind of agree with Shaz. Ive had my ostomy for 7+ years and can count in one hand the number of leaks I've had both in and out of the house.

Even in the relatively short amount of time I've had my ostomy I've seen improvement. The Sensura Mio is currently very popular. Since day one I've never had to cut my wafer, I used moldable wafers and then cut to fit when my stoma stopped shrinking.

I don't know your personal story or what you've tried, but experimenting and contacting different manufacturers is key.

Wishing you all the best!

I'm new to the ostomy world (coming up on 1 year with a temporary ileostomy) but I do tend to agree with jayjay in some regard. I've had the worst time finding a product that works (I've had days where I've had to change the pouch 4-5 times due to leaks.)
I've seen an ostomy nurse, I've utilized advise on Forums and i've tried several different products, and I've spoken with the sales reps to try and find a solution.
These products are expensive!! They should be able to last for more than 2 days (if that). Yes, everyone has a different circumstance, and it's wonderful for you if you've never had issues. However, the manufacturers should be aiming to solve the problems for the worst case scenario, not the average. It's not acceptable to have to be in pain every day because of a product fail.