HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

Questions on appliances

Support Forums
>
Ostomies
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 7/25/2013 1:42 PM (GMT 0)
I had surgery and a colostomy about four weeks ago. I've tried all the sample products but have a few questions. What is the reason for wearing the same bag for several days? Is it to save money or is it easier on your skin? The adhesive that is right next to my stoma turns white and mushy by the next day. I am not leaking. I think I did leak once as I felt a burning and itching, and it cleared right up after removing the bag and washing the area. I just feel better taking it off, showering without it and applying a new appliance everyday. Am I nuts? Will I be sorry down the road? What are your favorite brands?
Newbie
Posted 7/25/2013 2:13 PM (GMT 0)
I don't understand wearing a bag for a whole week at a time either. I hope when people say that they are just talking about the flange part - the part which sticks onto the skin - and not the actual bag as well. I was told by my stoma nurses to change my bag every 1-2 days. One of them told me that women were more likely to change the bag every single day (usually after a shower), while men were more likely to leave them for two or three days.

Just to avoid confusion, I wear a 1-piece bag. I used to avoid changing it for as long as possible, and from that found I could get 3-4 days wear out of one. However, by the 3rd day the bag would look seriousy manky, no matter how carefully I tried to wipe after emptying. The adhesive residue would be a nightmare to get rid of, plus, like you said, the adhesive/barrier ring would be a goner. I've come to the conclusion my stoma nurses were right and it's just better to change the thing every day or every other day at most.

Oh yeah, favourite brand is Salts. I dunno if it's available outside of the UK or not, but if you can give that a try I recommend it. Never got on with Coloplast; Dansac and Pelican were okay. And I've still got a few Hollister bags I've yet to try.
Posted 7/25/2013 2:50 PM (GMT 0)
Everyone has their personal preference as far as bag types/when to change etc.... It can be very rough on your skin to change every day, since each time you pull the adhesive off some skin comes off with it. You should definitely keep an eye on your skin for any signs of irritation if you are going to keep changing so frequently.

What brand are you using right now? My Convatec wafers DO get white and mushy around the stoma, but they are supposed to. The adhesive sort of softens and raises around the stoma for extra protection from leaks and skin irritation.

NCOT will think I am gross, but I had been changing my bag/wafer every 4 days, and the past couple times I've gone 6 days. My stoma nurse thinks this is totally normal and fine. I usually keep the same bag the whole time also, but have changed it out once or twice a few days into wearing a wafer. My bag don't smell worse from using them for many days and I figure there is poop in them no matter what....whether it's one day or 5!!

As far as brands go, I have tried many and couldn't really settle on a favorite. There were things I did and didn't like about all of the. For now I use Convatec 2 piece, but will likely change it up at some point, just to retest other brands and make sure I have what's best for me.
Posted 7/25/2013 4:56 PM (GMT 0)
My skin does better if I leave the wafer on for 4 days at a time. I'd prefer a week, but since losing weight, I will spring a leak. Ugh. I wear a 2 piece, so I can change the bag everyday if I want to, this way I can have a working filter. I prefer the Convatec moldable wafer 2 piece, but I switch up and will wear Coloplast also.

I did request some samples from Stomocur and I LOVED them, but I am not having any luck getting them from Edgepark as they didn't carry the product number that I liked and the product number I ordered that was close from Edgepark is on back order, so IDK if Stomocur is having issues keeping up with production or what?

My advice is to order samples from all the manufacturers and find a product that you really like.
Posted 7/25/2013 5:11 PM (GMT 0)
As usual I'm with UCWhat? on this (hi!)... I read something funny once, I think on the UOAA boards, everyone was going around sharing increasingly elaborate routines for cleaning out a bag after emptying, when someone said "Why do you think it's SUPPOSED to be clean inside? The second after you finish 'cleaning' it it will have poop in it again!" Which is pretty much my attitude. I keep the tail very clean (I use a baby wipe to clean the inside) but other than that the general state of the bag doesn't bother me. I go 3-4 days between wafer changes. The only times I've really been bothered were when I was post-op and wearing a transparent bag.

But I think the OP's case is a bit different since it's a colostomy. My understanding was that colostomy bags were non-draining and meant to be thrown away after one use, which would probably be one per day, right?
Posted 7/25/2013 6:16 PM (GMT 0)
NCOT will think I am gross

Yep :p

Feels like practically every post of mine needs a disclaimer on this board, so I would just like to add that I was joking and do not think UCWhat? is a literally gross person.

"Why do you think it's SUPPOSED to be clean inside?

Just for clarification, I don't ever clean the inside of a bag except immediately before a bag change. But the bag still ends up looking manky on the outside, especially the tail - and, yeah, I've used baby wipes and tried to wipe really carefully, but the velcro still ends up getting stained with output. Probs something I'm doing wrong, but whatevs.

Re colostomy. So many people say colostomy when they mean ileostomy and I think the OP might have done so as well. Reason being is colostomy bags are, indeed, non-drainable and changed once a day: I don't think there would be any possibility of wearing the same colostomy bag for several days.
Posted 7/25/2013 7:01 PM (GMT 0)
Try those Hollister bags... I use Hollister exclusively and I've NEVER seen output on the velcro or anywhere else except in the toilet... The main problem with Hollister (I think this was the dealbreaker for What?) is that their fabric covering on the pouch can get pilled and fuzzy after a few days of wear. I keep mine tucked into my underwear against my skin so it doesn't bother me, but if you let it rub against rough pants, for example, it probably doesn't last as long.
Posted 7/25/2013 9:13 PM (GMT 0)
It's OK, NCOT...I know you don't REALLY think I'm gross...just my bag! :P

Hi Pluot!! The Convatec bags I use get pretty pilled and fuzzy on the outside too. I've been meaning to make some pouch covers to try, but just haven't gotten around to it. I have also started to tuck mine into my undies more, so it really isn't an issue. My reservation with Hollister was that is was the only bag that ever leaked on me...while sleeping none the less!! But, I did try them again and had no problems. I also like that they offer a smaller bag, 7 inches I think, that I was able to use during times of day I know I have less output. Right now the biggest thing keeping me with Convatec is that they have this neat little feature where you fold the tail up and under a big pocket of fabric. Shortens the pouch a little without taking away from the bags capacity, and softens the "pokey" edges of the tail. That said, I have considered ordering some Hollisters too, just to have options. I wish I could take all my favorite features of each brand and make an "uber bag" just for me! :)
Posted 7/25/2013 10:41 PM (GMT 0)
UCWhat? - Yep. Just your bag. Keep it away from me! :p

Re the fuzziness. The Dansac bags had that problem too! I liked the fabric when it was new and fresh, but it did look really scuzzy after 3 days. I have been meaning to try the Hollister bags: I suppose I've just been reluctant to change things up all over again, having found a system that works reasonably well. However, I'm not entirely happy with it. I won't be entirely happy with any system until my peristomal skin is as pristine and flawless as blueheron's was. That probably won't happen, but it would be nice if it did.

I've got some stoma powder at long last, so I will give the crusting technique a go...
Posted 7/26/2013 12:57 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks for all the help! I do have a colostomy, at least that is what all my medical papers say, and they do make both drainable and closed end, as well as one or two piece. It is nice to know the mushy white ring is helpful! I just got some samples from Cymed, they boast of 'microskin' but they came with a clamp and so I need to figure out how to use that. My last two Hollister sort of burst, one was completley new and I put in some of that lubricating deodoant, and the next thing I knew it was leaking out of the side of the bag, not the tail. The other one I filled in the night while asleep, IDK, maybe I layed on it wrong. Anyhoo, thanks again!
Posted 7/27/2013 9:04 AM (GMT 0)
Had colostomy for rather large cancerous tumor May 12 have used Holister Bags from start cross fingers with little or no problem - change wafer every couple of weeks if possible to save - bag changed and washed with liquid soap when required - travel on long haul flights now lucky that airlines can be helpful
now been back at work thank heaven for two months after twelve months looking at the four walls - glad I have a dog for walks - only porblem that I find is that I still feel embarrassed if I think there is an odour
Cheers enjoying reading all your posts
duplicate life (after surgery and chemo now one year of age)
Posted 7/27/2013 11:07 AM (GMT 0)
This is a great thread as I too am a newbie :)

I didn't realize the mushy wafer was good... I've been changing every other day & I rinse my bag a lot. For me, the rinsing has a lot to do with the stitches and healing that's going on. I just feel like I'm helping Peg to heal if she's rinsed off a few times a day...

I agree with NCOT about the bag getting all manky - I hate that mine droops after a day or a shower. It just hangs off the ring rather than keeping it's shape - which makes it more noticeable. (Hollister 2 piece) - I had been taping the top of bag to my stomach - but then began to have an adhesive reaction to the tape I was using...
Posted 7/27/2013 1:09 PM (GMT 0)
I agree this interesting as to keep things in a normal perspective even having bags hanging off
When my stoma has done the emptying depending on amount if heavy then I make an excuse from the Office and disapear to empty clean then I replace with one that has been cleaned and dried earlier I normally work with four to six bags a day depending on what I have consumed - I shower twice a day a least living in a rather warm climate removing the bag whilst doing so to enable the stma to be thourly cleaned -I act as though the staff do not know but like at home they are all aware of what is happening
Is this cleaning to much ? Just that I hate to think of any odour or leakage being a Medic on a ship some times make a little paroniod
Posted 7/27/2013 6:56 PM (GMT 0)
     I switched from Hollister to Coloplast Sensura one piece bags and change every third day.  The reason I switched from the Hollister is that I had two Hollister bags break on me rolleyes .  A real mess to say the least.  I never had a problem with Coloplast yet and it's been three years since my operation.  The reason for not changing every day, for me at least, is the fact that there is less irritation under the wafer.  I never could get the hang of the two piece system.
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply