Anxiety about pouch change - Seeking advice and support

So far so good, it's staying with no leakage, it's the last of the Hollister samples, I hope my Coloplast order gets here before the next change otherwise it's back to Convatec 2 piece jobs that I think I've been pretty clear that I do not like them. I'll make whatever I have here work for the Thursday change and not get too cocky prior to the stoma nurse showing up for our weekly check-in. I want to go horizontal again so I can wear my belt. The rest of my "ostomy fashion" is on order and won't be here this week. I want to be able to use my horizontal belt for my field trip!

I agree with you 100%, Rae. If you don't laugh, you'll cry, and I'd much rather laugh - I do it often. I think it makes it much more bearable when you can laugh at yourself.

Rae, I agree with you 100%! If you don't laugh, you'll cry, and I'd much rather be laughing. It's good to learn to laugh at yourself as it makes all the hard times much more bearable. Keep laughing!

Paul, Abe, whatever your name is, what size is your stoma in mm?

It's Paul

Currently it's 50 mm

My eBay shower caps arrived today! I got 3 for $7. The opening needs no adjustment. The one I bought at Ultra last week needs to be sewn to work as a shower pouch protector.
My eBay caps have about a 3" elasticized round opening. I'm excited to shower more often with these protecting the pouch from getting soaking wet!

Shower emoji, fun emoji, stoma emoji, sunshine emoji

Laugh or cry, and laughing is much less embarrassing in public. I'm glad laughing helps you too, EA.

Hi Paul, it's really hard at first. It does get easier over time. I find that my eating times in relation to bag changes is very important, and I also use a product purchased on eBay called a Ricksack. It is a soft bucket-shaped item that fits around you and is lined with a disposable bag. It catches everything and you then just put all your waste products in and remove the bag and tie it off when finished. I have had a stoma for about 16 months now and the stuff I came home with was pretty poor and I had lots of leaks and sore skin. I have now tried many products and have settled with Salts barrier wipes before application, then a Salts mouldable seal which I apply to the SenSura baseplate, then put over my stoma with 3 flange extenders, and then the SenSura Mio bag clicks on. Every now and then I will try something different but always come back to this. You are doing well and I hope you find a system that suits you. ATB, Hamish.

Dang, I was hoping by chance it would be 38mm, I have a couple boxes that I'll never use.

Could you provide a link to that eBay item? My search comes up with "rucksack" and nothing for "Ricksack".

You should wear some Underoos, the nurses love seeing them, especially Paw Patrol ones.

I agree! Paw Patrol is all the rage in our house.

This should seal the deal with my hospital nurse Amanda, Nightingale syndrome hard on that one. Paw Patrol you say, I'm going shopping!

Fireman Sam is good too but hard to find and pricey. I've got a Mr. Bubbles t-shirt that gets good responses. I had some Oscar Mayer boxers but I'm not sure where I left them.

We will need pictures! Picture emoji, heart emoji, laugh emoji

Yeah Paul. Pictures or it didn't happen... buddy.

I was just going to say that. I think Disney Chip 'n' Dale ones would be pretty ironic.

The search is on.

See my profile pictures and let me know if they would be okay

Hey Rae... Is it ironic that squirrels like nuts?

They're perfect.

I was thinking of the male dancers "Chippendales". (I think that's how it's spelled.) Kind of a play on words/meanings.

Oh right, those guys. LOL, duh! 😉

That's my brain today too.

Thanks, Rae.

I have a picture of Amanda if that's what you want to see! Oh, I get it, y'all are talking underpants still..

I have a Dale stuffed animal from my trip to Disneyland back in '85, you are talking about strippers/peelers though...

This conversation has turned blue!

I'll have to post those in my profile since I still can't figure out how to insert them in posts! I'm well aware of the "pics or it didn't happen" rule!