My take on ostomy bags

So, I'm new to this. I've had a bag, urostomy, for about 10 days. I've only used 2, both 1 piece. But, I found I like 1 and 1 I do not.

Here's the scoop.

The bag out of surgery was a Hollister. It was on for 4 days. The adhesive on the outer edge around the barrier ring irritated the shit out of my skin. Not a fan. I don't like the valve for emptying. I thought I would, wrong.

Replaced with a Coloplast Sensura. The barrier ring adheres to the skin, nice. No irritation at all. The drain is just a plug. I think there are a couple benefits of the plug. The first is ease of use, but, be smart and hold it higher than the urine in the bag, don't ask why I know this. The second is when a night bag is attached it's flowing. With a valve you have to remember to make sure it's open.

I'm looking forward to trying the Coloplast Sensura Mia Click. I think I want a 2 piece to be able to wear vertical or horizontal depending on the activities I have planned. I'll let y'all know how it goes.

Hello Killshot.

I don't know too much about bags for urostomies, but one of my ex-clients had what seemed like a very useful bag which had a tube going down his trouser leg to the level of his shoe. On the end of that was a tap for emptying.
I know this because, one day he asked for my help, and I got him to lean on me while he placed his foot on the toilet rim, and I undid the tap for him.
I recall thinking that this all seemed like a very practical, clean and efficient method of management for someone who had mobility issues.

Best wishes

Bill

Hi Killshot. I use Coloplast too, having tried hollister, convatec and another. For me it's a Colonostomy, but I guess it's pretty similar system to yours. Coloplast Sensura Mio (one-piece) I liked for a number of reasons - the grey is less "medicinal"/granny's gusset than the flesh-coloured ones, they don't crinkle and rustle as much as others. and the adhesive has been ultra-reliable. Maybe I have skin like a rhino 'cos I rarely get irritation, unless I've had to change it more than once a day. 

I’ve had an ileostomy bag since 2014. I learned early on that wearing my bag sideways with a Spandex maternity pooch thingy works nicely. I’ve also used the two pouch support from OstomySecrets for years but it tended to pull on my bag (I wear two piece pouching). 

Two issues I have: I’m high output so I require a longer bag with a tap. I also had a leak with sepsis two days after the colectomy and after being ripped back open during emergency surgery I have irregular skin along with a parastomal hernia. Thus, the leaks have been a major problem. After trying configurations and samples from all the companies I fell in love with the Convatec accordion flange barrier. It adheres flat but the bag isn’t right against the skin like other barriers. The bag is attached to a flexible accordion like arm, thus it’s away from the skin but it folds flat. If there should be a leak it doesn’t burn my skin as bad. The problem preventing me from using it is that the high output bag has a hard tap that doesn’t squeeze. So things like corn, carrots, peas, etc would clog in the tap and I was having to dig it out with a Qtip. That doesn’t work out in public. My Coloplast high output bag is a soft tap which squeezes easily.

So I’m back to trying different products and configurations. Even my ostomy nurse concedes that it’s a challenge. One would think that after eight years I would have it figured out. I’m still searching for the Holy Grail of ostomy systems!

HI again.  As you said you are new to the Urostomy.  I am NOT  ( 10+ years). There is a world of difference between two different Hollister pouches.

I went about 9 years changing my bag every three days and having this irritation problem if I didn't blow dry it 100% dry ....no fun for sure.  However, about a year ago I changed to a different Hollister barrier Ring.  The ones I use now are 11505 Skin Barrier ring with CeraPlus and same 18413 pouch i always used.  With the new Barrier ring I have done two things of great relief and importance.  1.) Totally stopped any irritation and 2.) Increased my wear time from 3 days to 7 days. ( I could and have at times gone up to 9 days.) This proves out to be more economical even though the barrier rings are more costly.  A Win, win situation, try it out. I'm sure you will be quite as happy as I am.

Jim 

I agree. I am going through system change at the moment and the Sensura Mio is the best so far. I have a Urostomy.