problem solved

Never thought I would blog, and I'm not sure what I can say here. But I was having a real problem with the barrier coming off in a very short time. I knew it was the shape of my stomach and scars that were causing it. I tried every manufacturer out there. Lots of samples, but still no luck. And as a last resort, I tried Cymedostomy and got a sample from them. They are different from the rest. Their products work. The barrier is like a second skin. It does not come off until you take it off. They offer ileostomy, colostomy, and urostomy products. If you're having problems with staying power, and not living because of problems, give them a try. Now I can stay active and still work.

That is good news. I too have tried samples from Cymed and found their flange awesome. Then again, they are the only two-piece system I have tried thus far. With any luck, the ones I asked Hollister for will be here soon, and I will have a comparison to go by. I would have liked Cymed pouches even more if they were not glued to the flange because I was hoping to be able to take the pouch part off and clean it out with some water and vinegar between changes.

where do you get these products?

Lulu, if you google Cymed Microskin, you can come up with a bunch of online companies that sell them. I bought a bunch for when I go swimming, they are flat and do not come off in the water, and totally waterproof, they are like a second skin, however, they are relatively expensive and I only get two days out of a wafer. I do not have insurance, so am self-paying and I only use them occasionally, but they are great, almost like wearing nothing.

Cymed one piece pouches are the best out there. I highly recommend them. The best thing about them is their ability to act as a secondary seal if you have a failure. They give you some time to react. Their two piece pouches are not so great.

Stories of Living Life to the Fullest from Ostomy Advocates I Hollister

Nbaker, are you using an ileostomy or colostomy? If you use an ileostomy, they are thicker and last a lot longer. Colostomies are a lot thinner and only last a short period.

Here's the system that works for my and my Ileostomy:1. Clean and dry the area around the stoma. This is very important. Remove all of the old adhesive.2. Prep the Cymed one piece pouch by warming the flange seal with a hair dryer.3. Prep a Hollister no. 7805 moldable seal and place it on the pouch flange. 4. Apply a skin barrier around the stoma and let it dry.5. Warm up the pouch/seal assembly with a hair dryer and place it (centered) over the stoma.6. Apply slight pressure to the pouch for 20-30 seconds to seal it to the skin. I use a plastic ring made from a Tupperware container to apply the pressure equally around the stoma.7. Get on with your day and have fun.I hope this is useful to someone. I Change every 6 days and with the Cymed system I can shower in between changes with no problems. As most everyone knows, the best time to change is first thing in the morning when there is little or no flow to deal with.

Cymed didn't last any time for me

Well, not every appliance works for everyone. The good news is that mostly all are willing to give free samples. Just go to their sites or even call them. I am in the process of trying as many as I can get my hands on before I call in for my next order!

Very true, I can't wear Hollister; they make me break out. But the samples make it easier to find the one that does work for you.