What gets you through the day & night??

Hi panko What gets me through the day and night? I have to say it's got to be my dog. Crazy as hell when he comes back from his walk's. Runs from sofa to sofa for a few minutes then stops and when he looks at you his eyes ???? have the home and away look lol ????????. Never a dull moment. Cuppa and midget gems got to be lions though. XX

Hi panko I've been doing this for the last few months and it's definitely leads to a better seal which is win win. Thanks for the tip. I used to have a Alsatian got her from PDSA she was a beauty and very big softie lol ????. I have a schitzu now pure black but always have him short cut. Xx

Hey Panko and Caz, The hairdryer tip was a game changer for me too. I make sure my peri-stomal skin is really dry and then run the hairdryer around the flange for around 30 seconds. Haven't had a leak since (fingers crossed) and my wear time has increased big time. I only change every six days, which is really good for an ileo. Nothing better than having a dog. Wish we still did. Losing our last pup was very painful, and not sure when or if we will be ready for another. We walk our neighbourhood every day and know all the names of the dogs who live along the way. We always have treats. No idea what any of their human's names are!! Terry

Hi Terry Funny how I am the same know other people's dogs names but not got any ideas of the owner's lol ????. Sorry about you losing your dog. At the end of the day they are our babies, always happy to see you and never shouts or abuses you. Unconditional love XX ??

I wear a Hollister one piece, the product number is #8958, and it's the best appliance I've ever used. As long as I get a good seal, super dry skin, cut the hole well, and prepare the flange with the hair dryer, it stays put. I change, for instance I'm changing it today, then won't change again until next Thursday. I shower daily and clean the outside of the pouch with soap and water so I always feel clean. I used to use a two piece but didn't get as good a seal, even though it was also a Hollister, the flange was different. I also had leaks occasionally around the seal and even had the top piece come off a couple of times during the night, ughh, not fun. The Coloplast pouches just don't work for me, can't get them to stay on for more than a couple of days. Everyone is different and what works for one person will be a big fail for others. It's good to try lots of different products. Terry

Hi Panko, Another thing I should mention that I think has improved my wear time. After applying the new pouch, I hold it firmly in place, covering it with my hand so that I'm applying even pressure all around the flange, and keep holding it in place for around 90 seconds. I used to just hold it in place for a few seconds and that may have not been enough. The extra time is worth it. I also didn't mention that the pouch I use, the #8958, has a soft convex wafer which has also made a big difference from the flat wafers. They are just as comfortable as the flat ones and more comfortable than the hard convex. Good luck and Happy New Year to you too! Terry

Hi Panko, My bags are vented, but it's only because you can't get that particular bag without a vent. I cover the vent with one of those little stickers, so it doesn't work. I've never liked vents because they tend to make the bag suck in against the stoma and make it more difficult for output to slide down to the bottom. If I have gas build up, I just "burp" my bag.

Hi Terry/ panko I only found out about the vent about a month ago too ????. Better late than never right? XX

So glad I could help out! It's what this site is all about, ain't it great!? Terry

You are a hoot Panko! Not sure about the black bags for me, wouldn't look too good under my white T shirts! And I am far from being a veteran, got my first stoma just over two years ago, emergency colostomy from a perforated bowel, then a second surgery to remove more large bowel a few months later. Major problems ensued and I finally got my current ileostomy just over one year ago, which meant learning to live with an entirely different stoma, so different products, etc. I'm still learning myself, but I'm lucky I've found products that work well for me. It's nice to be able to pass on any knowledge or tips I can, because I've appreciated all the help I've gotten from members of this site, as well as good doctors and ostomy nurses I've been lucky to have. Terry

Thanks for the internet radio stations... Mi Soul, Mi Groove & Mi House! I am hooked! LOL {{{Hugs}}}