Tips for Dressing with an Ileostomy Bulge

I have an ileostomy, and I'm having problems with the bulge. How do you dress to cover it up?

Loosely wear a wrap to hold it against your skin.

I wear loose clothing and long shirts. I also bought a bag cover on Amazon that I hope will reduce that crinkling plastic sound!

Lee

Does the bag cover really reduce the "crinkle" sound? People who know about my ostomy say they don't even hear it, that I am the only one to hear it because I am more aware of it.

In my opinion, no, it doesn't. It's all for the purpose of covering your bag up. After trying them when I first got my bag, here's my thought on them. 1) Just another thing to deal with. 2) The ones I tried didn't do a thing for noise. 3) I've never seen anyone walking around in public showing off their bag cover unless it's for a photo of some sort, so I really don't get the concept since you already have a shirt covering it. I guess I can see using one in intimate moments if it'll stay on. 4) They do nothing for support.
So, for me, they're just a waste of money. After trying them in the beginning, I couldn't even tell you where mine are now. ‍

How to Manage Emotions with LeeAnne Hayden | Hollister

Release the gas on a regular basis, and buy your bottoms one size up.

Hi Mark

I find that overshirts, which sit over the trouser waistline, do this well, and here in the UK, they are a fashionable item.

Will

Can you explain how you wear your Soma bag? For example, I find a lot of people are wearing it vertically, where it's hanging south of your belly button. I hang mine horizontally with a wrap, and talk about a bulge! When you start pooping, it looks like an alien forming on the side of your body. But I think what you should really consider is the security of the bag. So I wear a wrap, and I wear it horizontally, and I can fit clothing just fine. Wearing loose shirts helps a lot. They have a shirt called Untuckit; maybe you've heard of it for men, where it just hangs over your belt, you know? Very loose-fitting shirts are very helpful. I don't think you can ever hide that bulge. A one-piece appliance is likely the slimmest approach.

If you're a vest-type wearing person, that hides it well too.

A leather vest would be hot to wear, but you get the idea? It won't conform to your body.

I'm fairly small and tall, so mine shows even when the bag is empty. I found these shapewear tank tops at Walmart. They were about 20 bucks for a tank top; I checked again in the last week, and they've gone up another 10. They fit snug, so it gives me more time in between empties. And then I found these head wraps. They look like a fabric headband, but with extra fabric, like a tank top without the bust, a tube. I don't know how else to explain it, but I wear them around my waist, and it helps with the weight of a stoma bag and keeps it snug against my tummy.