I asked which stoma bag is good, and also posted an academic article about stoma bags.
Since then, I myself have tried several stoma bags from different bag makers. Then I realized each one has its own preferences, problems, etc. So, even if advice from others is really helpful to consider stoma bags, the final decision must be made by myself.
To be honest, I haven't made up my mind yet about which maker is the best for me...😩
It takes time and trial and error.
You gotta try many different wafers, bags, barrier rings, support belts, paristomal skin care products, and barrier film.... before discovering what works best for you.
I was lucky. The 2 piece Hollister system I got after surgery has worked well for me. I started using a moldable barrier ring after I developed a mild parastomal hernia. At first I tried an Adept 2 inch diameter ring. But I kept tearing it during stretching. Switched to Coloplast Brava 2 inch ring. This ring worked very well, no tearing.
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Hi Mike and all. I am not sure how panoramic my perspective really is as my peripheral vision shrinks with each passing year. I can tell you that when I came to this website six years ago I was truly ;impressed by the positive attitudes of so many members, especially the younger folks who refused to let their ostomies define who they were or what they would become. I also came to appreciate that having an ostomy is not the same thing as having a disease. Pardon ;my pun now, but ostomies and cancer don't belong in the same bag. One is a solution, the other is a problem. Celebrating National Ostomy Day ;is also well outside my comfort zone. That's like celebrating National Wheel Chair Day. Come on!
I think there is a ;need for improved ;public awareness of ostomies, but I am not sure how that's best done. There ;remains ;some social stigma attached to our situation, and it's acutely felt among our young. We need to get out of the dark ages on this issue, but not by going 'in your face' to everyone else. I think Bill and NDY are 'spot-on' when it comes to telegraphing the right message to friends and family. People will know how to react when they ;see ;how we accept the cards we were dealt. I also appreciate the contribution some people here are making to this effort through their publications.
On a personal note, my son has been suffering from ulcerative colitis for years just like I did. I am very concerned because people with UC are at a higher risk for colon cancer. Years ago my GI told me to get annual colonoscopies to be on the safe side. I am glad I did because he eventually found pre-cancerous cells which led to several surgeries and my becoming an ostomate. Since then I have always ;conveyed a positive attitude to ;my son about wearing a bag because it has kept me alive to enjoy many more years with my loved ones. I think he got the message. We both go to the same gastroenterologist in NYC and get scoped on the same day. Father and Son moments!
Someone once wrote that our children are the letters we write to the future.
PB
Hello
Just try a small range of bags and choose one, don't spend the rest of your life trying to test every bag in the world, you will drive yourself crazy.
Yes, Bebej - you are so right!!! I have been trying different products as well, and each one has something I really like along with things I don't like. I always go back to one I have used for a long time. It fits the majority of my “likes”. The difficult thing in trying products is that you only receive 2 or 3 samples. For me, this is not enough time to decide and to make a change.
I'm using the 2-piece Mio systems from Coloplast on both ostomies.
I came home from the hospital with the 2-piece Hollister systems, but my home ostomy nurse switched me to Coloplast.
To be honest, they both seemed to work for me. There are definitely things I like and dislike about both, but I'm not very motivated to keep experimenting. The Coloplast works, I'm getting 7 days' wear time, I'm happy.
You are right Bebe, the right system is the one that works for you. That's why it's really hard to recommend specific products, because what works well for one person could be terrible for another. But I also agree with Axl, don't make yourself crazy trying everything on the market. If you find a system that works well, decent wear time and no leaks and comfortable to wear, be happy with it. There may be no such thing as perfection.
Terry