Ileostomy Pouches

I have had an ileostomy since 1978. The biggest problem I have is traveling gas buildup in the pouch; the filters that come with these pouches really don't work well; they get wet. I use a two-piece pouch. I eat very little the day of traveling. I've only had one accident on the plane, and that was in the restroom. I opened the door. I told the stewardess my problem, and she fetched my bag with my extra clothes that I always carry with me. It was my fault because I was in a rush, and I pulled off the bag by mistake. I always carry an extra pouch in my back pocket and an extra clip.

Hi donaldepstein765,

It's great that you're sharing your experiences here. You'll definitely find a lot of support from this large community. Many of us have been through similar situations, and it's always helpful to hear how others manage.

Traveling with an ileostomy can be tricky, especially with gas buildup. I've found that using a pouch with a charcoal filter can help a bit, but it's not perfect. Some folks suggest using a pouch cover to keep the filter dry. It's smart to eat lightly before traveling, and carrying extra supplies is a lifesaver. It sounds like you've got a solid plan in place, and it's good to hear that the airline staff was helpful during your incident.

Congrats on being part of this community! You'll find plenty of support, information, and some really cool people who understand what you're going through. Looking forward to hearing more from you!

Welcome Donald.

Good to have you. And I hope you can contribute a wealth of knowledge being a long-time osty.

No surprise about bag filters.

They don't work. But by now you should know what foods to avoid to prevent gas.

And foods do that.

Also, there are pills to control gas.

I use the hydration I.V. too.

But mix it up by drinking many good fluids. It gets boring on one drink alone. One flavor...one type.

At least...for me it does.

Welcome wagon on the way.

Same never found filters to be of any use. I dropped so many of those slam-down closure clips down the toilet, not to mention where the clips used to dig into me! I was so pleased when Velcro closure bags came out. You can always make a few pinholes at the top of the bag, then put a plaster/band-aid over them. Then, when the bag fills with gas, pull it off and apply pressure with your hand on the bag to release gas and put the band-aid back on.

Interesting. I have an Illy and use pouches that have filters. I haven't had to burp my pouch for more than 6 months... go figure ????

Welcome, Donald. I use a pouch with a filter, only because the specific pouch I like doesn't come without it. I put a piece of tape over the filter, as I've found it useless anyway, and have even had output leak out through the filter a couple of times.

Terry

Words of Encouragement from Ostomy Advocates I Hollister

Greetings from New Zealand,

Welcome!
(I'm not particularly fond of the prefilter and filter my new bags come with either).

I use filterless bags since the filters don't work anyway. I do use an Osto EZ vent to release gas, and these work great for me.