Seeking Advice on Thickening Output

So finally I have been told that my stomal therapy nurse is able to order me the Convatec Diamonds Gelling and Odour Control Sachets, but I can only get a bottle of 100 sachets per month. I guess that is the maximum she can order.
I read the info on the sachets of the 15 sachets I got as samples, and I know that it says not to cut the sachets up - but using one sachet still keeps my output watery, and 2 sachets make my output turn into a thick porridge - and since the sachets start absorbing as soon as I put them into my pouch, I was wondering if I could cut one in half, and try using 1 and a half sachets to see if that would work?

I am a little disappointed as my nurse asked me how many sachets I'd be wanting to use in a day, and I think due to my bags being large that I could empty my bag maybe four times a day - which if I used 8 sachets a day would only last me 12.5 days.... Okay scratch that, I am deeply disappointed.
There is absolutely no way we could afford to buy it ourselves, but I was hoping that using the sachets, if I managed to thicken out my output, that my SenSura Mio large output bag pre-filters would last longer than they do now - as they clog up within 4 hours....

Anyway, I have sent my stoma nurse an email just asking her to cancel the order - as I will not be able to use the sachets for what I wanted to use them for.

However, a while back someone mentioned that you can use 'porridge oats' to put into the pouch to thicken output - does anyone know if this would be practical to use? If it works?

If it was not for the stupid way the pre-filters in the SenSura Mio bags were designed (not exactly suitable for ostomates with watery output.... I have complained a few times to Coloplast but they keep ignoring me - and I wish that my old Convatec bags could fit onto the SenSura Mio baseplates - but they don't.
I did find a YouTube video where a lady cuts her pre-filters out, but I have tried doing that, leaving just the main filter - but that doesn't make any difference!!

Since I like the base plates - and I haven't got the constant leaking that I had with my Convatec wafers, I don't really want to ask if I could try a different bag.....

I just don't know what to do!!

It does not help that today is one of my 'bad' days where I feel as sick as a dog. And probably if I'd been a dog someone would have put me down by now....
Sorry, I am not feeling very positive today.....

Gracie

We all have days like that. The trick is to just keep going. Activity will eventually lighten your mood. I learned that during chemo, there were days when it was all I could do to pull myself out of bed and go sit in the living room. But even that little activity had a positive effect.

No advice on the oats. Maybe try it and see.

Hey there,

So I will tell you that no matter what the consistency of your output is, the Coloplast pre-filters are horrible either way. As soon as output touches it, it soaks up like a sponge and clogs the filter. Have you tried filterless bags? And yes, Coloplast has a nice habit of ignoring your concerns. I have been having issues with their bags every single month; I have holes in my bags for over a year and a half. They replace them, and those have holes, and on and on. I have spoken to managers, supervisors, sent pictures, sent the product back, etc. I contacted the CEO, and he pushed the issue to have someone else deal with it, which they sent an email and have yet to follow up. I will say, out of the helpful ones, Coloplast isn't. They do the bare minimum. Hollister and Convetec seem to reach out more to try and help.

G-Day Gracie,

Personally, I prefer my output to be more liquid because I find it easier to empty. Just pour it out and wipe the opening, and it's done, but when it is thicker, it's a mess to get it all out and then clean it up.

Regards, IGGIE

Hello Grace

Maybe as Sue T suggests - just try the SPOats?

[Personally, I figure they are likely to produce a stickiness which - if you are having a warm output/day - could be rather difficult to clear from the pouch? But you will never know - so try - it can only happen once..... you may be agreeably surprised.

Good luck

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Jayne ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

My Ostomy Journey: LeeAnne | Hollister

Thanks, guys,

I am trying to use rolled oats, which I grind in my herb grinder so it becomes a powder - and I was really surprised that it works!!

So I might try that for a while.

It is so hard having output similar to water. Not being able to eat solid food does not help the situation.

If it was not for the fact that I love the SenSura Mio wafers, as I have never in the 6 months I have used them had a leak - which was constantly happening with my old Convatec wafers.
It is a pity that the Convatec bags do not fit onto the SenSura Mio wafers - because then I'd have the perfect product.

And yes, I have started to notice that Coloplast really does not care about their consumers' opinions!! Their whole filter system is an utter disaster as far as I am concerned. 

I have to rinse my pouch after emptying it - as cleaning the rubber spout and plus is impossible to clean with toilet paper - getting my output a little thicker makes it a lot easier to empty my bag compared to if it's colored water.... which splashes everywhere.

Yep, not being able to eat food is a royal pain in the ass!

I don't know why I am feeling so dreadful today, but my pain is out of control. So I slept most of the day as I had no other option but to take some more pain relief.....

Hopefully, tomorrow I will have a better day.

Thanks for being there for me - you have no idea how much I appreciate you guys!!

Fond greetings,

Grace

Gracie, they make the Coloplast SenSura Mio bags without filters. If the filters (which I know are horrible) are bugging you, get the bags without a filter. Since the filter clogs anyway, it's not doing what it's supposed to do; why not switch to filterless?

That's an easy answer - Coloplast does not make high output bags such as the ones I need ....


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I produce so much air it is ridiculous..... My surgeon says I swallow air, which is evident every time they x-ray my gut - as my remaining small bowel has gotten enlarged to the size a large bowel usually is, and it's always filled with lots of air.
Since discovering that I suffer from sleep apnea and I now have to use a machine and mask at night, it makes my air production even worse.

However, I did after some trial and error figure out that by grinding rolled oats up finely, if I use 2 tablespoons into my bag after I have emptied it, I get basically the same results as I did using the ConvaTec Diamonds Gelling Sachets - except this is cheaper. My pre-filter no longer clogs up as fast; in fact, my filter lasts a couple of days now. Which makes me so happy - as I am not able to eat solid food - and even if I could, nothing I eat actually gets absorbed and comes out looking like it did when I ate it - even chocolate comes out undigested!

Getting advice from other members is helping me enormously! And I thank you all for your help!!

Gracie

G-Day Gracie,

Try kitty litter in your bag. It seems to absorb okay for cats; it might just work in your bag. Try it as it is, or try grinding it. Just a thought; give it a go.

Regards, IGGIE