Experiences with Ostomy Bags Without Barrier Rings

Hey eefyjig, thank you very much. I appreciate that; that's very sweet of you to come to my rescue. 😁

Thank you, Beth!!

I ordered a sample! Has anyone tried the Brava protective sheets?

I use the salts ring and I'm very happy with it.
My friend who lives in the states has had trouble with every ring available to her. She now uses the Brava protective sheet directly on her skin with no ring at all and swears by it.
I tried it too, but the Brava protective sheet was too sticky for me and I had trouble removing it. We are all different, and it may just work for you.

I have it designed to help protect the skin from the rest of the wafer, so it pretty much acts as fake skin if you're having issues with the wafer. I tried it to see if it would help with leaking issues, and no, not at all. It is not made to help soak up any output that you might be leaking; it is literally meant to be like fake skin, and it's thick. It's not thin, so if you have a retracted stoma, definitely don't use it.

I am currently using the Brava protective sheets, but I cut them so they just cover the circle around my stoma that is highly irritated. I have a severely retracted stoma that is also in a bend in my belly, so I have had major issues. The Brava sheets protect the skin and pretty much dissolve when it comes time to take the bag off. At first, I was using the entire sheet under my bag but had the same problem with removing it; it also would get wet in the shower and become gluey, sticking to the bag. Now that I only use it to cover my irritated skin, my skin is beginning to heal. All the rings that I tried did not work for me, but that might be because it is so very convex. Using it this way has also allowed me to increase my walking up to a mile in 30 minutes, so that's good too.

How to Adjust to Life with an Ostomy with Bruce | Hollister

Thank you all. I was advised to just cut a small piece where I had the issue and try it with the wafer. It'll have to be a weekend try in case it fails.

My stoma does stick out, but the Coloplast rep wasn't sure a ring would help. I am going to try them again because I need something confident.

Question to those using a ring - are you putting the ring around the stoma with or without paste? Then you are cutting your wafer with little to no space between the wafer and skin/ring.

Hi,

No, paste is an alternative to the barrier ring; they are not intended to be used together.

Here is my procedure, which works reliably for me… your mileage may vary…

1) Clean and dry the skin 5” around the stoma… remove all hair, even little ones, and dry with powder if needed.

2) Apply skin barrier film all the way up to the base of the stoma and let dry.

3) Stretch the ring to snugly fit over the stoma, leaving no exposed skin next to the stoma. If I overstretch the ring, I simply break it open, then fit it snug to the stoma at the bottom and overlap the ends at the top.

4) Remove the adhesive cover from the bag seal and apply firmly for 20-30 seconds over the ring. Then smooth out the adhesive to the skin.

5) Wear the belt (with cover bags only) for the first hour at least, and then as needed.

Also, I tend to be very active, so my stomach can develop a bit of prolapse, which makes it tough to get a snug fit with the ring and bag seals. Then I simply sprinkle a little sugar directly on the stoma, which causes it to rapidly shrink for a few minutes, making fitting the ring and bag much easier!

Hope that helps!

pete

Sugar?! 😋

Wow! What a regimen. Thanks for the details. I again appreciate all the feedback from your experience; it's helpful right now.

Yes! Simple table sugar! The shrinking effect is nearly instant and safe!

Hi corlsharonl49

I have a permanent colostomy, and I tried all kinds of rings, and none worked, even the convex ones. So I decided to try none at all, and it was the best decision I ever made. It's now been 2 years, and I'm not going to say there are no leaks, but very few. I do irrigate and have been for the last 10 years. I first had a loop ostomy, which I did use the ring for, but when it was changed to an end colostomy and I couldn't get a fit with the rings I tried, I went without and have never regretted it. Hope you find a solution; I know how frustrating it was for me.

I have been using Perfect Choice barrier rings since they were first available, around 2016. I have so few leaks that I can't even remember the last time I had one. I would not trade those for anything. They are what works for me; everyone is different.

Hi, I just wanted to say I have had my ileostomy since 2013, very convex, and I have never had a good fit… I even had a company make a personal mold just for my stoma. Three years later, after suffering, I had it moved to the left and started using Convatec 413518. You mold the wafer to fit your stoma and stick the bag on. That's it!!! I haven't had a problem or a leak since. I also use ilesobs, which are little packets that draw liquids in the bag away from the stoma, which keeps it drier. Best decision I ever made. Please give them a try!! Good luck. This is just my experience… as we all know, no stomas are the same.

This thread has provided a lot of information for several of us, such good suggestions. I do think that colostomies and ileostomies are different, and what works for one wouldn't work for the other. I'm getting samples from Convatec, Coloplast, and Hollister. I even tried Coloplast's new black bags, which are quite sharp but shorter than my Hollister. Also, the tacky rings from Convatec and Coloplast are something I'm not used to, and I don't have any adhesive remover because I was advised not to use it with my Hollister Ceraplus bag 🤷🏼‍♀️, so it's quite challenging to remove. Paula, I have to look up "perfect choice barrier rings."

G-Day eefyjig,

Why were you told not to use an adhesive remover with Hollister? I have always used an adhesive remover and never had a problem.

Regards, IGGIE

Hey Iggie, because there's something in the wafer, Ceraplus, that is different, an adhesive remover could affect the adhesion of that bag.

Must be that the one I am using isn't Ceraplus.

IGGIE

I use Coloplast brava rings. I have very few issues with leaking. I have a urostomy. I was using the Hollister cera rings but noticed they swelled too much.

I use Coloplast ostomy bags and find you do need adhesive remover; it makes it so much easier. If you don't have any, try using baby oil to remove the residue. It takes a bit longer but works. The downside is you have to make sure you remove all oil before applying your bag, so I use baby wipes, then a wet dry wipe, then dry as usual.

My wife had a similar problem. I use a Brava moldable ring (4.2 mm), which is important because it is thicker. Then I use a Hollister Red #11703 skin barrier and a Hollister ref #18193 bag. I tried everything, and this fixed our problem.

For me, it's the Hollister Adapt Cera Ring... the THIN version. I tried the thicker one, and it simply pushed everything away from my body and created leaks.

I have used the Salts Confidence bags since they came out, but to be honest, I haven't tried the Salts rings, so I may give them a go.

Tried Eakin rings. They would occasionally leak at night; I hated the mess at 2 a.m. You need better contact with your wafers. Tried Coloplast and Hollister. Found ConvaTec seals the best. No leaks in 3 years! Many use convex, and it can help. It depends on the shape of your stoma. Check with an ostomy RN.

I haven't been on this site for a while… but I saw this thread and was very interested. I had asked about the best barrier rings in the past too, and a few recommended the Brava rings. I tried them and they were just okay; they seemed too sticky for me. I went back to the Hollister brand Adapt and like the thin version better than the thick. I don't think they are CeraPlus, so I want to check that out, especially since I use the CeraPlus bags. I have used adhesive remover wipes when needed, not every time, and they worked just fine if you make sure the area is dry before placing your bag.

As for Coloplast bags, I have not had any luck with those. I wanted them because they had plastic seals instead of cloth, and I thought maybe I could go swimming. But just testing them at home without even going into water, they leaked, no matter which barrier seal I used. I even tried their hernia bags, but because of the petal design, they would leak mostly where the petals curve inwards and were thinnest. I even tried the barrier extenders around the seals, but those are too sticky, and they hurt pulling them off my skin.

I have had a colostomy since June 2024. So far, I have tried the Coloplast Brava Ring, Hollister Ring, Eakin Ring, and also rings from Temu and AliExpress. The best one is the Eakin Ring. It's very good for leak protection, especially together with the Cavilon no-stink barrier film spray. I have never tried it without the ring, though!

This one post has generated so much valuable advice. It shows how different we all are and how many things there are to try. I have been using a piece of the Brava sheet, and it's been helping.

I still would like to get back to using a ring and am waiting for samples. I get frustrated now with just the wafer because I have to be precise. With that, some days I can fit that thing the first time, and others it takes me multiple times to get it perfect. I hate wasting product.

It's a work in progress, and I'm at least hopeful. I was in a dark place, and I know you all know what I mean.

Well, my skin started burning on the way home from a concert tonight, so as soon as I got home, I took the bag off that I had put on this morning, and there was some waste under my Coloplast ring. I guess I can scratch Coloplast Brava rings off my list. I was lucky I got to enjoy Al DiMeola's show before the ostomy fun began.

Huh? I use adhesive remover every time with my Hollister stuff, never an issue after washing/rinsing well. 🤷‍♂️

Hey Alex, I'm in the middle of trying to find a replacement ring for my Safe n Simple ones that are apparently being produced by a different manufacturer and aren't the same. I tried the Coloplast slim; it was fine the first time, leaky the second. I'm still using my Hollister bag.

Get the Adapt/Hollister rings and enjoy. My second choice would be Eakin Stomawraps since my stoma is bigger and I hardly have to stretch those.

I'm waiting for the free samples from Hollister to arrive so I can give them a try. I'm sure I used them with my temp ileo fifteen years ago, but that stoma had perfectly flat skin around it, and I used flat bags. Fingers crossed....