Reply to SusanT
@Susan, I don't have problems with pancaking. Like you, I use a 2-piece appliance. For me, the key has been lubricant, weight, and air/gas. For a lubricant, I use "Revel! 'It's in the bag." Proceed with caution because many on this site have complained about oil leaking out of the pouch onto their clothes. I apply only 5 ml! Rub it around the pouch so it is fully lubricated. For odor control, I apply 10 ml of hydrogen peroxide and 3 ml of water. NOTE: I use empty "Skin Integrity" bottles - one spray from the bottle is exactly 1 ml; this enables me to get precise quantities. For odor control, 20-30 ml of hydrogen peroxide is recommended, but 10 ml works fine for me — I may have to tweak the amount to what works for you. In terms of "Revel!", spraying it on rather than squeezing it out in liquid form helps to diffuse it so it is more easily used up while rubbing around the pouch. If any is left, it would slide down and mix with the H2O2 and H2O.
To help prevent a vacuum, weight is needed in the pouch. Some ostomates fold up a piece of tissue and drop it in the bottom of the pouch, but I prefer cotton balls. Again, for odor control, I add Tea Tree and Peppermint essential oils to the cotton ball before dropping it in the pouch.
I add a sticker to my filter when applying the pouch. Once gas begins to build up in the pouch, I remove the sticker. If I initially leave the filter uncovered, it develops a vacuum in the bag. If I allow the pouch to acquire gas before uncovering the filter, the weight of the cotton ball prevents the vacuum effect from occurring once the sticker is removed.
Now the effluent is not able to stick to the pouch.
CAVEATS: (1) I have a colostomy and use closed-end pouches — it may not work for ostomates with an ileostomy and others using open-end pouches, especially since they have to shoot water up into the pouch after emptying, possibly disabling the filter. (2) I also apply a barrier ring to the top of my barrier/wafer/flange — it is applied within the ring on top of the barrier/wafer/flange and around the stoma (life investment). Use your finger and/or a dampened Q-tip to ensure the barrier ring is fully within the ring on top of the barrier/wafer/flange. (3) I prefer Marlen barrier rings for their durability when in direct contact with effluent. (4) I have frequently mentioned odor control, and the final thing I do for odor management is every time I change my closed-end pouch, I clean any effluent around my life investment and inside the ring on top of the barrier/wafer/flange — the longer effluent is left, the bacteria continues to ferment the effluent and release bad odor. As a result of the attention I pay to odor management, I rarely experience any odor when changing my pouch. For a nice clean smell, I also spray Febreze when exiting the bathroom. (5) There is nothing magical about the products I have chosen: Brava lubrication/deodorant works almost as well as Revel! for me; it's actually what I used prior to learning about Revel! on this site. I use Tea Tree oil for its antibacterial properties, while Peppermint oil is used for its smell. Eucalyptus, Lavender, or other essential oils may be equally or more effective. Marlen is just a personal preference for a top-mounted barrier ring; as you know, there are quite a few barrier rings to choose from.
Susan, everything I know about urostomies, I have learned from you. Even though I do not have one, I have learned to be prepared because life happens whether we are prepared or not. Hopefully, there are some elements from my process you can use — I included my rationale to aid in understanding the reasoning for each step to aid in adopting something that works for you but accomplishes the same intent.
I apologize for the length of this post, especially since only you and Nightrose expressed an interest in pancaking. I am hopeful that it is near the end of the thread and BB doesn't notice I leaked 😉 on his pristine church post; I pray Mrs. B doesn't notice. 😊
— Proud owner of lifesaving ostomy, vintage 2023, V6 colostomy engine.
