To press or not to press?

Hi! I'm a new ostomate (colostomy) since 12-2024. May I ask a question? I like my bag to stay flat against my tummy so as not to be obvious. But when my stoma puts out, it's rather stiff and protruding (depending on diet and Miralax dosing).

I usually press it to flatten back down, but I've noticed it seems to make it more smelly! I've been using bags with full filters. Is that my problem? To press or not to press? I'm in town and can't dump it right now, but it's not very full, just protruding. Ugh!

Sounds to me like you have a pancaking issue. If you press it down and it gets into the filter, you could definitely have a smell. Pressing it down might also be pressing the output under your wafer, which would smell too. The easiest way to fix it is to empty more often and not let the output sit in your bag. Filling your bag with warm water, closing it, then swishing it around to loosen all your output is about the easiest way to get everything out and your bag the cleanest/emptiest it can be.

Not sure what your question really is... When you say "protruding," are you talking about your stoma, or are you talking about air in the bag? If it's your stoma, no, don't press it down; it's not a toy; it's your intestines, and you want your stoma to protrude, trust me. Also, you will pancake and leak. If you're talking about air in the bag, everyone likes theirs different. I leave a little air around my stoma for many reasons; mine goes completely backwards for one, I have EDS, and my intestines are way different, so my stoma will flatten like a pancake, and also because of pancaking. And with a filtered bag, it doesn't surprise me you would have odor; it doesn't seem like they have perfected the filter yet. But why don't you just get a wrap if you're that worried about your bag showing?

What I do to keep my bag from sticking out so much that it is noticeable. I wear lightweight control underwear, the granny panty kind, with just a little elastic and nylon. It supports the contents of the bag but does not squeeze the contents and holds the bag in just a bit. I do not use a bag with a filter because they never seemed to work well.

Yeah, pressing down is not a great idea, for reasons already given here. Filters are pretty useless anyway because they just get clogged up. The easiest thing to do is just put a piece of waterproof tape over the filter, and no smell or output can escape. I know it's not always easy to empty when out in public, but it's really the only way to avoid the 'bulge' situation, other than wearing clothing that disguises it.

Terry

My Ostomy Journey: Ryan | Hollister

Do not press your bag; you are causing your own problems. As already stated, you will get pancaking.

You have a bag that saved your life; probably treat it with respect, and if it shows a bulge, then get some loose clothing to hide it.

Regards, IGGIE

Unfortunately, the area with your bag is going to stick out, so try to adjust your wardrobe to camouflage it. I bought a stealth belt that holds the bag sideways and also got a nice vertical undergarment from Amazon that holds the bag vertically; it even has a little fold to hold the bottom of your pouch. I have never tried the filter bags, as my brother-in-law tried them years ago and said they were useless. There are EZ-vents you can buy, which are a valve with excellent closure. I use hydrogen peroxide in the bag to cut down odor; it works for you and everyone around you—nothing worse than smelling the output. I wouldn't recommend squashing your stoma; just because you can feel it doesn't mean you're not damaging it. There are even plastic covers you can buy to protect it if you're very active; however, I haven't tried them as I really don't do anything dangerous to my stoma. My figure is long gone, as the area with the bag has wiped out any waistline I had—I still have a bit of colon, and all the poop piles up to make a blob—not attractive, but beats the alternative: fistula leaking crap from my vagina—yuk!