Howdy y'all, reintroducing my stoma and myself

Howdy bagamigas and amigos, I haven't been here in a year or three, reintroducing myself.

I'm a middle-aged lady with a colostomy. My chocolate-smeared rosebud (the stoma, the ostomy) has been with me since 1997.

Fave products:

Convatec moldable Natura 45mm wafer - NOT the kind with the weird see-through accordion plastic on the ring (to make it easier to snap shut; those are stink factories; no, the old-style Tupperware coupling).

Matching closed-end no filter (filters = smell and pancaking and having to change bags frequently) bags. Convatec has changed them over the last 5+ years; now they don't snap on as easily and are flimsier, sigh.

I had a stoma revision gone wrong a few years ago, which has set my stoma deep into my belly fat. That means I need a lot of convexity, and my fave wafers are convex, but I need more product to really get it to seal. I love the Eakin cohesive rings... I should really go look to see what it's really called... for that. They are made of the same material as the old pectin-based Eakin rings but are slightly softer and more moldable. Love them!

I also love Sure-Seal rings - those are a clear-tape barrier to put over the outside tape of the wafer.

Those are my faves. What are yours?

It's been a long time since I logged on here. I remember it being really fun and on point, full of interesting people with good ideas. If someone I conversed with long ago remembers me, I am working on activating my plan to make cost-effective sink-toilets (stoma height, no more kneeling, no more splashing) a reality. If you're a plumber, I'm ready to talk seriously with you.

May all your moves be smooth, may all your stomas be happy. Thanks for reading and bless all y'all.

Welcome back Bellily,

IGGIE

Welcome back. It sounds like you have had your ups and downs, but you are coping well. It certainly helps to have found a system you can depend on.

Yes, this is a good group of ostomates. It's a great place for support and advice, but we have some laughs too.

Terry

Welcome back.

I used to use Coloplast light convex, but after a surgery in the fall, some things changed.

I use Hollister once again, the New Image 2-piece trainable pouch, the Adapt CeraRing slim, which I love and learned about from here, and the CeraPlus accordion light convex wafer. I love the barrier extenders.

The product is very lightweight, and it took a while to get used to. I usually change after 2 days, sometimes 3.

My Ostomy Journey: Kimberly | Hollister

Yup, the Cera products are good!

: )

Morning glory, where are you in NC?

I'm in Hillsborough.

Hi Belily! Love bagamigos! You named her Rosebud? Mine is "Little Buddy" - Cap't Jonas Grimsby. I switched to the same Convetec moldable 3 years ago. Not one leak!! Met the Convetec rep and an RN at a UOAA meeting on 8/2024. They showed me that you can wipe the pouch's ring with a wet finger. It will snap right on. The worst filter of the big three. Poop spots on my shirt, PU!! They demonstrated a new filter system. A bag in a bag. Only available in "convex models," but said it would be available in all models. I checked around Easter, not yet! I am a tinkerer. Plumbing was my best skill. Made a shower protector that works and a handy container to empty it on the road or in the wilderness. Saw a device posted by an Asian? MaO member, a small sink with a U-shaped front. Lean your stoma up to it. Had a hand sprayer on it, too.

Thomasville

Yaaas!!

Love your reply, my bagamigo! Convatec for the win (if they'll continue to make them without filters). Good tip: the wet finger trick; I've been bending the coupling ring on the bag back and forth a few times, and that sorta works, but the wet finger will be tried out later this morning after my morning load is in the bag.

The device you saw posted is exactly what I'm talking about. I'm trying to start a conversation with local plumbers about it, but it's been like herding cats.. I just know that we can jimmy-rig something like that for folks like us to have in our houses (without having to import systems from Japan), maybe replacing the bathroom sink with a bigger draining pipe.. something. I'll keep y'all in the loop about it and invite your thoughts. My tentative dream is coming up with a system that can be a business for me.

Wishing you and little buddy a fab week. : )