Chemical Smell from Hollister Bag Cover: Anyone Else?

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9
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359
Lilytheily
Aug 06, 2025 8:52 pm

Hello, this is my first post, although I have been reading many posts on the site and gathering information. I did Google this question and saw a similar one from several years ago, but the responses did not apply to my situation.
Has anyone experienced a chemical smell from the beige material covering Hollister bags 18113?
This is not an issue with a possibly poorly stored box, as it has happened with several different boxes. And the products in the box do not smell. The smell does not happen until I have worn the product for a couple of days. And it is the top part of the bag, not the part against my skin, so it is not a reaction to my skin. I spoke to a stoma nurse, and she could smell the chemical smell on the bag I was wearing but had never heard of it before. Her suggestion was to rip the material off the front and back of the bag and just wear it with the plastic exposed. After a year of trying many different products from different companies and experiencing skin issues with many of them, I thought I had finally found one that worked for my ileostomy and hernia, only to have this weird problem. Has anyone else had this issue? Any solutions?

AlexT
Aug 06, 2025 9:07 pm

Nope, never a smell.

eefyjig
Aug 06, 2025 9:46 pm

Hi Lily, you must've gotten a weird batch of bags. I guess you could try pulling off the cloth, but it almost seems unfair since I'm pretty sure opaque bags cost more than transparent ones. Have you contacted Hollister directly? Whenever I've had an issue, and it's rare, I've contacted them, and they've offered for me to send back the unopened bags, and they replaced them.

Immarsh

Hi All, If you have an " old" or recent ostomy, this is the place for you. I think I've been a member for more than 15 years, but I have had my surgery, since I was a kid of 15 ( do the math-that's more than 60 years ago). As a teen, with a new ostomy ( for Ulcerative colitis) my parents dragged me off to my first ostomy association meeting. I wasn't happy, but in the long run, it's the best thing that happened to me. I met others, older, and teens like me, adjusting to the changes. A group of us started a Young adult group, and helped each other, and even visited kids who were new to the world of ostomies. But soon I married, and moved out of state, and although made some connections with other NJ ostomates, I became pretty much isolated. Until I discovered MaO. By then, I was having a myriad of other medical issues, and my aging stoma " wasn't doing well". I received a lot of help and support from members! I was pleased that I was also back to supporting others. I met a gal on line (from Papua New Guinea) who was trying to help ostomates in her country. There is a scarcity of supplies in some other countries, and unlike the US, insurance to pay for supplies isn't available. When my son followed his "love" twenty years ago, and moved to Australia I took advantage of an opportunity to help other ostomates. On one of my first visits to Oz, I brought a suitcase full of Ostomy supplies, handed them off to an Ostomy assoc. On the Gold Coast, who then had a friend take them to PNG. They were grateful for the help, and Janet and I still write.. This is the place to be, if you need help, and it also gives you the opportunity to provide help and support to others. Feel free to write, if you'd like to chat, about things ostomy, or life in general. Best REgards to all.. Marsha

Axl
Aug 06, 2025 10:09 pm

Welcome from Oz 🇦🇺 Lily,

Although I use a different brand, I've never had this issue.

IGGIE
Aug 07, 2025 3:02 am

I have used Hollister for 4 years and have never had a smell of any kind. Contact them, and they will sort things out for you.

IGGIE

 

My Ostomy Journey: Ryan | Hollister

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ron in mich
Aug 07, 2025 1:59 pm

Hi all, I've had somewhat of the same issue with Convatec pouches some years ago, and it was a vinyl/plastic smell, but nothing lately.

Beachboy
Aug 08, 2025 4:40 am

Use Hollister 18194 bags for 2 1/2 years. No problems. I change bags occasionally. Change wafer/flange every 10 to 15 days.

Kyle
Aug 10, 2025 9:35 pm

I use Hollister 18004, which has material at the back and clear at the front. I've never smelled the plastic, so maybe try something similar. Are the bags you're using causing irritation?

Lilytheily
Aug 12, 2025 3:39 am

No, I'm not getting any skin irritation from the bag. Thanks for your response.

Georgy Porgy
Aug 14, 2025 1:33 am

I started out using Hollister closed pouches. I loved them but hated when the felt wore off onto my clothes.

I used the Adept lubricant and deodorant until supplies ran low, and my vendor sent Brava deodorant as a substitute. I fell in love with the smell!

I don't recall ever smelling anything other than the deodorant.