Leaking Where Pouch Connects to Ring

I am using a convex Hollister 2-piece pouch and wafer. I don't have leakage under the wafer, but I do have leakage between where the ring on the pouch attaches to the wafer. Then the bag in that area gets wet with stool. I can see leaking where I snap the bag onto the wafer. Not sure if I am explaining this well. Is anybody else having this issue? I seem to have a good fit around my stoma.

Hi, are you sure it is snapped in place securely all the way around? I use a one piece, so I'm guessing this might be the problem.

Yes, I checked that. When I press down on it, I see leakage.

To be clear, you are getting leakage between the bag and the wafer where they are attached. It is not between the wafer and the flexible ring that goes between the wafer and the skin.

If it's between the bag and the wafer and you are seeing leakage when pressing down on the junction, then there is a problem with your wafers or your bags or both. This sounds like a manufacturing issue. You could try complaining and getting replacements, but many people have not had much success with this route. You might be better off looking for a different product.

I think you may have a defective product. Other members have had this happen. Did this just start with a new box of products?

I do not use a convex wafer but do use Hollister products, and the last box of bags I received does not snap down securely enough onto the wafer. I did call Hollister and voice my concerns.

Words of Encouragement from Ostomy Advocates I Hollister

Hubz uses a 2-piece Hollister drainable with no filter.

When installing a new bag, he checks the seal before putting in lubricant by putting air inside the bag, holding the end closed and laying his hand on the air-filled bag. If it holds air, the bag is good, and the seal is good.

He then adds lubricant, puts a layer of air again in the bag to prevent pancaking, and he's good to go.

A blow dryer can be used to push air into the bag, or he just lifts the pouch enough to draw air inside and closes the bottom.

He started doing this when he got a batch of pouches that seemed to leak but couldn't tell from where. There were several in that box that leaked like this, but he hasn't had any since.

I stopped using Hollister two-piece appliances for that exact reason. If my output was very loose or watery, which it sometimes is, it would leak from what should be a watertight seal between the bottom and top parts of the appliance. It was always firmly snapped into place. I've heard others have had the same experience. I just won't use a two-piece appliance anymore.

Terry

Thank you so much for your replies. I am thinking it is the product. I do use bags with a filter. I was also having leaking from the filter. I will call Hollister tomorrow.

I've had leaking from the filter with Hollister products too. I put a piece of tape over the filter, and it solves the problem. The filters never worked for me anyway, as they would just get clogged up and become useless within a day.

Terry

Interesting. I've used a Hollister 2-piece with the "mechanical" connector since jump street and have never had a leakage problem around the connection. Well, I did once. But that was because my ostomy nurse wanted to peek at my stoma, and I failed to check that she got it back on properly. It was okay until I got out of bed the next morning. Then, plop, I had a bag of shit on the floor next to my bed. Fortunately, it fell butter side up. 😜

Daniel

I've seen other people complain about leakage from the filter. Again, I personally have never seen this. I have been quite happy with Hollister products. I have had a few bags that have popped a leak around the closure. In 3 years, that has happened 3-4 times. Not enough to worry about. And it's easy enough to just change the bag.

The way you describe the seal as leaking when you first put it on and pressing on it makes me think you are changing your appliance during an active period and getting output on the seal before full attachment. Is that the case? If it is, I strongly suggest that you include a good 12 hours of fasting before doing a change. I do mine first thing in the morning, after having stopped all eating after 6 PM the night before. This gives me lots of chances to take a naked shower. I also thoroughly rinse my bag and stomach before removing the appliance. That helps minimize the mess of cleanup.

I also rinse before changing only the bag, which I often do midway through the 7 days between wafer changes. I use a 300 ml bottle for my rinses. I do half the bottle, or so, to remove the initial output. I then use the rest for a second rinse. During both, I make sure to swish around the stoma real well. That way, I don't have a lot of messy output getting in the way of attaching the bag.

By the way, do you have an ileostomy or a colostomy? If the former, are you taking anything like loperamide to slow down or bulk up your output? Or eating things like bananas or potatoes to thicken things? Watery output can more easily lead to difficult changes and be more prone to leaks. But that is usually a problem that presents itself with leaks under the wafer.

Daniel

If you're wearing that little white one-inch belt, make sure not to get it too tight, or that will cause the wafer to bow at the top and bottom and possibly make the seal pop loose. Do you have a peristomal hernia?

Hi Res,

Like MM, I've been using the Hollister two-piece with convex for over 14 years and only ever had a problem with the mechanical connection when I didn't make sure the bag was properly connected to the barrier. You mention that if you push on the area, you can see output squeeze out. That means the connection from the bag is not fully seated into the connection in the barrier. When the connection is properly made, there is no space between the two sealing surfaces... so if something squishes out, it means there's a space between the two, which could only be there if both halves weren't fully seated. Whether that's because of a material defect, something foreign in the sealing groove, or improper installation, I can't say... but sometimes you'll think you've fully clicked the two together and you haven't. I always start attaching the bag at the bottom of the barrier and ensure a full clicking seal as I move upward toward the top. When you remove the leaking bag/barrier, clean the sealing area real well and see how well it seals. You shouldn't be able to turn the bag when attached to the barrier, and the plastic ring on the bag will be touching the plastic ring on the barrier when fully seated. So you should see no space between the barrier and the bag where they seal. Let us know what you find.

;O)

I've used a Hollister 2-piece for my sigmoid colostomy for 3 years. Never had a leak develop.

At the very beginning, I didn't fully snap a bag all the way around at the bottom of the bag seal. That leaked, but it was my fault. I now use a handheld mirror to check the underside of the bag seal to the wafer. I also wear a Nu-Hope support belt that holds the bag flange securely against the base plate.

I unsnap the top of the bag seal all the time for burping; it always snaps back tightly.

Hi all, I use a 2pc. Convatec system, and when I put the pouch on, I run my fingernail all around to make sure the seal is tight. If there's any gap in part of the seal, then I put more pressure in that area to press it together.

When I used their 2-piece system, a pouch pulled away from the snap ring after it got snagged on a door just after I changed the appliance, so fortunately, there were no beans to spill. This had to be a defect, as it separated too easily.

Thank you all. I just spoke with Hollister, and they feel it is a quality issue. I don't use a belt, so they felt it couldn't be that I had it too tight. They are sending me more boxes of bags and wafers to replace the additional ones I have gone through and are also sending me a sample of a one-piece system so I can try it. They were very helpful. Thank you again. This site is so helpful. I have had my ileostomy since March and have found this site so valuable.

I'm glad Hollister was so helpful. Hopefully, the new supplies fix the issue.

I check and recheck that the bag is secure, as even a tiny spot missed is a problem. The bag makes a little clicking sound when you are coupling. I stayed away from filters, so I'm burping the bag, so I have to make sure it's connected after that. The hard part is slowing down and taking the time to recheck everything.