This topic is all about exploring opinions and alternatives to Trio Pearls Gelling Sachets, which are designed for people with ileostomies. These sachets help manage the liquid output by gelling it, and they also help with odor control. While they might be a bit pricey, some people find them useful for special occasions or overnight use. Here's a breakdown of some advice and insights shared by others:

1. Awareness & Availability
- Many people are not familiar with Trio Pearls or similar gelling products, even those who regularly visit ostomy clinics or speak with nurses.
- On Amazon, you can find 100 sachets of Trio Pearls for about $37, which comes to roughly $1 a day if you use three sachets daily.

2. Alternative Commercial Gelling Products
- Coloplast Diamonds are priced around $42 for 100 sachets. They are reported to be very effective, though they are not covered by insurance.
- In Canada, ConvaTec Diamonds cost CA $89.95 plus tax for 100 sachets. They work well but are used sparingly due to the cost.
- Smelleze Odor Eliminator Granules are available on Amazon. They come in a large bottle and are cheaper than Pearls, absorbing liquid and controlling odor.
- Hollister M9 Odor Eliminator Drops cost $14.49 for an 8 oz bottle. You use 4–12 drops per empty, making it an economical choice for odor issues.

3. DIY / Low-Cost Absorbents
- Water-absorbing crystals, often used for hanging flower baskets, can expand into a gel when wet.
- Absorbent wadding from incontinence pads may contain similar super-absorbent polymers.

4. Practical Use Tips
- Those with high-output ileostomies might find gels less effective if the pouch fills before the product can activate.
- Some people save sachets for dining out, evening events, or nighttime to reduce sloshing sounds.
- A common routine is using one sachet after lunch and another after dinner, rather than after every empty.
- Gelling products mainly help with reducing liquidity and noise but do not decrease the overall output volume, so nighttime emptying might still be necessary.

5. Finding New Products
- To discover new products, check resources like The Phoenix magazine, national or international ostomy conventions, and monthly meetings of the United Ostomy Associations (UOA) for emerging supplies and samples.