This discussion is about trying out different types of ostomy barrier rings to see which works best for preventing leaks. The person sharing their experience usually uses Hollister barrier rings but decided to try large Eakin Cohesive Seals. Their stoma is 44 mm, so they cut a smaller ring from the large Eakin seal to match the width of the Hollister ring, but with a larger opening, which means they didn't need to stretch the material. They placed the new ring around the stoma and pressed it down, and are now observing how it performs over time.

Here are some insights and advice shared in the discussion:

1. The person cut the large Eakin seal into a custom-sized ring and plans to try folding the inner edge next time to improve the fit.
2. The goal is to prevent the small amount of output that seeps under the Hollister ring during physical activities.
3. After the first bag change, there was no output under the Eakin seal, but more adhesive residue was left on the skin compared to Hollister rings. The Eakin ring felt softer and mushier upon removal.
4. Due to time constraints, they temporarily returned to using Hollister rings but plan to continue testing the Eakin seals.

Some additional tips and experiences from others include:

- Using the whole large Eakin Cohesive Seal and folding or rolling the inner edge to create a tighter seal. This method works well with certain Hollister pouches that have a hard plastic backing to prevent creasing.
- The recommended application sequence is to place the Eakin seal on the skin first, press the edges down around the stoma, and then carefully apply the wafer or pouch on top. This setup has been reported to stay secure during activities like swimming and physical work.
- Eakin seals are designed to soften and mold with body heat, which may make them feel mushy on removal, but they still prevent leaks effectively. Users changing every other day find the consistency acceptable even with liquid output.
- To clean off adhesive residue, using a textured washcloth with Dial soap (no-residue formula) is effective.
- To economize, you can break a large Eakin ring in half, warm and mold each half into a custom circle, and store the unused half in its packet inside a zip-lock bag for the next change.
- Many users report no leaks with large Eakin seals, especially when used with Hollister 2-piece systems and a Stealth Belt, even during strenuous jobs unless pancaking occurs.
- Some members are ordering Hollister rings and seals as comparison samples to decide which product best suits their needs in terms of output consistency and wear time.