suggestion for new ostomy products

[nickolas]

I take a shower at least every other day, and just take off the bag, and go to town without covering it in the shower.
When it’s time for a change, (5-7 days) the paper edges of the wafer are a little un-stuck, but everything else is densely adherent.
I have zero skin issues with this regimen, ( despite a pretty big hernia) while I was having all sorts of trouble with the Hollister/Coloplast wipes and skin preps.

I too shower every other day, my skin is happier with this system, I wish I could shower without a bag, butt many years ago prior to my surgery, I had a bad BM accident in the shower. After that, DH would prefer I keep the bag on. It's the least I can do.

Many years ago, I used to use Edgewater (sp??) to get my ostomy supplies, called up once with a simple question. Was told they could not advice, would need to see an Ostomy nurse for answer. Wow, I would need a referral from my surgeon to see the ostomy nurse. That's $100.00 out of pocket for a simple question/answer. I went to a local ostomy place, got my answer right there, ie I took product home. Also learned they could take care of my ostomy needs. I've been using them ever since. 6 months later, some VP with Edgewater called me up, noticed I have not placed an order in a long time. Told her what happened. She asked if I had the name of the person I spoke with, no sorry. As she put,I'm sorry too, that person would be fired as of the next day. That was the wrong advice to give me, the people they hire are there to HELP people like me, not turn them away.

ANYWAY, thanks to my local ostomy place, I've learned about Sensi Care, a Sting Free Adhesive Remover for simple removal of residue left behind from the wafer. It's by Convatec, it alcohol free, leaves no residue and is fragrance & dye free. Words my body loves to hear. I can highly recommend it. They also recommended Smith & Nephew No Sting Skin Prep, it's a non sting protective spray. Been using both for years now. I have 2 skin conditions I need to be ahead of, fungus and psoriasis. These products go along way in keeping my skin around the stoma area safe and more importantly the wafer stays on my body beyond 24 hrs.

thank you for all your help.

Nickolas/Lee

[nickolas]

Lee:
It sounds like you were the teacher and tutor to the ostomy nurses in bringing awareness of advances in ostomy products.

Hospitals tend to provide one brand of ostomy product to new surgical ostomy patients. Hospitals will contract with one ostomy manufacturer and negotiate for a contractural rate/price in order to provide and promote the manufacturer’s product line. It sounds like your hospital and ostomy nurses have a contractural relationship with Hollister.

I began with Hollister as Hollister was the manufacturer that contracted with the hospital I was at. There was a starter program that Holloster provided that was helpful to me.

But early on I had less than positive experiences with Holloster wafers and pouches. Constant leaks. And I smelled “off.” That lead me to explore other pouching options. Coloplast and CyMed have been ideal systems for me.

Karen

Hi Karen,

I believe Hollister has probably gone down hill in recent years. The difference between the old (my old Hollister has a "very high" strong profile, larger wafer size, etc, that's how they know it was older) vs the new items they recommend, is the difference between night and day. The quality was not there in the new products they were recommending. I can honestly say I was getting concerned/scared. How do I live with the uncertain of this new product.

With my husband's support (he too was shocked by the lack of quality in Hollister), go out there (online) and buy as many boxes of my old Hollister supplies as I can get my hands on. A back up plan until I found my next go to. Thank you again, for providing me with my next go too. I will be alternating between old and knew for some time now. I will also be getting the Phoenix magazine to avoid this from happening again. Our credit card was hacked several months ago, I was waiting until after the holidays to really start using a new account.

Yes, I believe this hospital contracted with Hollister to using there product. But you could tell, these nurses were impressed with what I brought them. More importantly, they wrote the info down on a separate sheet of paper.

Again, thank you!! I feel a lot better about my ostomy issues now vs a month ago when I was really getting concerned, how do I live with this. I am not nursing home material. I am a very active person who does not want to smell like the next potty accident due to a tear in the flange or the gas passer bag going south after 10 minutes of wear.

Lee

[nickolas]

Hi all,

Odd, I was up almost all night because the Brava strips I use to frame my barrier were itching SO much. So, I guess the skin is irritated. I had switched from using pink Hy Tape to the Brava product with great luck until last night.

Diane C

That has happened twice to me so far, NOT FUN Could be a allergic reaction to the product.

First time, I was just a few months out from surgery, still under follow up care with surgeon, when she saw it, "Oh my, you will be seeing an ostomy nurse ASAP". When my Onc saw my issue, that's when I learned jock itch, yeast infection, and athlete's foot are all caused by same fungus. I've had athlete's foot since high school. Both recommend an oil based jock itch medicine. Yes I used it until I saw the ostomy nurse. She's like that is a bad idea !! Well it better than itching the wafer off my body. She recommended a powder I still use today.

Less than two years later, something is wrong, I'm using that powder, itch not going away. Guess I developed an allergic reaction to the Convetec product, Time to try something new. Have been fine for the past 12+ years.

Good luck,

Lee

[Diane C]

Hi Lee,

So, if the Brava strips didn't work for you, what are you using? The answer may be up above -- maybe I should scroll. I didn't frame the barrier with anything last time -- and no leaks, thank goodness. The pink Hy tape used to work well -- but recently also has itched. So I pray the barrier won't need any reinforcement but it usually does, esp where I use Stomahesive strips UNDER the barrier in the crease caused by a scar before I had the ileostomy surgery.

Sorry I was away from this board again for a few days.

Diane C.

[nickolas]

Me too, I here off and on. I've never used the Brava strips. When I left the hospital back in 2004 with my brand new colostomy, I was given Conveteck ostomy products. Two years later, I developed an allergic reaction to the wafer (itchiness). I was switched to Hollister products and have been using them ever since without any problems. Unfortunately they stopped making the wafer and bag I was used to wearing. I was not impressed with their new products. Thus I will be switching over to Coloplast. I feel there product is very similar to the quality I am used too.

The only other time I had problems with itchiness was when a fungus developed around my stoma with in a few months following my surgery back in 2004. It's the same fungus that causes jock itch, yeast infection and athlete's foot. I don't let my wafer get wet unless I'm going to change and I use a powder and have not had a problems with it since.

Have you tried Adapt Barrier Rings? They are made by Hollister (ref # 7805). I've been using them for years under my wafer without any problems. No leakage, no itchiness, etc. Maybe something to consider.

Good luck,

Nickolas

[Nomadic]

Hey Nickolas; I'm now a huge fan of Sensura Mio, but also use Hollister. What was the result of your convo with Coloplast about the hernia new product launch?

[nickolas]

Me too!! I have not had a chance to try the hernia Coloplast just yet, planning on this Friday. Right now, I'm using 3 different products. Two from Hollister (one, my old favorite Hollister product, the other that I will not be using once I am finished with it. These products are too expensive, I don't throw them away, I use them up to the end). When I saw the ostomy nurses, they really wanted to apply the flat Sensura Mio vs the convo. Time to rotate back to Coloplst this Friday. Plus I got my new hernia belt to go with the Coloplast. I will let you know how it goes.

Nickolas

[nickolas]

Hey Nickolas; I'm now a huge fan of Sensura Mio, but also use Hollister.

So what Hollister products are you using? Can you give me refer #? I will be happy to share what I am happy with holister and what I am VERY unhappy with!!

Please let me know,

Nickolas

[Dog lover 23320]

The Wound Clinic helped me find the right appliance
Coloplast one piece (16739) sensuro mio. I am 6 weeks
post op and the first few weeks I wore Hollister products
and was dealing with leaks daily. My stoma is shaped like a
Kidney bean and the output channels under the wafer.
I too order from Byram and they have been great. They sent my surgeon a script, it was done effortlessly. Congratulations on being a survivor. I too hope to be one.

[Diane C]

After a while, Brava strips really became itchy. Karen/Button is right -- it's good to circulate the products after a while. I find that Convatec Ease strips now work well to square off the wafer. I really like the material.

And that star shaped Sensura Mio Convex Flip looks amazing -- and great for abdomens like mine -- sigh, with valleys and hills now. I almost ordered it but have had good luck with Cymed MicroSkin years ago so am returning to those for a while. Thanks to Webtech Bob for posting about it a while ago. https://www.coloplast.us/landing-pages/ ... lsrc=aw.ds

Diane C

[agichk]

I had 3/4/19 for an ileostomy due to repeated small bowel obstructions post left upper quadrant ventral hernia 15 x 10cm.
the hospital sent me home with hollister one piece as they do not recommend 2 piece system for ileostomy.
I had trouble with the adhesives on the "ears" from the start. the wafer or barrier they use I think is wax and has been an issue getting off my sking from the beginning.
I had a complicated hospital stay including picc line infection with TPN stopped ASAP when line removed. I am trying to eat after 3 months of no food as obstruction even on full liquids so home 9 days now.

i put on coloplast sensure mio 2 piece bag for the 1st time as got samples from the phenix magazine subscription.

I have skin breakdown under the flange that I put powder on from hollister as hospital gave me on discharge. I found there is skin breakdown right next to the ostomy in 2 places, that I presume is from the wax hollister piece that the nurses taught me to put on 1 piece bag after fitting my stoma.

my stoma would be 35 mm today (tomorrow is day 20 w/ostomy) but we made bigger as too tight.

I have had the coloplast bag on 7 hours and stool the filter i think is already ruined as there is stool all around the filter & that area is supposed to prevent the filter from getting wet with stool.

I am having a hard time adjusting to the ostomy to begin as I have 46 staples that are still draining from above my umbilical area to bikini line, i can smell the bag all the time, afraid to go out as hollister bag has to be opened to get the gas out and just seems like placement is very high as top of bag bove my waist line.

what can be done to prevent the filter at top from getting stool on it and ruining it so fast?
who has used stomahesive paste and does it help skin breakdown? how to you use with coloplast sensurea (hoping this bag is the one but not sure now)?
what do you guys recommend for new ostomates?

going to local ostomy nurse Tuesday afternoon as HH finally opened my case Friday afternoon but no nurse yet. outpatient ostomy nurse not til 4/2/19 and without the coloplast samples, i would be out of bags this week.

thank you
Kathleen.

[Diane C]

PS. I did try the seals. For some reason, they REALLY itched. I think I tried both Convatec's and Coloplast's. Since a visiting nurse now comes every other day due to my post-surgical wound -- or I go to the Wound Clinic every 10 days, SHE must order my supplies, not I. I'm not able to per Medicare rules. Very disappointed that I spent hours developing an order list and put Cymed MicroSkin wafers and pouches as first choice. For some reason, the nurse brought me the 1-piece system of the Sensura Mio Flip which was my alternate choice if Medicare didn't cover Cymed. This may work but I'm finishing up my Convatep supplies. This morning, I used material from the circle I cut out on the Durahesive wafer where my skin dips in due to prior surgery and that has worked to prevent leakage without itching or burning. I squared off the wafer with Convatec Ease strips which are quite thin and comfortable so far.

Medicare covered the Cymed Ile-Sorb gel packets so I don't know if it would have covered the MicroSkin pouches and wafers. Frustrating. I also ordered a belt to wear over my abdomen with a hole cut out for the pouch as recommended by the ostomy nurse but that did not arrive either. Can't wait til I can order again for myself.

Too bad that many of you have found that Hollister isn't as reliable anymore. I'm still experimenting -- given the "new" ileo as of Nov. 1.

Diane C.
2000 MACE Procedure due to pelvic floor disorder and non-functioning puberactalis muscle causing severe, chronic constipation
2002 Colostomy
November 2018 Creation of ileostomy; removal of MACE, colostomy, hernia, rectum and anus -- latter due to diversion colitis

[fmcclint]

Recently about a year after getting my ileostomy, I started experiencing intense itchiness and irritation around my stoma particularly in the evening to the point where I could barely sleep. It got to the point where I was changing my wafer almost every night to get some relief. After reviewing some of the comments on this site I decided to try changing my paste from Hollister to Convatec and it seems to have totally solved my problem! Apparently I must have developed some sort of skin allergy to the Hollister paste. Very thankful to have a forum like this to be able to share candid feedback on our very unique problems and experiences...thanks for the help!

[nickolas]

. . . . what can be done to prevent the filter at top from getting stool on it and ruining it so fast?
who has used stomahesive paste and does it help skin breakdown? how to you use with coloplast sensurea (hoping this bag is the one but not sure now)?
what do you guys recommend for new ostomates?

thank you
Kathleen.

I am so sorry you are dealing with this. Can you call the hospital, the ostomy nurse that helped you in the hospital? Hopefully the out patient ostomy nurse has seen you by now and more importantly, problem solved.

If not, consider the bag without the gas passer. When I had my hernia repair, 5 yrs ago, hospital gave me drainable gas passer, yep I clogged them up too. Usually within a day. What should have lasted several weeks only lasted less than a week. I was able to go to my neighborhood medical device store (they sell walkers, scooters, lift up chairs, hospital bed, etc and ostomy supplies). My go to person was able to get me the same bags without gas passing.

I have been using the same Hollister bag for 12 yrs, I loved it. Unfortunately they stopped making it last year. The new samples they sent me did not work, I understand your frustration, I could pass gas and clog up the filter. Sometimes I only got 10 mins out of those bag. A waste.

The SenSura Mio will be my next go to. I can wear the bag for about as long as I could wear my old Holister bags, but it sounds like they are not working for you. I'm so sorry. I hope the home nurse was able to help you. If not consider non gas pass bag and just burp as needed.

Hollister does have another barrier ring that I think I am going to likeAdapt Cera Ring Ref# 8805. I think I read somewhere they have certain properties in them that are suppose to help with healing skin issues. Can't find it now, but something to consider.

Hope it get's better for you,

Lee

[nickolas]

Recently about a year after getting my ileostomy, I started experiencing intense itchiness and irritation around my stoma particularly in the evening to the point where I could barely sleep. It got to the point where I was changing my wafer almost every night to get some relief. After reviewing some of the comments on this site I decided to try changing my paste from Hollister to Convatec and it seems to have totally solved my problem! Apparently I must have developed some sort of skin allergy to the Hollister paste. Very thankful to have a forum like this to be able to share candid feedback on our very unique problems and experiences...thanks for the help!

That happened to me once, allergic reaction, but I was using Convatec. That is when I switched to Hollister. Strange what works for one and not the other. Thank goodness we have many options to choose from.

Nickolas