DRAINABLE V CLOSED BAGS

[RONMBA]

I WILL BE GETTING A COLOSTOMY. I NOTICE MOST OF THE POSTINGS I'VE SEEN HERE ARE FROM PEOPLE WHO USE MULTI-USE OR DRAINABLE OSTOMY BAGS. WHY WOULD ANYONE USE A MULTI-USE BAG RATHER THAN A SINGLE USE OR CLOSED BAG???
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[To Dream a Dream]

Welcome to our Discussion Board. Anyone with a liquid and/or high volume output requires a drainable pouch that can be emptied as needed. Myself included. It not only helps prevent wafer breakdown & leakage (which in turn cause skin breakdown), but is necessary for measuring the output accurately as called for.
Please continue to read our Board posts to gain more understanding of the various types of ostomies. The UOAA website at ostomy.org also provides a wealth of information specific to colostomy care.
I am glad that you have found us & hope you will be better prepared to meet your own needs.

[Mysticobra]

I have an end ileo so I use a drainable bag.
But you need more replies from those who have a colostomy.
I don't really know but I may use a drainable one with a colostomy.
I have no clue to how many bm's one has with a colostomy daily.
With an end ileo it would be expensive to use a closed as we empty in the double digits each day. I do anyway.
Richard.

[ron in mich.]

Hi Ron you should consult your surgeon about irrigation as you may not need to wear a pouch, google it or go to youtube as there are videos describing irrigation for colostomys.

[steiconi]

I have a colostomy and have used all three kinds.

Drainable pouches can be emptied and reused, so create less waste and may wind up costing less. Many users carry a bottle to fill with water and rinse the pouch after emptying.

Closed bags are usually more comfortable, without the seal poking into tender areas. You'll need to carry a few empties, plus disposal bags.

If you irrigate, you may be able to use even smaller bags called stoma caps, since you generally won't have much--if any--output between irrigations. They don't need wafers, you just slap one on after irrigation.
You'll still want to carry some supplies with you, in case of emergency. I've needed them once in the last three years.

[BillGK]

I have a colostomy and used closed bags for years. My thinking was that they were less messy, less output contact with my hands, just remove and replace the works. I came to this, as I recall, from using the drainable bags that I was taught to use when I was in the hospital, post surgery. They had me using the kind of bag with the paper clip sort of closure and the filmy tailpiece that you had to dig around in, in order to get it cleaned out to the point where you could close it. (In retrospect, I think that there are numerous people here who use this sort of setup and have learned to manage it without messiness. I didn’t receive good training on this, in the hospital, and could never do it well.)

I revisited my situation a couple of years ago, and went to the drainable style. My problem with the disposable style was that I always had to have replacement bags and supplies with me, so I had kits stashed in my cars, my golf bag, my house, my pockets when I was at a restaurant, etc. Everywhere. This included a disposal bag, so that I could dispose of things in a public place. It was a bit of a hassle, overall. I discovered the Coloplast drainable pouches with the tailpiece that you just squeeze closed and wipe off, no digging around. This is a mess-free setup for me and my clumsy hands. Now I can go into a public restroom with no extra supplies, just like everybody else. I drain the pouch, clean off the tailpiece with normal toilet paper, and am good to go. Never have to carry supply kits. For me this is a major improvement in convenience over the closed bag system.

[bagboy]

HI RONMBA,
WELCOME TO THE SITE!
I tend not to use all caps in my posts but if doing so would make it easier for you to read let me know and going forward I can do that when communicating with you.
Lots of good comments in the previous responses to your question. I think you will soon realize that there is no single best way to deal with the collection issues around your stoma. This is one of those things where you really need to “get your hands dirty” before you can answer your own question. I have recently posted a longer article on what has and does work for me and I will try to avoid repeating everything there as that post is still up. viewtopic.php?f=2&t=27231
I use what some might call a two-piece system; part one is a flange that sticks to my skin and that flange then has a Tupperware type ring that the second part, part two if you will, is a closed end bag attached securely to the ring. I typically wear the flange for six days but can go a day or two over if need be. I line my closed end bag with a Colomajic liner, this allows me to get a few days out of the closed end bag and allows the liner and waste enclosed to be pulled out of the closed end bag and flushed away, (not recommended if you have a septic system though!). This allows me to carry just a few very thin liner bags with me on a daily basis. A single liner takes up about as much space as a single Kleenex so this is a fairly discreet system and as long as your output is not too liquid. Your output is manageable with Metamucil or similar products.
I find this system to be fairly quick and easy to handle and to me it has the benefits of the comfort of a closed end bag along with the relative convenience and bonus of both the economy and environmental aspect of not throwing out several closed end bags every day. Without a sphincter your colon will be much more sporadic in output and you really don’t want to pack around a bag full of stool all day.
YMMV
bagboy

[willsboattail]

I've been at this colostomy bag process since 2004 and would NOT used closed bags. Changing bags every 4 to 5 days is tough enough to remember and expelling gas sometimes many times per day (depending on what you eat) would impossible without an open ended pouch. I still flush the old fashioned way with warm water daily. Hollister one piece bags that I cut to fit do the job.

[wrinky]

A year has passed since my surgery and I use drainable, filtered bags mainly because they allow me the freedom not to focus on the bag and can be emptied anytime I want. They do not fill up with air and I control my bathroom visits so my life is similar to what it was before the surgery. Try different products and see what works for you after you have had time to heal.

[steiconi]

Somebody posted a story here a while back...
She changed her disposable bag but had no trash can, so she tied it up in a bag and put it in her purse. Her purse was stolen minutes later, and she wondered what they thought about that surprise in it.