UOAA Discussion Board

Hey All,

I've only been irrigating for 9 months and my second irrigation bag is on it's way out. I've been using the Coloplast system. The two sides of the bags are heat fused together in a circle at the top on each side. Well they keep peeling apart at this circle and then the bag slowly starts to split down the outer seams. I always dry the inside with a towel afterwards but after the first bag went south, I have been very careful not to put any pressure near the fused circular area or along the sides. With the first bag I can understand it because I was in my experimental stage but with my second bag I knew what I was doing and never filled it beyond the 1500 ml line and was more careful when drying it.

So my questions are, is 4-5 months a normal life span for these bags and do I need to try a different brand?


Thanks for your help,
Murph

I use Hollister irrigation supplies and have been irrigating for 20 months. I'm on the same kit. I wash and scald the cone daily and hang it up. I don't try to dry the inside. I'm not familiar with Coloplast products but there's no way I could get a towel inside my Hollister bag. Once every two weeks, I'll soak the kit and sleeve in a mild bleach solution and rinse them thoroughly. It's a little discolored around the top and the cone has a greenish hue which I guess may be a reaction to either the bleach, the water, or the inside of my colon, but the bag is sound and the flow valve works fine. I have a second kit for backup and I use it when I travel since it's almost new.

COloplast kits are pretty cheap. No matter how careful I am, they last about 6-8 months. The bag will either come apart at the seams, or the flow valve breaks where the plastic joins the tubing. I've repaired one by simply cutting off the flow valve and joining the tube ends, then using a binder clip to stop the flow.

Also, the bag in my latest kit is made of thinner plastic that it used to be. So...yeah. Not a great product.
-RH

I use Convatec equipment and I have been using the same unit for SEVERAL years, NO exaggeration!
I irrigate every day, and spend about 30 minutes, or less. The sleeve and cone was cleaned immediately after, using a cleaner with bleach. Using the cleaner and bleach makes the sleeve very clean and I hang it over shower door to dry. The cone still looks very good, and has only a hint of green, if you look very closely. (I take a super food Chorella every day, and it makes my digestive system dark green). I have not purchased any irrigating equipment in MANY years.

Like Ed, I use Coloplast. Never have had a failure in the kits. I have been Irrigating for 4 1/2 yrs and have only purchased 2 or 3 kits. The only reason I buy kits is because I want to have a newer backup or because I have been lazy about keeping up with cleaning to prevent algea growth (blue-green film).

I use the Hollister irrigation bag, and I have routinely gotten at least a year to a year and a half out of each one that a I had. By the time they aren't working properly, I'm ready for a new one anyway!!

David

Hey guys,

I must be inadvertently stretching the bag while drying them with the hand towel. (or just cheap bags) I've since started putting in a small piece of cardboard to hold the bag open when I hang it in the shower. Figure it will air dry a bit better this way. Coloplast is 0 for 2 so I'm going to switch brands. $120 in under a year is a bit much.

Thanks for your help,
Murph

I recommend Coloplast because in addition to holding up well they have a very nice flowmeter.

Oops. I see I'm late weighing in on this one. But for the record, I use Convatec. My first one lasted me 2 and 1/2 years. I had to use Hollister next because for some reason I couldn't get Convatec; the Hollister only lasted 8 months before it began leaking . Now I've got Convatec again (hooray!) and it's already lasted two years.

Like Dave, I use Hollister and get at least 1- 1 1/2 years...very happy with the product

markstan wrote:I recommend Coloplast because in addition to holding up well they have a very nice flowmeter.

Make that a Convatec ref # 410989

Markstan,

I totally agree. The Convatec equipment is like the Energizer Bunny -- it just keeps working, working and working.
I think they make the best.
Ed

Thank you, Ed: "Spot on!" with your praise for Convatec products.
FYI, Markstan: the irrigation kit is Convatec #401989 ... not 410989
~Zeno

Zenobia wrote:Thank you, Ed: "Spot on!" with your praise for Convatec products.
FYI, Markstan: the irrigation kit is Convatec #401989 ... not 410989
~Zeno

You are correct Zeno. I must be suffering from chemo brain.

Thanks All,
I looked into the Convatec and will be going that route. (after Christmas) I found a supplier that is roughly half of what I was paying for the Coloplast.

Murph