Hollister Leakage

[earney y]

I have been using Hollister products for my urostomy for over three years. In the last year, I have experienced leakage. The last 9 times I've changed barrier and pouch, all have leaked. I am using a two piece system and all have leaked where the barrier and pouch snap together. In the last 31 times I've changed, I've had leaks 18 times. I called them in February and received product from them that did not leak. I just called them again today and they said they'll send me a convex barrier ring. That is not where the problem is. The problem is where the pieces snap together. Has anyone had this kind of problem with Hollister? I think they have a quality issue but don't want to address it.

Update - 11/5/19 - Thanks to all of you who replied. It is some comfort to know that I'm not alone in experiencing leakage with Hollister products, but it would be of more comfort if they seemed to care. I agree with BillGK - they don't seem to give a rats*ss about a quality issue. I wrote a letter to Hollister's CEO, George Maliekel, which prompted a call from one of their ostomy nurses and their Quality Department. The nurse has been very helpful, the quality people not so much. They have sent me different 2 piece products, all of which have leaked. I have a record of the lot numbers that didn't leak and asked them to send me those but they just ignored the request. If I could get those lot numbers and they don't leak, I think it would prove that they have a quality problem but they seem determined not to send those lot numbers. I am now trying Coloplast but my skin has itched since the second day. Will continue with the samples Coloplast sent and hope for the best.

Update 12/5/19 - I have worked with an ostomy nurse and Quality Department at Hollister since October 14. During that time,they sent 12 samples of appliances to try and all but 2 have leaked where the barrier and pouch snap together. I identified certain lot numbers of two different products that did not leak in the past and requested samples from those lots. Conveniently, those were "old lots and no longer available" according to their Quality Department. I was a Quality Engineer, dealing with outside customers, and can recognize when a QA tech is stonewalling - and this is a classic example of that. If they sent those lot numbers and they didn't leak, it would prove they have a quality problem. But they don't want to admit they have a problem so samples of those lot numbers are "no longer available." They have run out of different sample products to send me and they said I could choose which of their defective products they would send as replacements. I have had more than 40 failures since May and they sent me 5 barriers and 10 pouches to make up for that. Wow, just Wow! Talk about cheap and indifferent to your customer's problems. Today I put on a one piece Hollister product and we'll see how that goes. By the way, I tried Coloplast during this time and my skin broke out so I'm stuck with Hollister. (I've tried ConvaTec in the past and my skin reacted to that also).

[smashms]

i know my bags just changed with my last shipment claiming more environmentally products being used.

[Snowgoose]

I too have been using Hollister's two-piece New Image system for years. And, I have been experiencing the same. It doesn't actually leak through the snap system, the snap fastener comes loose for no reason and allows leakage. I have had more problems with the bag. Where the bag is fastened to the snap ring it frequently comes apart or tears apart.

Hollister has been good about replacing the defective bags but that doesn't help when you are out and about and have a failure

[ileo73]

I always had that problem whenever I tried the Hollister 2-piece.

However, since I've been using their one piece, it's been fairly reliable. Some early problems with tearing of the pouch but either they've gotten better at manufacturing or I've gotten better at handling.

[Jimbob]

Whenever product issues arise and particularly when several people are experiencing the same issue the manufacturer really needs to know. do not hesitate to let them know.

[nickolas]

I used Hollister 2 piece system for 10+ years and was very happy with it until this they discontinued the product line last year. They sent me samples that I was not impressed with. In my opinion, they went "cheap" and more importantly "unreliable". I've had a permanent colostomy for over 15 yrs now. If I had a problem, like blowing a wafer, I was looking at me and not the product. With the new sample, I could blow a a gas passing bag in 10 mins just passing gas. This never happened with my other product line. Once I put on a new wafer on in the morning. Less than 12 hrs later, a seam split open. The good news we were home, but if I had been out and about, I could have had output in a very public place. Should I be changing a wafer in a very public bathroom like a restaurant because my wafer just fell apart. It's one thing to carry extra bags when out and about, but also extra wafers????

On another wafer, was changing my bag for the 3rd or 4th time that day due to gas passing bag failing when the tupperware part on the wafer just started separating. Decided I would probably need to get 30 wafers and probably 150+ bags on a monthly bases. For me, time to move on. Thanks to Karen, I learned about Coloplast SenSura Mio and feel I can go out in public again.

Call up other manufactures and request samples.

Nickolas

[BillGK]

Hollister users won’t appreciate me, but here I go again...

After I had had a colostomy for a year or two and was using the Hollister Lock and Roll bag I started having leaks. I figured out that when I was unlocking the tail I would actually pull the bag apart where the locking system was attached to the bag. And it seemed to be happening on every bag in a new batch that I had received. I took the bags back to the Mayo Store, my supplier, and told them about it. They were in disbelief. So I opened a box and started unlocking them, one by one, and every one pulled the bag apart at the weld. Pretty soon they called other employees over to watch the show, and mouths were hung open as it occurred on one bag after another. As I was pulling them apart I was commenting “what would you think if this was happening to you?”.

I contacted Hollister and they offered to replace the bags, no problem, and I was fine with that. But they had no interest in knowing any particulars, such as the lot number, so that they could track down the problem. I was NOT fine with that. It was an indication that they didn’t give a rat’s *** about fixing an obvious quality problem.

So I switched suppliers. My bags have come from Coloplast for the better part of 7 years, I reckon’. In that time I have mostly used closed, disposable bags, so we are talking two pouches per day. I have had exactly one bag failure due to a defect in all that time.

Say what you want about Hollister products, but I had quality problems - understandable, after all it’s a thing and defects can occur with things - and they don’t seem to care about quality problems, so I will not use a Hollister product again. And if you want to look back in the posts here, over the years, you will see recurring quality problems with Hollister products. I don’t recall seeing such a pattern of quality problems with the products of any other vendor.

[nickolas]

I contacted Hollister and they offered to replace the bags, no problem, and I was fine with that. But they had no interest in knowing any particulars, such as the lot number, so that they could track down the problem. I was NOT fine with that. It was an indication that they didn’t give a rat’s *** about fixing an obvious quality problem.


Say what you want about Hollister products, but I had quality problems - understandable, after all it’s a thing and defects can occur with things - and they don’t seem to care about quality problems, so I will not use a Hollister product again. And if you want to look back in the posts here, over the years, you will see recurring quality problems with Hollister products. I don’t recall seeing such a pattern of quality problems with the products of any other vendor.

I think you said it best. When my wafer split at the seam, my husband was shocked, as was I that this actually just happened. He knew I was not happy with these samples. And he told me "starting tomorrow, go on line and get as many of my favorite bag/wafers I could get my hands on. Prefer 4-6 months supply to give me time to look for my next product. You can't live with this current system." That was in Sept/Oct of last year. I knew they were discontinuing my line soon. I told my supplier of my issues, she got me a 3 month supply in November and again in January. They were going to try again in February, but as she put they are no where to be found. I think other people like me were storing up.

I would tell Hollister about my experience with the samples. They were sorry to hear, but guess most customers were happy with the new products. Okay glad they are, will not work for me. Guess I hope in time, they see a drop in orders/profits. Maybe then they will take notice. Having to live with leaks or blow outs should NOT be a part of our daily lives.

Nickolas

[smashms]

my only issue is hollister is all i can use! i have tried several coloplast and conveyed products and i am allergic to all of them. i can use the coloplast protective barrier strips and do use them with every change. everything else i break out horrible and it creates blisters and very raw weeping skin.

[retired tracye]

I've been using Hollister one piece for almost four years...never a leak before that was caused by a faulty product...until now, I've had three this month begin to leak at the seams... thank goodness I caught them all quickly.

[retired tracye]

my only issue is hollister is all i can use! i have tried several coloplast and conveyed products and i am allergic to all of them. i can use the coloplast protective barrier strips and do use them with every change. everything else i break out horrible and it creates blisters and very raw weeping skin.

I too am allergic to the adhesive... I have learned to use the Coloplast Brava® Skin Barrier Protective Sheet, 4" x 4" ( I cut them down to 1" by 1") immediately on the skin, then apply my pouch as normal with no other devices...
...it's either this or 1mg of prednisone a couple times a week to stop the rash...

[horsegal]

I contacted Hollister and they offered to replace the bags, no problem, and I was fine with that. But they had no interest in knowing any particulars, such as the lot number, so that they could track down the problem. I was NOT fine with that. It was an indication that they didn’t give a rat’s *** about fixing an obvious quality problem.


Say what you want about Hollister products, but I had quality problems - understandable, after all it’s a thing and defects can occur with things - and they don’t seem to care about quality problems, so I will not use a Hollister product again. And if you want to look back in the posts here, over the years, you will see recurring quality problems with Hollister products. I don’t recall seeing such a pattern of quality problems with the products of any other vendor.

I think you said it best. When my wafer split at the seam, my husband was shocked, as was I that this actually just happened. He knew I was not happy with these samples. And he told me "starting tomorrow, go on line and get as many of my favorite bag/wafers I could get my hands on. Prefer 4-6 months supply to give me time to look for my next product. You can't live with this current system." That was in Sept/Oct of last year. I knew they were discontinuing my line soon. I told my supplier of my issues, she got me a 3 month supply in November and again in January. They were going to try again in February, but as she put they are no where to be found. I think other people like me were storing up.

I would tell Hollister about my experience with the samples. They were sorry to hear, but guess most customers were happy with the new products. Okay glad they are, will not work for me. Guess I hope in time, they see a drop in orders/profits. Maybe then they will take notice. Having to live with leaks or blow outs should NOT be a part of our daily lives.

Nickolas

This is so ridiculous, ive been a faithful Hollister product user for 24 years and I received the same attitude from them when inquiring about my concerns over their new inferior line(ive had terrible experiences with leaks and poor wear time) They seemed not to care one bit. I politely told the lady that they will see a decline in sales im certain. SHe responded that they apparently have had many people transition to the new line with rave reviews...hmmm Id like to know who those ravers are?! I don't believe that at all. So sad and frustrating.