Clamp Closure & Exercise

[katieyogi3]

Hi there,

In my constant search for a replacement of my beloved Holliser #8532 pouch for my ileostomy, I was given samples of a pouch that is the exact same (and has the older durable, less flimsy/noisy plastic film!) except that it has a clamp closure, which I haven't used in almost 7 years since I had my surgeries. I really want to see if this pouch is an option for me but am worried about the clamp coming undone or breaking (Hollister's is curved) when I roll up my pouch in my leggings during my very active yoga practice (in which I twist and bend, lay on my stomach, go upside down, etc.) I have already asked about anyone creating their own DIY velcro closure in another ostomy forum but was advised not to, and I'm not exactly sure how.

Anywho, does anyone have any input about clamp closures and vigorous exercise, clamp closures and fitted clothing (i.e. leggings, maternity wraps). I also have some straight clamps from Convatec that might be safer to try because they seem more secure when closed and are straight rather than curved. I'm just so worried about any clamp breaking or popping open, and my ileostomy's liquidy output creating a horrible mess. Any input would be helpful!

I have tried other brands to find a replacement pouch but have yet to find anything that works with my complicated ileostomy (daily blockages, possible internal hernia, etc.).

Thank you!

[Mara]

I use the Convetec straight clamp and have for decades. I never had one break. I haven't done yoga in years but when I did no problem. I do other forms of exercise - jogging, Tai Chi, QiGong but those are not that strenuous. I never tried a pouch with a velcro closing - to me they don't seem clean....I am peculiar...lol...

[katieyogi3]

Thank you so much for your input Mara! The Convatec clamp sure was secure, but I've been so used to Hollister's Lock 'n Roll closure, I was extremely uncomfortable using a clamp again. I was too afraid to eat anything, leave the house, wear fitted clothing, & knew yoga wouldn't be an option because emptying even liquid output was so time-consuming & difficult. I ended up switching back to a Lock 'n Roll closure pouch from Hollister late last night. It was quite a day! And you're definitely not peculiar! We all have our preferences & unique situations & needs with our ostomies. Thanks again! ~Katie

[NEskier]

Ditto on what Mara said. I've used the Convatec ones for decades. I teach Pilates so do work on my stomach from time to time (still not my favorite after decades!). I also jog, downhill ski, and race sailboats. No problems for me. Go for it!

[katieyogi3]

Wow NEskier! That's impressive! After my experience yesterday, though, I think it'll be a tough transition for me to reacclimate to a clamp closure because of how time-consuming emptying/cleaning the pouch is. I do agree that the Convatec clamp seems much more durable and secure than Hollister's though. Like I said in my previous post responding to Mara, we all have our unique preferences and needs. So I'm just going to have to keep trying to find a replacement that works for my quirky ostomy and lifestyle. Many thanks to you!

[Bob Webtech]

On discontinuation of Hollister #8532: I also noticed that this model disappeared from Hollister's website, as it's a product I used to use myself, although I don't use it currently. It seems that Hollister has quietly dropped several sizes from their #853x series, which is a line of one-piece drainable pouches with flat "Flextend" (extended wear) barriers. This may not be quite as big an issue as Hollister's discontinuation several years ago of their "CenterPointLock" two-piece products. In that case, they dropped all two-piece products with a certain type of coupling between the pouch and flange. That affected a large number of products, and we've seen many posts on this board from users affected by discontinuation of the CenterPointLock line. In the present case, they've dropped just a few sizes from the #853x series, although they still sell other sizes; for example, they still sell #8538, which is the same as #8532 but with a bigger stoma opening (which wouldn't work for you).

Looking over Hollister's offerings, they still sell #8632, which is the same as #8532 except it's their older version with a clamp closure. However, you shouldn't have to switch to using a clamp if you're accustomed to newer pouches with a velcro-type closure. In Hollister's case, some other products you might consider, which include their Lock 'n Roll (velcro-type) closure, are models #8552 and #8925.

Model #8552 is the same as #8532 except that it has cloth covers on both the front and back (while #8532 has a cloth cover on the back only). You may not want a cloth cover on the front if you need to frequently view your stoma to see how it's doing. You can always cut off the front cover if you don't want it. However, many current pouches with a front cover include an inspection window which may be adequate for viewing the stoma. I can't tell whether #8552 has an inspection window.

Model #8925 also has cloth covers on the front and back, and it's clear from Hollister's website that its front cover includes an inspection window. The biggest difference from #8532 is that #8925 includes Hollister's newer "CeraPlus" skin barrier instead of their older Flextend material. Flextend and CeraPlus are both extended wear materials with similar adhesive properties. But the CeraPlus barrier, which is infused with ceramide, is touted by Hollister as improving peristomal skin health - see their page at https://www.hollister.com/scienceofceramide - and it appears that Hollister may be looking to eventually replace Flextend with CeraPlus in all their product lines.

[katieyogi3]

Thank you so much Bob for the very thorough, helpful response! You are clearly invested in this ostomy community, and I know I and I'm sure many others are truly grateful! With all of my research over the past year since hearing about the discontinuation of Hollister's #8532 and the changes they made to the plastic film, I've known pretty much all of what you suggested and said. It's been a huge struggle because my skin and ostomy needs/preferences can't handle other brands (Coloplast, Convatec). I've been relying on the Hollister #8925 pouch (cutting away the beige portion because the viewing option doesn't give me the visibility I need for my stoma and active lifestyle and putting Scotch tape over the filter because my ostomy gets even more blockages with filters), but I'm not happy with this solution and feel that the CeraPlus barriers are actually less durable than the Flextend (a Hollister WOCN actually agreed with me about this!). I can't handle cut-to-fit pouches because I'm a rather small person (5'2", barely 100 lbs) and the skin barrier portion is so large on those pouches that the tape border starts pealing away on the first day of the pouch change, even with all of the precautions I take to ensure a good seal. The Hollister WOCN I spoke with suggested the #8538 pouch (one that you mentioned) with a barrier ring (which I already use, usually the #7805) and sent me samples, along with samples of the #7806 barrier rings in case the #7805 barrier rings aren't enough protection to fill the gap between the pouch and my stoma. The #7806 rings seem to be far too large in diameter, so I will either have to cut them or try the #8538 pouches with the #7805 (which I stretch/thin out already) and possibly paste. It's all an experiment, which is so frustrating after 6-7 years of a reliable pouching system I could count on, on top of all the digestive and potential parastomal/internal hernia issues I am having. Hopefully the #8538 pouches work, but I am really uncomfortable with the #8925 pouches. But all of this could change in a few months after I've hopefully found a new colorectal surgeon to evaluate my stoma/small intestine and determine whether anything can be surgically fixed/altered. With the current times, it's been difficult getting a referral, and I am not happy with my current primary care physician and am waiting to get in to see a new PCP for referrals for a new colorectal surgeon and gastroenterologist.

Apologies for the long post! I just wanted to thank you very much for taking the time to respond and help me. You are a blessing to this community! It's difficult for me to stay active/communicative in any ostomy forum because my ostomy is so fickle and requires my attention 24/7. So, I apologize if I can't respond/be helpful to others who have questions/concerns. All of the problems I've been having for several years since getting my ileostomy have made me question which hell is better...life sitting on the toilet with chronic constipation due to hypertonic pelvic floor dysfunction or life kneeling in front of the toilet pushing around my stoma to get even liquids out. The only thing that has kept me going before and after my surgeries was my yoga practice. I've always said, as long as I can get upside down, I'll be okay. Hopefully I'll have answers soon and there will be some light at the end of this agonizing tunnel.

Thank you again!