Ostomy Products: Finding What Works Best For You

Ostomy Products: Finding What Works Best For You

Heading into surgery I didn’t have many worries. I went into surgery eager to get to the other side because I was desperate to feel better. I was so focused on the surgery and outcome, I didn’t even consider what ostomy pouching system to wear.

After Surgery

I woke up with your standard two-piece system with a clear, drainable pouch and a flat skin barrier. Once I was home, this system started to leak. My ostomy nurse helped me find new products. She set me up with a convex wafer because my stoma was not sticking out very far, and the stool was pushing directly behind the wafer. The skin around my stoma was sore, so it would also help with that. Convex wafers are helpful for these two issues because they put pressure on the abdomen around the stoma directing the stoma and the stool out and into the pouch.

I was also concerned about having to cut my wafers every time I changed my skin barrier. Thankfully, the nurse told me I could order wafers with precut holes, and I was able to change to precut wafers a few weeks after my surgery. While the stoma changes in size in the first few months for many people, the precut wafers I was originally received still work for me now.

My New System

My nurse also set me up with opaque, disposable, and closed pouches. This prevented from seeing what was inside and I could just throw it away instead of emptying it when it was full. These things were music to my ears. I suddenly felt confident with my ostomy. I remember that night showing my boyfriend (now fiancé) my new getup, I was so excited!

Since finding the system that works for me, I have not had to try much else. With these changes, my leaks have stopped. I have had just two leaks in three years since finding these products, and that was because of a bad batch of wafers and a sweaty exercise routine.

Today, I wear a Hollister convex wafer and a closed opaque bag. I also have mini bags, but I mostly only wear them when swimming.  Also, I love the charcoal filter! When I swim, I don’t put a sticker over the filter, I just wear the bags like normal and then get a new bag after swimming since they’re disposable.  I also have some small square stoma cap pouch and but those filters do allow water into the pouch. I mostly just wear them when I’m sun tanning.

In addition to the two-piece ostomy system, some accessories I have used:

• Conforming Seal – At first, I used this but now I just use a barrier wipe and paste.
• Powder – Recently I stopped using powder, as I did not have any open skin areas to necessitate its use and it was undermining my seal.
• Adhesive Remover – In the beginning I used an adhesive remover that was helpful while getting used to removing my pouch. But I don’t need it anymore because my bag comes off easily and painlessly now. I also didn’t like having to wash it all off before putting on a new wafer and was always afraid that I would miss some.

When it comes to changing my ostomy system, I plan my bag changes around showers. I take my wafer off, take a shower without it, and put a new one on after. I find that this much easier than having to clean everything with gauze. After I shower I just make sure the area is dry and then I slap on a new wafer and pouch.

All of the above products and techniques work great for me, but I still make changes when I need to. Just because these work for me, it doesn’t mean they will work for you and your ostomy—it is all unique to your situation. If you have any concerns with your current pouching system or pouch changing technique, talk to your CWOCN (Certified Wound Ostomy Continence Nurse).

Find more articles and videos about ostomy products:

• OstomyLife: Choosing the Right Appliance Webinar
• Ostomy Terms Explained | Ostomy Glossary
• Choosing the Right Ostomy Products
• Ostomy Pouch 101
• Ostomy Products | Options