Colostomy

afraidinindy
afraidinindy Member Posts: 80
edited March 2014 in Colorectal Cancer #1
My husband just came home from the hospital with a permanent colostomy. He is doing very well with it but is trying to decide which type of pouch would be best. Anyone out there that can tell us the pros and cons of the different types? He wants to do some traveling if possible so would like the least mainteance one. Thanks for any advice you can give us.

Comments

  • nanuk
    nanuk Member Posts: 1,358 Member
    #2
    Really a personal preference question-I tried almost everything out there before settling on cymed Micro Skin. It was designed by an 80 year old ostomate who was fed up with the quality of the pouches available. I find it the most flexible and trouble-free appliance available.
    Here are some Ostomysupport groups to try out:



    United Ostomy Associations of
    America, (UOAA)
    Ostomy Association of Canada

    International Ostomy Association
    The J-Pouch group


    Ostomy Aid
    Pull-thru Network




    Shaz's Ostomy Page
    Living with a Colostomy


    you should be able to google these and come up with the urls..also suggest that you contact some of the companies that make ostomy appliances; they will be happy to send free samples. Feel free to contact me with questions via this site's e-mail.
    Bud




    bud
  • sandyjg
    sandyjg Member Posts: 71
    #3
    My husband had a temporary colostomy for about 4 months. We liked the small mini pouch ones that you do not drain, just toss and throw away. At first we needed the bags that have an air vent, that worked so well because he had lots of air and the regular bag would get big and puffy. We did it the easy way after we figured it out and always used the disposable ones. We just kept big baggies and he would put the pouch in the baggie and dispose of. We also ordered the drops from the company that you put in the pouch before you put it on. The drops kept it from smelling. We also bought the spray that takes the odor out of the room when you change it. My hubby as you can tell does not like smelly things. He really liked the small bags as they weren't as noticeable under his clothes. He went back to work quickly and did not want to have to deal with emptying the bag all the time. Our insurance company was very good, we tried different bags until we found what we liked, they paid for all of them.
  • vinny3
    vinny3 Member Posts: 928 Member
    #4
    Hi,
    I have a permanent colostomy and am using the Coloplast Assura Wide Outlet easiclose. It has a filter which vents the air and a velcro hold button so that you can use two hands to empty it. I am using some drops for odor. I wear regular clothes and just periodically push the material down the bag to below the waistline. I usually have to empty it about 3 times a day, occ have gone a whole day without emptying it. My ostomy nurse had a bunch of different ones to show me and was very helpful. I haven't seen the Microskin but will look at that one as well. I plan to travel for 5 days next week and figure I should only have to change once during the trip. I also use an Eakin seal ( 2 inch) just around the stoma to give me more security ( otherwise I will use the convex pouch but it doesn't have the velcro button I like).
    ****
  • cherriann
    cherriann Member Posts: 155 Member
    #5
    i am still in the process of trying different ones. i know most companies will send you samples so you can try different ones before you commit to a whole order.
    good luck, cherri
  • afraidinindy
    afraidinindy Member Posts: 80
    #6
    nanuk said:

    Really a personal preference question-I tried almost everything out there before settling on cymed Micro Skin. It was designed by an 80 year old ostomate who was fed up with the quality of the pouches available. I find it the most flexible and trouble-free appliance available.
    Here are some Ostomysupport groups to try out:



    United Ostomy Associations of
    America, (UOAA)
    Ostomy Association of Canada

    International Ostomy Association
    The J-Pouch group


    Ostomy Aid
    Pull-thru Network




    Shaz's Ostomy Page
    Living with a Colostomy


    you should be able to google these and come up with the urls..also suggest that you contact some of the companies that make ostomy appliances; they will be happy to send free samples. Feel free to contact me with questions via this site's e-mail.
    Bud




    bud

    Thank you for your response. We'll check out some of these.
  • afraidinindy
    afraidinindy Member Posts: 80
    #7
    sandyjg said:

    My husband had a temporary colostomy for about 4 months. We liked the small mini pouch ones that you do not drain, just toss and throw away. At first we needed the bags that have an air vent, that worked so well because he had lots of air and the regular bag would get big and puffy. We did it the easy way after we figured it out and always used the disposable ones. We just kept big baggies and he would put the pouch in the baggie and dispose of. We also ordered the drops from the company that you put in the pouch before you put it on. The drops kept it from smelling. We also bought the spray that takes the odor out of the room when you change it. My hubby as you can tell does not like smelly things. He really liked the small bags as they weren't as noticeable under his clothes. He went back to work quickly and did not want to have to deal with emptying the bag all the time. Our insurance company was very good, we tried different bags until we found what we liked, they paid for all of them.

    Sounds like a great plan - I'll share this with my husband - yeah, the air and/or movement in the pouch sort of freaks him out sometimes. He said it feels like a hampster running across his belly - wonder how he knows that feeling - haha. Do you know the company that makes the kind your husband liked or what they were called? Thanks for your advice.
  • afraidinindy
    afraidinindy Member Posts: 80
    #8
    vinny3 said:

    Hi,
    I have a permanent colostomy and am using the Coloplast Assura Wide Outlet easiclose. It has a filter which vents the air and a velcro hold button so that you can use two hands to empty it. I am using some drops for odor. I wear regular clothes and just periodically push the material down the bag to below the waistline. I usually have to empty it about 3 times a day, occ have gone a whole day without emptying it. My ostomy nurse had a bunch of different ones to show me and was very helpful. I haven't seen the Microskin but will look at that one as well. I plan to travel for 5 days next week and figure I should only have to change once during the trip. I also use an Eakin seal ( 2 inch) just around the stoma to give me more security ( otherwise I will use the convex pouch but it doesn't have the velcro button I like).
    ****

    Thanks for the info - I'll pass it on to my husband. We need all the advice we can get right now. Enjoy your travel next week.
  • afraidinindy
    afraidinindy Member Posts: 80
    #9
    cherriann said:

    i am still in the process of trying different ones. i know most companies will send you samples so you can try different ones before you commit to a whole order.
    good luck, cherri

    Thanks for your response, Cherri.
  • debcanmcg
    debcanmcg Member Posts: 32
    #10
    My husband used the ones with the charcoal filter no smell. Can't remember the brand check with your ostomy nurse she should be able to find them they really worked.
  • afraidinindy
    afraidinindy Member Posts: 80
    #11
    debcanmcg said:

    My husband used the ones with the charcoal filter no smell. Can't remember the brand check with your ostomy nurse she should be able to find them they really worked.

    Thanks for your suggestion. I'll let my husband know.

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