Finding the right stoma bag for you
Anybody starting out on their life as an ostomate will quickly have to make some decisions regarding the bag they will be using on a daily basis. When you wake up after surgery with a clear bag attached, this sight can be very daunting. Of course this bag has to be clear so that the medical team can see, without making a huge fuss, what is going on and check that everything is working as it should. When you leave hospital, having learned how to change your own bag with the support of the nurses, your assigned stoma nurse will have ordered your first set of stoma supplies from an established ostomy product supplier. You will probably be wearing a standard one piece bag in the first instance, however there is no harm in being aware that a two-piece system is also out there which you might like to investigate at some point. To be honest discussing the pros and cons of a one-piece versus a two-piece could be a whole new blog!
Adhesives
As a new bag user, you might experience some skin sensitivity owing to the adhesive on the base plate. This can be a huge factor when choosing the bag you use. Your reaction to the adhesive might well be isolated to that brand of bag so its worth looking online at some alternative products that may suit your skin better. It is worth pointing out that different companies may offer products specifically to address this, for example Pelican’s Vitamin E range is designed to alleviate soreness and protect your skin. I have to say that I haven’t really experienced any soreness from adhesives and for me that has been helped by choosing to use a two-piece appliance which doesn’t need the base plate changed as often.
Apart from the adhesive, leaks are also a common cause of skin soreness. Leaks aren’t uncommon but I believe that finding the right bag will eliminate much of the problem. At the end of the day, our stomas are unique, our body shapes are different and the base plate of the back needs to be able to accommodate this.
Doing research
If you’re not happy with the bag you’re using, search online for companies offering samples of different bags for you to try. Look at the company’s website for details and most will have links via social media too. To prove the point, I wore the same type of one-piece bag for several years before I realised I could send off for samples of a two-piece. This was great as it enabled me to try the system out without committing myself to anything, and potentially wasting a whole box if I hated it. For me the two- piece was perfect, and I’ve not looked at using anything else since.
The importance of finding the right bag for you
I can’t emphasise enough that you have a choice when it comes to deciding who you want to provide your ostomy supplies. In 2019, I was delighted to be invited to trial the ModaVi bag from Pelican Healthcare. To be honest I had no complaints about the product I had been using but was interested to see how this bag system might bring additional or different benefits. I was impressed with the look of the ModaVi – it was stylish as well as being super-comfortable to wear. It held its shape well and there was no ballooning nor were there any leaks. I was pleasantly surprised also that the bag was so smooth under my clothing and there was no “rustling” either. I found the bag quick and easy to change and it had a great amount of wear time without losing its integrity. My bag of choice is definitely the ModaVi two-piece; your bag system is so important and hopefully you have found the perfect solution for you. If not, don’t be afraid to try all the options that are out there that will give you the confidence and trust you need in your ostomy products. Hopefully you will then have a leak-free healthy stoma journey.