I personally like the term bag better than pouch. Pouch to me sounds...old. Whereas bag is just what it is and most people that’s I speak to wouldn’t know what it meant if I gestured to myself and said “I wear a pouch” as opposed to “I wear a bag”. But that’s my personal preference!

I've never come across the idea of "bag" being offensive or derogatory. I use "bag" because I also have a failed ileoanal pouch (J-pouch) so I need to distinguish between the two.

Christine, that's a good point. For someone who has an internal pouch, the term "pouch" to describe an ostomy appliance can be quite confusing. 

Great subject, The first time I ever heard of some one who was an ostomate I was around 10yrs old. the fact he had been fitted with a bag really made me feel really sorry for him. it sounded so terrible because bag made me think of plastic shopping bag! I don,t mind the term but may be it give out the wrong message. Pouch I can see how that becomes confused with J-Pouch. Appliance is a good middle ground. The site has taught me many new terms like Output, and in the UK we call wafers a flange!!

Don't know why, but I've always used "bag".  I believe every instance I ever heard of one pre-surgery was referred to as "bag".  Doesn't bother me in the least what it's called, as long as it does it's job!

For what it's worth, the overwhelming majority of those who commented on Facebook go with "bag". It really is an interesting topic!

I call it a bag . Never really gave it much thought till now bag just seems better to me than pouch . Kangaroo's have a pouch Lol JK  I have a bag . And  John after I joined the forum I heard people refer to the wafer and I wasn't really sure what they meant at first . I refer to mine as a barrier but don't ask me why ......

And Rachel and Christine welcome to the group . As you can see we are all still learning .

So if a guy ostomate meets a girl ostomate both wear a pouch they have children will they be Joeys!!

Bag for me as well. I'm with Robert and John68..pouches just remind me of something marsupial. I call the 'wafer' a patch. and a barrier ring a 'donut'. So it goes.

Good topic Eric .. this was all confusing at first. And none of the nurses or doctors I have encounted actually USE these things.

I call it "Nellie's Dress" Typical woman, always changing her dress. But in the order catalog it is called "pouches" What ever, if u want to bag it, dress it, pouch it..   We all know what that means.. That is why we are here right???? 

 It depends on who I'm talking to. With my wife or close friends I say 'bag' with people not so close, I say 'appliance'. 

I just do this. I don't think I ever made a conscious decision to.

I'm a bag lady!

Good one!

... 'appliance' is a lot more mysterious. Leave them guessing. That  could be anything from a dishwasher to a vacuum cleaner! 'Bag' does conjure up kind of a unseemly image. I also use different terms depending on the closeness of the relationship.

If anyone asks to see it  with whom I don't want to share I was always just going to say " I'll show you mine if you show me yours".

Still waiting to use that line .. people mostly don't know/can't tell except that I am NOT sick anymore.

HA

Posted by: Dona

... 'appliance' is a lot more mysterious. Leave them guessing. That  could be anything from a dishwasher to a vacuum cleaner! 'Bag' does conjure up kind of a unseemly image.

haha! You're totally right. "Bag" really can't have any alternative meanings - it's literally a bag.

Appliance, pouch, device, or accessory could really mean anything!

Ooooh, I like accessory! Could be fashionable even.

 ERIC, ....     P.S. thanks for getting rid of the ratings like 'esteemed member' etc and just putting 'registered.'

I like it a lot better. Its not a competition and we are all in the same soup. Well done!

Thanks for noticing that, Dona! I didn't feel that having a title added anything more than confusion to the forums, and the new status is more useful.

I’m new to the ostomy community and I never knew the politics behind the words we used before. I’ll be mindful in future!

Hey Alpha .. its in the bag!

I like your 'avatar' block! Red bums are O.K. around here. and welcome.