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Anyone else using Hollister tape border wafers notice how thin they got?

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VeganOstomy
(@veganostomy)
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Joined: 11 years ago
Posts: 4313
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On my last order of ostomy supplies I noticed that the plastic backer on my wafer was much thinner than before. But I also noticed that the tape border portion of the wafer is also significantly thinner.

I haven't noticed any change to wear time or comfort, but I'm not a fan of silent changes to products like this. 

Has anyone else noticed the same?

Just your friendly neighborhood ostomate.
~ Crohn's Disease ¦ Ileostomy ~


   
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LLNorth
(@llholiday)
Joined: 6 years ago
Posts: 555
 

Yes, I have noticed that the plastic backing is thinner - do you mean also that the tape border area is smaller? I will have to look.

 

Colostomy 4/30/18.
I love the smell of coffee in the morning. It smells like .... victory.


   
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 LK
(@dlkfiretruck)
Joined: 7 years ago
Posts: 1529
 

Yes, I've noticed several changes but am not sure if its just me. I have noticed the tapes attached to the pouch are curling up when trying to stick them down. They collect lint when they didn't before if I don't wear the Extender tapes. 

Recently  I was sure the C-Shaped wafer extender tapes were thinner, not in width but actual thickness. They're more flimsy in hand. 

Then there's the velcro closure I'm certain has changes too.  Mine actually for the 1st time in 12 yrs came open 2ce for me. The closure used to be harder to open now its like slicing thru butter. 

The difference in Velcro, I'm certain the pile is not as high as it used to be. I can feel it running my finger over it plus in order to clean or dry it, it used to snag tissue on the velcro... but not anymore. The velcro never seems to line up either. In order for a snug closure its sitting on half the velcro or I get M9 leaking from it & then ofcourse the more watery output follows. 

I think its pretty shoddy of the company to be making ANY changes at all & sitting back with crossed fingers hoping we won't notice! They should be descent enough to warn us of any changes they make in any of the products used. This is a pretty personal  issue & the integrity of the company is failing us as far as I'm concerned. I actually even think the size of the wipes has changed too. I do a fair bit of sewing so I'm good with measurements. 

The original change was the thinner nosier smellier pouches for the sake of our blessed Earth.  I'm not knocking the need for change.  I'm changing twice as much if not more & I feel so annoyed with myself because of it but I'm not going to walk around knowing there's an odour.  How is frequent changes good for earth? 

I feel somewhat like Pig-Pen from the Snoopy show!  When I was a new ostomate I had a real huge battle leaving the house until I was able to afford M9 & honestly I feel much like that all over again & I'm buying M9 religiously & using more of it too. These noisey things make me feel embarrassed & yet I know its for our Earth & our children....but really there must be other plastics they can pick on. Ugh! 

My apologies for the rant. 

Linda

Linda


   
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VeganOstomy
(@veganostomy)
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Topic starter  
Posted by: @llholiday

do you mean also that the tape border area is smaller?

Thinner, but the same size (diameter).

Posted by: @dlkfiretruck

The original change was the thinner nosier smellier pouches for the sake of our blessed Earth.  I'm not knocking the need for change.  I'm changing twice as much if not more & I feel so annoyed with myself because of it but I'm not going to walk around knowing there's an odour.  How is frequent changes good for earth? 

Yeah, the quality of these "new" bags isn't good. I've had several bags split where the flange is, which has never happened before. 

Moving forward by going backwards doesn't really help anyone. 🤦‍♂️

Just your friendly neighborhood ostomate.
~ Crohn's Disease ¦ Ileostomy ~


   
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Tony H
(@tony-h)
Joined: 8 years ago
Posts: 310
 

I have had the problem with the flange separating twice , and since then I have been really careful cutting and snapping a bad on , I thought it was my fingernails at first but I think the plastic is not as robust , hasn't happened in about 6 months now 


   
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LLNorth
(@llholiday)
Joined: 6 years ago
Posts: 555
 

@tony-h This has been happening occasionally to me with my Hollister system for about the last year and a half, every couple of months. Since it started to do this I check often - the plastic coupling is flimsier than it used to be and I think it cannot take the stress. Happened again last night, but this time it hand’t gotten far enough to leak and I noticed it when I was “just checking.”

LK, the deteriorating quality of the Hollister bags is distressing - I hear crackling as I move around, especially climbing stairs. Embarrassing. I have requested a sample from another company, will be considering a switch, though I like the routine I am in.

Colostomy 4/30/18.
I love the smell of coffee in the morning. It smells like .... victory.


   
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GoatHerder
(@goatherder)
Joined: 4 years ago
Posts: 159
 
Posted by: @llholiday

the deteriorating quality of the Hollister bags is distressing - I hear crackling as I move around, especially climbing stairs.

 

I had a long talk with the Hollister chemists about their change in the plastic formulation in their bags. I noticed from one shipment to the next how noisy the bags were and called them out about it on Twitter. They told me they were forced to change the formula of the plastic for some new EPA rule about how much of certain chemicals are in the plastic.

I'm not happy about how much noise they make now, but still stay with their 2 piece convex system. I have NOT had any problems with the floating flange system coming apart at all personally. I'm in a wheelchair and do a lot of bending at the waist as I work with my goats, so I put a lot of stress on the skin barrier!

 

Retired engineer, now goatherd
Ostomate since 2015: Mid transverse after cancer
Our goats always live at GoatsLive.com


   
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LLNorth
(@llholiday)
Joined: 6 years ago
Posts: 555
 

Goatherder, I am not at all surprised that the EPA has imposed some new “standards” on Hollister’s product composition and manufacture - I wonder when whatever we ostomates do or are (or are not) could ever be enough for them.

Colostomy 4/30/18.
I love the smell of coffee in the morning. It smells like .... victory.


   
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 LK
(@dlkfiretruck)
Joined: 7 years ago
Posts: 1529
 

@veganostomy ...Thank you Eric! Sometimes I've wondered if its just me noticing these changes. It was so hard being a new Ostomate & widowed so quickly afterwards.  I had the hardest time leaving the house except to walk my dogs. But then stumbling across your videos & this community of fine individuals has helped so much with so many things. 

I do have to wonder though how far the companies are going to be willing to go for the EPA, protection my stoma!!!!!  I've been noticing a climb in my water usage since the changes & also the need for more M9 &  TP as well & don't get me wrong, I use it sparingly as it is. Living in the Okanagan we were on very strict water usage all summer with the drought & fires & each time I turned that tap on I felt a twinge of guilt I just didn't need. On average I'm now changing my pouches every 3 (mostly) to 4 days now when I could go as long as 7 to 10, depending on activity level. I'd change every 2nd day if I could afford the extra Osto EZ Vents.

Side Question... Has anyone tried to 3D print these on a home machine yet? Where would one find the double sided sticky little  white washer on the vents? I'm not above reusing them if I could find the washers. I'm so curious if a bulk buy would make them cheaper or not but I can't locate company contact info & my computer needs a new expensive battery & thats not happening anytime soon!   But there's so much to consider now I almost feel over whelmed with bag issues because of these changes. 

I really need to question if such uses as extra water, M9, wipes & spray cans & packaging & TP which comes from trees, think of logging trucks, pollution & so forth.  Was any of this REALLY taken into a lump consideration is this REALLY better for the environment. Lets not forget the landfill use either.

Goatherder... I applaud you calling out the Company & speaking with the Chemists!! I'm actually surprised they took the time. By chance did you bring up the more frequent changes & the toll that takes on the environment in all areas?  Landfill use to me is bothersome on its own but its also tossing extra single use grocery bags in the trash for each change as even rinsing the pouch before removing leaves odor I'm not willing to have in my washroom  till garbage day.  It all has a cost, combined or not.

Perhaps the solution is a better way to dispose of used pouches rather then thinking they've mastered the environmental plan for the sake of our dear  Mother Earth. 

Linda


   
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VeganOstomy
(@veganostomy)
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Topic starter  
Posted by: @goatherder

They told me they were forced to change the formula of the plastic for some new EPA rule about how much of certain chemicals are in the plastic.

So... to protect the environment from plastic waste... they were forced to "change" the plastic so we use more of it? @dlkfiretruck hit it on the head! 

On the point of helping the environment, I would be more than happy to purchase bags (whatever material they choose) that can be washed and reused for months at a time. Heck, if they make it out of silicone, it may even be silent! 

But penalizing patients makes very little sense. Are they forcing diaper manufacturers to make diapers that leak more often so parents "use less plastic"? 🤣

Just your friendly neighborhood ostomate.
~ Crohn's Disease ¦ Ileostomy ~


   
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(@chrisandbagpus)
Joined: 5 years ago
Posts: 254
 

Eric

Unfortunately things that last a long time aren't good for the manufactures sales and therefore profit.

All you need is to see the many article on the right to repair in the US, the repair cafes in Europe, trying to promote repair, reuse, modify for second life.

A new latest's model smart phone means more toxic chemical dug up and more pollution when probably your last one has more functions than most know how to use.

Every time I receive an ostomy delivery I'm always sad at the excessive non reusable packaging,

Hospital supplies waste words fail me!!!!

We by our conditions are trapped in a consumerism we can't easily escape.

 

Colostomy Jan 2020


   
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(@chrisandbagpus)
Joined: 5 years ago
Posts: 254
 
Posted by: @dlkfiretruck

I'd change every 2nd day if I could afford the extra Osto EZ Vents.

Side Question... Has anyone tried to 3D print these on a home machine yet? Where would one find the double sided sticky little  white washer on the vents? I'm not above reusing them if I could find the washers. 

Linda

Its not impossible that a vent can be made of two piece of plastic, one on inside and one on the outside screwed together, adhesive would not be needed. They could be cleaned and reused. Q, who would commercially produce one?

Is it practically possible YES otherwise any water container (Even fabric ones) any storage tank, your basins and kitchen sinks would not hold water.

Avoiding patent could anyone 3D print such a thing?

Colostomy Jan 2020


   
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sjlovestosing
(@sjlovestosing)
Joined: 7 years ago
Posts: 651
 

Hi all,

I am catching up here. I agree that the EPA has gone too far on this one. Our government agency here in the States doesn't use a lot of common sense when trying to protect our environment. It's usually at cost to someone - and it's NOT the big corporations. I have issues with wind towers and solar panels as they are manufactured at great expense to the environment. (I could go on, but I'm afraid I'd have a reply a mile long!!!) 

I do use Coloplast, so I haven't had any real issues with the flange, so far, aside from the occasional deflation. I do have a filtered product, but as long as I keep a shower cover over it, I can deflate or inflate as I need it. 

Stella


   
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 LK
(@dlkfiretruck)
Joined: 7 years ago
Posts: 1529
 

Over the past 6 days I have had 2 leaks. Both on the 3 rd day. Both times while sleeping at night and right through the charcoal filter of the Hollister 8331 pouch.   I have changed  nothing in my diet clothing or routine 

Has anyone else notice the little white paper over the filter breaking down & leaking output through it??? 

I'll be calling Hollister today & letting them know just incase this is a fluke of some kind but honestly... I really think its a change in product again.  These filters have never leaked before  or broken down the way they are now & I was most always able to go 7 or so days depending on my activity level without a change... Ugh!

 

Linda


   
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GoatHerder
(@goatherder)
Joined: 4 years ago
Posts: 159
 

@dlkfiretruck I use the same bags without issue. I go 5 days between changes with them. Perhaps you just got a bad batch?

Retired engineer, now goatherd
Ostomate since 2015: Mid transverse after cancer
Our goats always live at GoatsLive.com


   
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