Thank you for your timely ostomy tips. I have actually incorporated some of your tips in my ostomy life.
I have had my stoma "George since 2021 and glad I decided to be an ostomate.
I would like to stay on your email list.

@jerseygirl I hope that your ostomy surgery went well, and that you’re recovering. Having ostomy surgery is daunting, both physically and emotionally, so I’m really glad you found this site. It is a wealth of information and support. We’re really lucky to have it. When you’re ready, please connect with us again; some of us have had ostomies for years, and can answer some questions you might have, and just give lots of emotional support. Glad you’ve joined us.

 Laurie 

@tigerlily thank you!

I’m not sure how/where to wear my jeans! The ostomy is right above my waist line, so do I wear them below the bag? I can’t pull them up high enough to wear above. 
Who knew this would be my first question!

I also don’t know how often to change my appliance. In the hospital they put me in a 2 piece system, and I’ve been emptying and rinsing the bag, but how many days should I go before changing the wafer?

I’m about to shower, but I wasn’t planning on changing it today.

thanks! 

@jerseygirl I guess how you wear your jeans would be a personal preference. My ostomy is a few inches south of my waistband, so I wear regular jeans (not low rise) with my pouch inside. If your ostomy is above your waistline, you might want to get a band or long vest to wear over your whole appliance so that it’s contained and mostly inside your jeans. If you choose to wear a hernia support, that would also keep everything contained. A company I really like that sells ostomy friendly garments is Vanilla Blush (vblush.com). They’re in Glasgow, Scotland, but they will ship anywhere. 

Changing your wafer is not a hard and fast rule, and is dependent on so many factors, such as: colostomy vs ileostomy, diet, difficulty managing the ostomy, leaks, skin issues, personal preference, etc. I have a colostomy; I generally change my appliance every 5 days. That can change, however, given the above factors. If it’s summer, and I’m swimming a lot, my wafer might degrade faster than it does in the winter, so I’ll change more frequently. Over time, you will decide what makes sense for you, and you’ll get into a rhythm based on your needs. 

Laurie

Thanks Laurie!

Posted by: @jerseygirl

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I also don’t know how often to change my appliance. In the hospital they put me in a 2 piece system, and I’ve been emptying and rinsing the bag, but how many days should I go before changing the wafer?

This article should answer a few of those questions, and more: https://www.veganostomy.ca/when-to-change-ostomy-appliance/

Keep in mind that for the first 4-6 weeks, things won't be very consistent, so you may need to change your appliance more often during that time.

I've had an ileostomy since 1998 n never had a big problem with my bag until this year. I had a hernia repair which only gave me another hernia size of a grapefruit. It's become a hugh problem to the point that I'm house bound because I'm afraid of having my bag leak. I'm having leaking n pancaking throughout the day n night. Changing my bag 6 times a day. I'm desperate for help. I've tried the coloplast bag specifically for hernia but very disappointed to say the least. Please help

Hi Elizabeth,

I'm sorry that you've been experiencing issues after this long!

Is your hernia interfering with the stoma? If so, then I would personally consider a hernia repair revision. You shouldn't have to live in fear, and it sounds like the problems you've been having are unsustainable.

Revisit things with your surgeon, and get their professional opinion on it.

Are you currently using any hernia support products?

As an American it angers me that you would even have to make this list. Our "president" is everything that I despise in a human being. He is not my representative in any way.

@glenn-giroir You aren't alone, Glenn. I've had dozens of American visitors email to apologize for his actions. None of us wanted this.

@veganostomy Golly. The global market and trade agreements are complicated and I could be wrong, but I believe this is actually a financial advantage for both Canada and Mexico.

@llholiday Canada’s trade is very tied into the US economy. For example, a car made in North America may go back and forth across the border 7 or 8 times before it’s sold, because parts manufacture and assembly may happen on either side of the border. So cars will be tariffed, depending on, not only where they’re made, but also where the parts are made. I’m reading that the tariffs on cars will likely vary between $4,000 and $12,000 per car, depending on the car in question - on both sides of the border. Now apply this to every imported product, the company that sells those products, the people employed by those companies, the disposable income that people no longer have because of higher prices on many goods, and the ripple effect on the loss of that disposable income on coffee shops, movie theatres, retail stores - any industry you can name. That isn’t good for anyone, either side of the border. I believe, in the long run, Canada will come out of this in a better position because we are likely to elect as Prime Minister a person who has a PhD in economics. If anyone will be able to guide us through tough economic times, it will be an economics expert. He recognizes the need for Canada to diversify, and is already focusing on building trade relationships with partners outside of the US. I’m curious about why you think tariffs are good for Canada and Mexico.

 Laurie 

@tigerlily Well, I am just a regular person but from what I can figure out it comes down to supply and demand as well as economic reciprocity: countries have differing goods that they can supply to other countries.In trading back and forth, tariff taxes are used to control/leverage that supply. The Canada/United States/Mexico Agreement, which limits tariff charges between the three countries for most goods (but notably not steel and aluminum, which affects auto prices for the consumer) increases tariff rates for goods from other countries coming into the US but not Canada and Mexico. That would be where the advantage is for Canada and Mexico. BUT this has been changing rapidly in the last couple of days, with President Trump pausing the plan, so now (at the moment!) other countries have an advantage over Canada and Mexico for some goods imported into the US. I am keeping my fingers crossed for everybody.

And I have been looking (on the internet) at where ostomy supplies are manufactured - wondering how that cost could be affected. They are made all over the world: among the places are the US, UK, Canada, India, Australia, Ireland, Denmark, Lithuania …. 

@llholiday Ah - I see where you’re coming from now. Yes, the pause on tariffs against Canada and Mexico gives us an advantage - for now.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/windsor/trump-tariffs-canada-unexpected-advantage-1.7507240

It remains to be seen whether the tariffs are applied after the 90 day reprieve, and importantly, the on-again-off-again tariffs are creating an instability in the global market, which will affect everyone - negatively. What is happening with US treasury bonds will be interesting to watch; we may be seeing the beginnings of that now. When the markets become unstable, investors get nervous. Usually, safe investments are US treasury bonds, but apparently that’s not happening now. Investors are putting their $ elsewhere. When US treasury bonds become unsafe for investors, it causes inflation, higher interest rates (including interest rates on the deficit), and a weakening of the US$. If the US $ is critically wounded, the world will look to another currency as the standard by which all other currencies are measured. Will that be the Euro? The Yuan? Who knows? Also, who holds investment in US debt? And if the global market is unstable, will these countries call in the debt? If that happens, the global economy will look like a house of cards in a windstorm. Fingers crossed is a good idea.

 Laurie 

Posted by: @tigerlily

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the on-again-off-again tariffs are creating an instability in the global market

And in the case of ostomy supplies, I can't imagine being a medical supply retailer and having to either not order in product (due to high costs because of tariffs) or bring them in and be stuck with overinflated goods (because of tariffs) when the dust finally settles. And imagine this could apply to medication, and other medical supplies, too.

This goes well beyond the impact it could have on patients.

The inconsistency is the problem for businesses, too. Any business can pivot if they know what they are pivoting to, but the way it's been going, it's impossible.

Fortunately, we have European friends and no enemies in Asia, so Canada will be in a better position than our self-isolating neighbours.

But we do still rely on other countries for our supplies, as Canada really doesn't manufacturer ostomy-related good, unfortunately. Maybe this will change.