hi Lois

I tried thicker rings and they caused more leaks for me.    i find the thinner rings easier to get thin around the outside edge.     i use Ovand rings from amazon.    they come in 2 sizes.   $16.99 for a box of 10

Hi Sarah

  i had a horrible time getting my wafer / rings to stick after surgery and my skin was an absolute disaster.      after testing every bag, wafer, skin barrier combo i could find i finally have a routine that works for me.    i know many ppl here hate hearing the old stand by that everyone is different but guess what,   its true.    ive had 53 surgeries, many in the abdomine area and my stomach looked like 10miles of bad road before my ileostomy.   wafer always wrinkles which causes leaks.   

      try a different wafer.    try a different skin barrier ( cavalon, skin tac, etc ) try a different bag. it took me 7 months to find the right combo of products but now my skin looks great and i rarely leak.     i almost always get a comfortable leak free 5 days ( i could probly go longer but then i get hair issues )     

       i found the best barrier ring for me is a 2mm Ovand (  $16.99 for 10 ) silicon based ring from amazon.        i use 2 coats of cavilon and then 1 coat of skin tac making sure each coat is completely dry ( not tacky ) before applying the next coat.     then i apply the ring to the wafer before sticking it on.    i use a b braun flexima 55mm 2 piece flang / bag.    not sure if its available in north america or not.    theyre NOT cheap.    but.   theyre worth it as my skin is now in really good shape.

hope this helps.     good luck

Hello,
On May 16, 2024 i had surgery- urostomy. I am just now experiencing leaks so my Ostomy nurse is having me apply 3 barrier rings instead of one. Have you heard of anyone doing this? I have learned so much from your videos- Thank you.

Hi Michelle,

You can stack barrier rings, but at some point I would have to wonder whether a different appliance might work better without all those rings.

If you decide to stick with barrier rings, I would suggest sampling different brands to see which works best for you. Each brand has their own formulation, which changes how durable they are or how well they stick; you might find that some are too "gummy' while others might be too firm.

I've got a list of companies who offer free samples here: https://www.veganostomy.ca/ostomy-suppliers-free-samples/

Good luck!

What are some appliances that don’t require the use of a ring?

Hi Jenny.

All appliances have the potential to work without needing any extra supplies. Another way of putting it is that barrier rings shouldn't be needed normally, and that their use should be justified before even considering them.

For me, the only time I would consider a barrier ring is if I needed to heal the skin around the opening where my stoma goes through. But even then, it would be on a very temporary basis.

Some people find that using a barrier ring all the time provides them with added protection against leaks.

So, my suggestion to anyone would be to try different appliances so that you can wear one that requires the least amount of "extras". If you find an appliance that works well, but still requires a little something due to skin folds, activity level, sweat, etc., then experimenting with barrier rings or other supplies may be helpful.

Hi, I have just come across you and how great is this.
I have had a stoma since 2016, and in that time I've had quite a lot of problems. The main one at the moment is. Leaking no matter what I do. As I'm on a diet now I have four that it's very runny . I do have half rings, which I find easier. But they do not stops the leaks. My stoma is slightly hooded which makes it difficult. Is there anything else I could try.

Hey Margaret. Welcome to the site!

Leaks can be so frustrating, and I have a separate article which gives you a list of possible causes (and solutions) for each. You can find that here.

There is an interesting new product that may be worth looking at called the "Flow Assist": https://ostoform.com/flowassist/

I haven't used it personally, and I know that the company has been sponsoring "influencers" to help promote the product (I don't do sponsorship deals so I can remain impartial), but I think it's unique enough to let you know about it.

The closest thing I've seen to this product are stoma collars, but they don't direct output the way this does, and I think this might be better to help prevent leaks.

Best of luck to you!

Hi Margaret:

I use a belt with my Convatec appliance. It holds each side where I tend to leak. Additionally, I use an Eakin ring.

Perhaps this may help.

Best of luck to you.

Meredith 

I have a retracted sigmoid colostomy.. stool tends to leak out on sides.. plus my bag gets displaced even with ostomy belt.. any solutions so I don’t hv to wear ton of stuff just to stop dislocation?

Hi Asma.

Generally speaking, retracted stomas tend to benefit from the use of convex appliances. They push around the stoma, and this causes the stoma to protrude a little (or at least, that's the idea!).

If you aren't already wearing a convex appliance, I would start there. Then you can add other products, if needed, for specific reasons. I like to keep things as simple as possible.

Good luck!