A close up of the holes (they are on both ends).

@veganostomy  .. Yes! I had that too Eric but it was just 2 pouches & another pouch number before I went back to the original without charcoal filters. I've also had one hole in a seam I didn't find until it was on & I bent over...! 

I'm finding that since many of us have  noticed the "newer" plastic changes that I'm also checking for defects more routinely  before wearing a pouch or applying the Osto EZ Vents. 

Posted by: @dlkfiretruck

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I'm finding that since many of us have  noticed the "newer" plastic changes that I'm also checking for defects more routinely 

Yes, I think that's partly the reason for this kind of defect. I'm hoping that's the last time I'll encounter this problem.

That’s horrible Eric!!! Holes!!! I once got pouches that were fused together at the end from Amazon. 
Im glad you caught that and reported it. 
it’s scarey that we trust our pouches and have no way to test before applying.

omg I’m sitting here just thinking about this. Me at work and all the sudden smelling stool if I wore those. Not good for anyone who got the bad batches. 

@chelly There is a way to test for this specific defect on these particular bags, but the trouble isn't worth it since I've never seen this happen in over a decade of wearing ostomy bags.

I will also say that while the person on the phone said I'd be getting replacements and to send them a photo/video of the problem, I have yet to hear from Hollister acknowledging my email. I'll need to get in touch with them again.

@veganostomy that’s horrible! They should be overnighting you those pouches!! Bad on them. Yeah, I’d be getting a hold of a supervisor. I don’t know that’s just me. Let us know how it works out and if you ever get the pouches replaced.

@veganostomy so I just got a new box of the 8961 (edited I misread the package!) and I’ve had two that leaked out of the filter after just over 24 hrs of wear time. Have you or anyone else experienced this at all? I wasn’t sure if maybe this was a similar issue but around the filter. It’s very annoying as it’s ruining my clothes!

Posted by: @benshoffgmail-com

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I’ve had two that leaked out of the filter after just over 24 hrs of wear time.

I've had this happen with Convatec filters very quickly, and Coloplast after a few days. Hollister's filters would only leak after 7+ days, but that was also very rare.

I don't use filtered Hollister bags anymore, but I'd let them know!

@benshoffgmail-com   Hello & welcome to VO! 

I wore the Hollister with the charcoal filters & the first while it was never a problem with leaking, just clogging up.  But the 8 months ago I've changed back to the original basic pouches I came home from hospital with because those filters were just awful!!! Always LEAKING within 24 hours!! I have an ileostomy so very liquid output & bending over to pick up my Grand-D became hazerdous!!! I'd tape them up but then after "changes" in "materials" mainly plastics, odor was noticed after a first output donation & not thru the filters!  Odor wasn't happening before, then we found out plastics had been changed. Ugh! Whether its supply & demand or enviromentally driven I don't think they'll ever be honest about it!! But we've discussed how can changing pouches as often as 3 to 4 days be better then 7 to 10 for the environment! Honestly... someones not doing the math or thinking very clearly here. 

As far as the leaks, until I got the new original pouches, I just taped the charcoal vents up right away verses dealing with the odor or leaks on my clothing. I considered washing verses tossing soiled clothes & thought about the days my babies were in cloth diapers & how we washed them.  I went with washing. I just can't afford to be replacing clothes with every leak. 

Got my replacements, did a few tests, and they seem fine.

Interestingly enough, the lot number is the SAME as the detective ones. This is, I hope, a very isolated issue.

@veganostomy  ... I had a leak issue today when the osto e z vent came off my pouch while I was down town. That was a first!!  Ofcourse, its -14 so , lol, I was slightly bundled up. Once home though... Surprise!! 

While prepping for the new pouch I realized I had been doing something I didn't fully realize I had been doing with each change over. I did it without even thinking about it,  it had become such a part of my routine!!! 

I rolled up the end, closed the O EZ V & before I cut the hole for my Stoma, I blew into the back of the pouch to blow it up & check for leaks. It puzzled me a bit bcuz I realized I had lost faith in the quality of the pouches.

Anyone else taking these precautions? 

Posted by: @dlkfiretruck

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Anyone else taking these precautions? 

I never did, but now I'll be testing all my bags before they get put on. A few extra seconds per appliance change, but way better than being surprised later that day.

@veganostomy That's a great idea.  I'll be doing that too.  I've only had one bad bag so far but it was a donation.  Thankfully it was minor enough where the cloth on the back of the back absorbed it, so nothing on my clothes.  And I was at home so just swapped out the bag right away.

ALERT, CHECK ALL YOUR POUCHES...

I want to make you All aware of an ALERT I'm issueing regarding Hollister Pouches # 8531   Lot 3D302,    Lot 21072,   Lot 3B192,   Lot 31282,  All with good expirey dates on the Box. 

Last night as I settled into prepping 5 boxes of pouches for the Osto e-z vents. I paused long enough to really look at the pouch I was working on & there under my thumb was a very mottled looking wafer & curious if the difference could be felt or not I stuck my finger right up & into the wafer area thru the pouch opening & I felt & lightly scratched around for a difference in the blotchiness I was seeing & yes, I could feel it.   Also, some of the wafers have what looks like a single Cut or scratch wafer length cut across the wafer in different angles.  I again reached in  & felt that cut looking line & was not happy about what I was seeing or feeling. 

We all know about the acid in our output & the damage this can cause to our baby bottom skin beneath the wafer,  so I am not willing to risk wearing a pouch that looks like either of these two flaws just to find out for Hollister if the pouches do the job or not. 

I called the Pharmacy they came from & they suggested I call Hollister. On calling Hollister who have been my pouch supplier since 2009,  they are replacing the 5 boxes I have.  Plus after I said  between the bags smelling on the  2nd or 3rd day I am seriously considering changing suppliers because Hollister to me no longer has reliable products for my use.  I also told her how I notice my friends dogs smell me where my bag sits when we meet up walking them where the dogs never did it before the changes made to warrant changing of a pouch every 3 days unless I developed a leak & lets talk about the smell my clothing picks up too I told her,  bcuz of the changes they made & or deny making! They are now also sending  CERAPLUS 8931 samples to try & see how that goes & a small sample bottle of M9, which is'nt the issue here.

My Pharmacy called their supplier & ended up pulling the whole batch of the lot numbers I gave them. They too are talking to the company. . .The dilemma ,I  am stuck with is figuring what to do with now 9 boxes of pouches, 90 pouches  that could likely be worn for at least a day or for a good long hot bath or hot tub, but I sure do not want to risk my good healthy skin for wafers that may or may not leak thru the wafer itself using these pouches for 3 days !! It might be different if I had access to an indoor pool & could swim every day but I don't. If Hollister does not want me to send back these pouches, I'm not sure what to do with them all. I am considering donation as they are covered cost wise thru B.C. Medical but .... well... I just feel very frustrated by this whole issue. If anyone us interested & you can pay the postage, please let me know thru a p.m.   I have a high output Ileostomy so I need the security of a good wafer for a few days. 

A question I have, is if this mottled look has been going on since we noticed the smelly bags, is this why they are so smelly after day 2 ?? Ugh!  I mean, it looks like a bad nail polish job of plastic on the wafer that is in contact with out output, ugh! 

Very well spotted! 

I had a Hollister bag fail to seal at the bottom of the phlange recently, and another this weekend. I don't know if the problems are with the bags or the appliance, because I changed the whole kit & caboodle. Different boxes, but I didn't get think to check the lot #. I'm planning to call the company tomorrow to see what they're willing to do for me. I get my supplies through my home care nurse, I don't have to buy them myself.

@kirsten  ..  yes, maybe its time we do phone & send emails as well  in large numbers to expect changes & explanations! 

I just couldn't keep this quiet. It has to be out there!   Thank you for responding. 

Is this a long time or reoccurring issue?  I just had my surgery in September.  My hollisters have been good for me, just one bad bag that was a donor.  

@bigmike322  My trust in the quality of these Hollister bags went out the window with the odor issues. Before that I had several faulty seams & then that little hole at the velcro piece for opening like Eric shows in the picture.  The odor issues are very troubling to me. These changes came after covid hit so yes, I'd say its been a long enough problem that now we have become Hollisters Quality Control Team! Lol!  If the new bags I'm to get don't come by Friday, I'll be forced to use these ones with the questionable wafers & this is really starting to trouble me. I like Hollister & would like to keep using their pouches, but all these defects really makes me wonder about them. 

Just check the pouches you have & future ones to. I fiund blowing air in the back of the pouch realky helped me ID flaws rather quickly.  I sure never would have thought to see wafers like these ones though. . . . I'll try & post the pictures. 

Trying to post the pictures...