Hi medostomy,

I used the filtered Hollisters for about a year and had the same trouble. They stop working as a gas escape very soon.  And then they eventually even start leaking output from within through the filters. Yikes.

I get filterless bags now and add the Osto EZ vent. These work great! Read more about them here at VO.

( you can get them through Amazon... and do require installation, but you can do them in batches).

Hopefully some company will wise up and sell us bags with a MECHANICAL vent....

Good luck and welcome to the forum.

Posted by: @medostomy

I am a relatively new ostomate (ileostomy)

Welcome to the forums! This might be the cause since while filters may work for some, they are far less effective for ileostomates. If your output is liquid, then it will clog most filters pretty quickly. If it is thicker, you may have to manually "squeegee" the top of your bag to clear off the filter. Either way, even the best filters tend to clog after a day or two for most people. 

Did you use something before that worked better? 

If your output is liquid, have you considered using gelling products to thicken your output? 

@veganostomy

My output is typically pretty pasty because of the Imodium that I take. I initially used the filterless Hollister bags until I read the forums on here that really recommended the filtered bags. I currently have the transparent bag and from what I can see, it doesn't seem like any of the actual output is clogging the filter. Inside of the filter, I can see only water droplets. When I look at the side of the filter that is on the inside of the bag, it seems like there is no output stuck on it, but the filter does look damp/wet. I normally try to push my output towards the bottom of the pouch, but even when I do this I don't seem to have much success after the first 12 hours. Do you think that using a lubricant might help to keep the filter working effectively?

After the first 12 hours, the filter basically completely stops working. 

Posted by: @dona

I get filterless bags now and add the Osto EZ vent. These work great! Read more about them here at VO.

 

I will definitely look into this. Thanks for the advice!

I've found the AF300 works the best out of the bags I've tried.   but they do clog up just like peanut butter sticks to the entire container.   what's nice about the AF300, you can rinse the bag, thus cleaning off the filter membrane material and often the filter will work again.  

@medostomy You could try the lubricant, but I find that as soon as stool touches the filter, you're fighting a losing battle at that point. Some people simply swap out their bag for a new one each day (if they are using a 2pc) and that's the best they can hope to get. 

I'm not aware of any consistent way to keep filters running longer, but if you run into any tricks that work, I'd be interested in knowing. 

@veganostomy Oh, I never realized that the output wasn't supposed to touch the filter. I think my filter basically sits in front of my ostomy so as soon as I start having output, some of it must be getting stuck to the filter. Are there any tricks to keep the top of the bag from sinking down so that the filter remains above the ostomy? 

Posted by: @medostomy

Are there any tricks to keep the top of the bag from sinking down so that the filter remains above the ostomy? 

Nothing consistent that I've found. 

The AF300 does have a barrier that theoretically allows air to pass while blocking moisture, but as we all know from experience, it's not terribly effective (but I do find it better than most other filters, believe it or not!). 

Finding a filter that actually works would be the holy grail of innovation that no manufacturer has been able to find yet. 

Dona did suggest the EZ-Vent, which will allow you to actively (manually) remove gas from your bag, but the ideal solution would be to have the filter that does this for you. 

Found this thread old thread when I did a google search for Hollister AF300.

I've been using the Coloplast 'filtodor' filters.

https://amzn.to/32oTbOY

These stick on to the outside of the bag, then you stick a pin through the center of the filter to puncture the bag.  The filter is designed to seal around the pin hole so that the gas is forced through the filter material, not the hole that you just poked.

They also clog, but I find that I can revive them a couple of times by poking with a pin again.  

One benefit of the stick on filters is that you can place them on different brands of bag, and you can position them as suits your body.  I put mine to the side of the bag so that I can lay on my side and have the output fall away from the filter.  This would also help if you prefer to have your bag sideways.

-Jon