There are plenty of DIY options that I've heard of ranging from PAM spray to baby oil. Provided that the product you use is safe (i.e. something you'd be able to put in your mouth) then there should be no harm in using them around your stoma. 

However, if oil gets around the cut-out in your wafer, it can potentially cause a leak. That said, I do not suggest putting tablespoons worth of oil in your bag, just put a small amount that's enough to spread and coat on the inside walls of the bag and you should be fine. 

If you do try any DIY options, please let us know how it goes! I have been in the process of writing a DIY ostomy supplies article and this is a category that's included. 

M9 drops (which I use every time I empty) work really well as a deodorant for me - and the Hollister Adapt works well as a lubricant but only for a short time. There doesn’t seem to be a way to keep the lubricant from sliding down to the bottom; it’s just gravity, I guess. Really the only way I can think of that would really work would have to be in the composition of the inside material of the pouch, at least the upper half.

.... did you ever see National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation? The non-stick stuff Clark Griswold sprayed on the flying saucer before he took it down the hill really worked!

Posted by: @llholiday

M9 drops

This has been the most effective deodorant I've used. I do also squirt this in my bag, so it doesn't last as long as it would if I was using it more conservatively, but results are what I'm after when I use it. 

Posted by: @llholiday

Really the only way I can think of that would really work would have to be in the composition of the inside material of the pouch, at least the upper half.

This would likely be a very interesting solution if it weren't so cost-prohibitive. I'm not suggesting that add a teflon coating to the inside of the pouch, but something safe and similar would likely be more effective than liquid lubricants. 

its funny but at the start i was really obsessed that there was an odor coming from my pouch and used most everything with varying degrees of success ,

for the last year or so I am using hollister two piece system and don't experience any odor anymore ,

the one difference is that I have arthritis and emptying is awkward so my doctor prescribes as many pouches as i need so I don't empty anymore , just change pouch and the flange lasts about 4 or 5 days 

The M9 drops work well for me as far as odor but as far as lubrication (and I know this might sound crazy but) I used castor oil...yeah, that stuff.  Figured the "viscosity" was enough to coat the bag for a while and not be harmful...at least you don't have to take it by mouth. 

@tallen

Hi Terri,

I also use the M-9 and love the way it controls odors. I use mineral oil to lubricate mine. I like the way how things just slide out of the bag.😁

Stella

@sjlovestosing

my biggest odor issues were primarily overnight and first thing in the morning. I found if I use the M9 drops at night in addition to eating devrom chewable tablets at meal time at night, it really decreases any odors.  The Devrom internal lubricant chewable tabs were on my ostomy supply site. I think on amazon to.

I use the Hollister Adapt and as mentioned above it doesn't last. It occurred to me just now that petroluem jelly/vaseline may work as a lasting lubricant. Has anyone tried using petroleum jelly?

Posted by: @fred

Has anyone tried using petroleum jelly?

I have not heard of this being used, and while it would be considered safe if it came in contact with your stoma, I would worry that it might erode the wafer faster. Not really sure unless someone wanted to share their experience :) 

Rick

It sounds like you have your odor problem under control :-) .

Fred,

I'm not sure about petroleum jelly, but I have had no problem with mineral oil - as long as I add the M-9, since mineral oil has no deodorant control. It's relatively inexpensive and lasts much longer than the Adapt. I usually change my appliance every 3-4 days and have had no issues with my bag falling off or leaking because of it. 

Stella

I have never used petroleum jelly for my ostomy, but I do know it will degrade plastic and rubber. 

I tried using mineral oil mixed with a few drops of essential oils as a lubricant.  I loved the way it made my output  slide out, but it seemed to make the filter less effective.  I could always smell something.

I've found that water based 'personal lubricating gel' works really well, both to make cleaning easy and to reduce odor.  I am currently using a DIY lubricant made with PEO and methylcellulose. 

This not quite as cheap as dirt, but pretty close.  2g of PEO and 2g of methylcellulose per liter.  (Note I am very new to this and still adjusting things.)

PEO powder at $32 per 100g: https://amzn.to/3rG6l5d

methylcellulose at $11 per 50g: https://amzn.to/3bDzusd

So less than $1 USD per liter of lube.  Not perfect but pretty close.

I am still trying to perfect this recipe, it isn't quite as good as pre-made gel, but the purchased gel is on the order of $10 for a small tube.

I'd really love to collaborate on perfecting this sort of recipe.

-Jon 

@winnie Welcome to the forums, and great tips!

I do plan to have a DIY article published for ostomy supplies (it's mostly done, but isn't ready to go out just yet) and it's great to get validation for alternatives to common supplies. 

Some personal lubricants are silicone-based, but they may cause the wafer to prematurely fail if any gets under the adhesive. It should, however, work better as a lubricant compared to water-based personal lubricants, so I'm not sure if that's even worth trying. 

Let us know if you get any closer to perfecting that recipe :)

@winnie...Hello Winnie & welcome to VO!  If you like start a new forum & introduce yourself. Share your story of how you arrived here so we can get to know you a bit.  It's not a requirement but we do like to properly welcome anyone new here.  If you have any questions or suggestions or simply could use some encouragement, this is what we are about.  Again...Welcome!! 

Posted by: @veganostomy

Let us know if you get any closer to perfecting that recipe :)

I'd say my recipe is currently functional but could use some improvement.

Most of my output simply slides out of the bag, and a quick rinse takes care of the rest.  It doesn't seem to cause leakage problems.  

But the commercial water based lubricant gels did an even better job of lubricating the bag, and the stuff I've made is apparently very close to a 'slime' recipe.  A quick squirt into the bag, and a long string between my bag and the bottle.

I think I need to add glycerin and reduce the concentration of the other components.

-Jon

Bit of an update.  I am currently using a home made lubricant that consists of 5g PEO, 5g low viscosity methylcellulose and 6g xanthan gum per liter.  The stuff is super snot.  Very thick and slippery. 

Using it my current bag is a week old and needs to be changed only because the filter seems to have become ineffective.

However I think I've learned that diet is a very important component to the bag lubrication issue.  I am taking psyllium powder, 2x per day 1tsp in lots of fluid.  This helps my output be formed and more slippery.  When I miss a dose of the psyllium my output sticks to the bag far more aggressively.  The fiber also seems to keep odor down quite a bit.

Jon

Posted by: @winnie

The stuff is super snot.

Does it cling to the walls of the pouch or does it slide off without leaving anything behind? 

Posted by: @winnie

I think I've learned that diet is a very important component to the bag lubrication issue. 

Absolutely. Many times my output falls out of the bag with little to no mess left behind, but other times I have to rinse it clean. 

Unfortunately, oftentimes it's hard to be consistent with diet, so pouch lubricants may still be needed/wanted by some. 

Keep posting updates if anything else comes up :)

Posted by: @veganostomy

Posted by: @winnie

The stuff is super snot.

Does it cling to the walls of the pouch or does it slide off without leaving anything behind? 

Fairly clingy for a while, but this is the aspect that I want to improve.

Posted by: @winnie

I think I've learned that diet is a very important component to the bag lubrication issue. 

Absolutely. Many times my output falls out of the bag with little to no mess left behind, but other times I have to rinse it clean. 

With respect to diet, for me it seems mostly a question of being consistent with the psyllium. The combo of lube and psyllium give me frequent 'clean emptying'. The less I can rinse the better, because rinsing is what kills my filters.

-Jon