Brilliant article. You do such an amazing and thorough job. You also make everything easy to understand. I was going to offer doing something's for you on urostomies but dont think I could come anywhere close to your standards. I have another idea for a question to pose to your readers - what is the best tip, trick or accessory you have come across. One tip I learned and it was from a male nurse is using a tampon to absorb urine when you're cleaning and changing your pouch. It works so well, particular on days my output just doesn't want to stop. I can go through up to 5 or sometimes just one but it keeps me dry. OB tampons are the best as they don't have an applicator which isn't necessary for this purpose. I buy the super ones. Oh my goodness who thought Id be having tampon conversations.

Speaking of conversations I would really like to speak with you sometime.

Hey Rema,

A "best of" article with tips from all of my readers sounds like a great idea, and I'll get one put together when I have time.

That tampon tip is pretty good! I use gauze pads during my appliance changes since I don't have really liquid output, but the tampon sounds like a real lifesaver!

Shoot me an email about having a chat.

Loved the article. I carry disposable gloves everywhere and have a box in my bathroom. I put one glove on and use that one to take toilet paper (one or two squares at a time) and stick my finger in the bag and clean out the end so I don't have any gunk there and don't get any on my hand. I also use a diaper genie with an air freshener opened in the bottom of the genie to dispose my ostomy bags.

Great idea about carrying gloves! I may need to add that to my emergency kit article ;)

I use a ziplock snack bag. It holds about 4 pairs of gloves. :)

I found a few more awesome tips for dealing with an ostomy. Before I posted to use gloves, add to that, if you use the gloves at home, to save money, wash the gloves like you would wash your hands and then pull them off by the fingers and set them aside to dry. You'll save a ton of money by not using a new set every time.
The other thing I now do is use "before you go poo spray". Spray 3 or 4 times in the toilet before you empty your ostomy and it coats the surface of the water with oil and scent so when you empty your ostomy into it, the oils close over the top and seal the poo smell in while releasing a pleasant aroma. You can make it yourself. Here is the recipe:
1 tsp rubbing alcohol
30-40 drops of essential oil of choice (example: lemongrass and peppermint)
water
Directions:
Pour rubbing alcohol in a 3 oz. spray container and add essential oils. The alcohol keeps the oils from separating from the water, so you don't have to shake it before each use. You can use any combination of oils that you like. Add water to fill the container. Give it a good shake and you're ready to go!
I got this recipe off the Happy Money Saver blog.

Great tip about the alcohol + essential oil. I had no idea that it keep the oil from separating!

Mine does not protrude like your "happy stoma," ever. And, I'm relatively sure that I don't have a blockage. I guess all people are different. Mine, while certainly not flush, looks more like your "unhappy stoma," and I'm 5 weeks out of surgery with a colostomy, temporary (we hope), with the stoma being from the healthy part of the sigmoid colon, and rest of it was removed. The rectum is still intact. I'm not complaining, I'm just saying that for me, I've never had it protrude like your "happy stoma" photo, not even once. It is (again, not flush) about the size of the "unhappy stoma" photo, maybe like half a golf ball sized. And, no blockage.

HI Amybeth,

Not everyone will have the same shape of stoma like I do, and having a flush or even retracted stoma is normal for many. My stoma goes flush or retracts only when I have a blockage, and other ostomates who have a protruding stoma may find the same thing happens to them too.

I hope you continue to be blockage-free!

Thank you for all you do! I have what looks like two stomas, only one has output. Enteroarmospheric fistulas. Since January when infected mesh was pulled off small bowel. May have surgery when I have scar tissue and better nutrition. 3-6 months. I can't keep a bag on for more than a day. Sometimes 2-3 a day. Leaking in public. I'm so frustrated. Seen several stoma nurses. Even her bag lasts a few hours. Use Esteem bag, eakin rings,
paste, Tegaderm around the edges. Usually leaks at the bottom, near scars and above belly button. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!

That's sounds really frustrating.

There isn't an easy solution to this, but this article may help you identify the cause : https://www.veganostomy.ca/ostomy-appliance-wont-stick/

LEAKS OSTOMY THIS REALLY WORKS
Holioster
Spray
Item # RRSNS80792
Powder
Item # ZR1OZOPA

I have had this thing that For 3 years now !!
shits all over me all the time!!!! Out for dinner out to meet friends
out to shop and so on.... I have came up with a way that works for me!
Take shower with out your bag !!! Then Dry off and put on a light
Spray Item # RRSNS80792 then put on the Powder Item # ZR1OZOPA
WITH a powder puff... Then put a very small mist of spray on the powder.
Get a napkin or toilet paper hold it on that THING ( Stoma ) till the outer
layer of spray dries.. then get back into the shower and use warm water
to clean off allthe powder and spray.. Get out of the shower and dry off
and make sure your stoma area is dry then put on new supplys..

THIS WORKS

Glad you found something that works for you, Gary! Thanks for sharing.

I liked how in the beginning of the post it mentioned that you should talk to your nurse if you're having problems. I think that's something that's always good to keep in mind, especially when it concerns your wellbeing. I figure that it can be easy to forget when you're worried or stressed out taking care of your leaks.

Yes, exactly!

what is the best way to remove stains from leakages nothing seems to work well.
Thanks Vicki

I've actually thought about doing up a video on stain removal! I still might!

With nearly all of my leaks, I tend to wash what I can under cold water then treat the stain with hydrogen peroxide until I can wash it completely. This seems to work, even on whites.

I realise I'm a bit late to this conversation but I wanted to thank you for your tip. I find regular air fresheners quite useless and I have been using up all my old perfumes. This is an excellent alternative.

You're very comprehensive and thorough. For all of your fans, I thank you for sharing your own experiences so that we can learn from you.
I have been using the 2pc. Moldable wafer and bag system for the last year or so. When I started using the Eakins ring, with it, all my leaks stopped.
Last week, a new problem arose. The heat seal of my bag failed and a small leak occurred. This happened to me once before and the manufacturer was very cooperative and replaced it.
This time, I just resealed the small hole with tape and went about my business.
I guess the lessons learned was "Don't panic" and "Manure Happens".
The point is that we are dealing with highly developed & engineered with care products and yet , sometimes it can have a manufacturing defect.
Again, you have my respect for what you are doing.