Thanks for your kind words, Zvi.

It's interesting that you both the moldable wafer and the Eakin ring since the moldable wafer should remove the need for barrier rings. But I suspect the extra pressure from the ring is also helping, so keep that up if it's causing no problems!

I've heard of someone else having an issue with the bag failing like that. I haven't experienced that specific problem, but I did have the velcro fastener on bag peel right off once! At the time I was using a "hack" that secured it further, but that would have been a disaster had it not held in place!

Sorry, I need to vent a bit. For the first time in forever (I've had an ileostomy for over 25 years), my actual BAG (the plastic part) failed today after an earlier bag change. SO FRUSTRATING. Nothing wrong with the seal or the wafer or anything, just a hole (I guess? It was hard to find) in the actual new bag I had just put on. I use a one-piece system, so this required a complete change. Aaaarrrghhhh. Hopefully the NEW new bag I changed into is fine. >:( I absolutely hate doing two (or more) bag changes per day.

Wow! I hope that's just a one-off problem, but I can definitely relate to that frustration!

So far, so good lol. To add to the frustration, I was about 40 minutes from home at a pumpkin festival in the country with a friend and her baby. The leak wasn't catastrophic enough that I had to leave immediately, but I think that was more due to the consistency of the output at the time. Anything closer to liquid, and it would have been a disaster.

Yeah, liquid output makes things so much worse.

I hope you ended up having fun anyway! =)

Hello my name is Dee and I am new to this ostomy bag on my left side. It's been a little over two weeks and I am still having problems with my bag some Times I change my bag twice or yesterday3 times cause of the way my stoma is located and my belly button makes it hard to stay and not work properly. I am glad I found this site and pray that I can see what I'm doing wrong and that I learn how to live with this. Cause God has blessed me with a guardian angel and I will over come this little set back. My God has a mission for me and I shall fill his wishes and wisdom. Thank you very much for letting me share. Peace

Dear dee.
My stoma was located 4 inches from my abdominal cut. My WOCN never looked at it till I was readmitted twice. (In my opinion, she was incompetent.)
The liquid was seeping from the wound to under the wafer , destroying the glue.
I went through 14 wafers in 3 days.
It was very frustrating, to say the least.
While I was back in the hospital, another nurse took kindly to me and let me know that the BIG secret was DRYNESS.
The peristoma must be dry for the adhesive to work .
My problem was eventually solved.
(I fired the WOCN. She was forbidden to call on me. Surgeon did not appreciate that, but I didn't have time for stupidity. )
Eric wrote a beautiful blog about leaks and failing wafers. Study it and see if it can help you.
I would also hook up with an Ostomy Group . They have "been there and done that ". My group really helped me a lot.

To recap, 1.get the correct info,
2. Apply it, and 3. Look for help from those who are experienced.
Eventually, you will be able to help others.

BLEACH on your whites. Trash can on your unbleachables.
New underwear is cheaper than therapists.
Spend your resources wisely.

Hi DeeDee,

Hopefully, you've read Zvitusk's comment.

I had a similar experience with my belly button and incision wound being too close to my appliance.

Firstly, I hope you have access to a stoma nurse who can evaluate your skin to find the appropriate technique to applying your wafer.

One suggestion I have, without knowing more than you've described, is to try an appliance that has a smaller wafer and if that's not an option, position the wafer in a way where the hole for your stoma is cut offset to give you more room to play with.

If you'd like to have more suggestions, I invite you to join the community forums to ask there: https://www.veganostomy.ca/community/

example - maybe you put on a new bag but then later you get a small squirt, not a lot but enough to feel - should I sleep with it as is and risk a leak or spend more money and change the bag again?

Cheap solution -

buy a pack of the cheapest Super Tampons you can find

whilst wearing, open / unpeel the corner of your bag enough so that you can slide the tampon inside the hole then manipulate externally it until it reaches the bottom of the bag and the 'squirt' stuff.

20 mins later the 'stuff' is absorbed

safe sleep

extra bag not needed!

Good idea!
Please join us in the Forum.

I am currently using the Hollister two piece pouch with velcro closure. I have had a number of leaks from the filter. This usually occurs on late on day 2. What am I doing wrong that causes this? BTW There are no tabs of covers for the filter on this model.
Does Hollister offer a pouch without the filter?

Hi Carol,

The Hollister filters are usually pretty good at not leaking, but I'm curious to know if you have very liquid output.

If you do, you can try using a gelling product: https://www.veganostomy.ca/guide-to-ostomy-gelling-products/

Hollister does offer pouches without filters, but if you have gas and still want to use a filter, I suggest the gelling product first (to prevent the filter from getting clogged or leaking).

Good luck!

I really appreciate all the information. It is a bit overwhelming to face all these lifestyle changes. You made me laugh (and I don't laugh often when reading on these topics) with: "If you let your cats sleep on your stomach, be prepared to have your pouch punctured from time to time."

Thanks again!

Best of luck to you, TAmo! There are some adjustments that need to be made, but once you get over that part then everything else starts to fit into place :)

I got my ileostomy ahead ago in March due accidental puncture of bowel by a Dr when trying to drain fluid from ascites! I honestly could not have made it through this last year without all your helpful videos! Thank you so very much. You are helping so many people that you may not even realize.

Hi Gina. I'm glad you've found the videos helpful and I hope you're doing better now!

Thank you so much. I just got my Ostomy bag. I'm very scared and afraid I wouldn't change it right. You helped me fill better. One question. Can you take a shower with your bag ? Will it cause it to leak?

Hi Peggy,

Glad you found the site! I have an article about showering:  https://www.veganostomy.ca/showering-ostomy-w-video/

In short, you can certainly shower with your bag! If you have a filter on your bag, you'll want to keep that covered.

Vicki, I discovered OxyClean It has saved me from getting new clothes. I just soak item in washer overnight with 2 scoops & a little detergent. I let it agitate a little first. In the am I let the cycle finish & run it thru another wash. I use warm water. Everything disappears. Miracle! Hope this helps. My friend clued me in about this great product, The gals use it on the altar cloths at church to keep them white. I'm so thankful for this awesome website. Patty