I rinse out with every empty.  I keep a 20 oz water bottle in the bathroom.  I fill the bottle with water, then empty my bag in the toilet, then fill the bag (from the outlet) with the water from the water bottle, slosh it around several times, then empty into the toilet.  Then just a quick wipe at the outlet and the bag is spotless.  The whole process takes about 2 minutes.  I've been doing this since I returned from the hospital about 15 months ago.  I love emptying this way.     

I use the coloplast 2 piece click. I always take the bag off and flush through the coupling and give the bag a good rinse, using warm water. It also enable me to inspect the wafer around the stoma and clean with cotton facial pad, that way I can see if I have leakage to the skin under flange and when to change. the length of time changes as I have an awkward stoma a mound on one side and a moat on the other - no good solution just keep an eye on. my stoma changes from flush to size of a golf ball so the wafer lifts inside and move around a lot. The advantage of a two piece a one piece much more likely to leak, fail or erode skin unseen.

Welcome aboard Brian you will learn a lot here. I recommend you binge watch Eric's video each one is a gem :-)

I've been using the method that @glenn_giroir uses for about 5 years without any problems.  I have a 1 liter water bottle that I use and have used an 8 to 12 oz water bottle on ship cruises, etc.

I do rinse my bag on occasion (using a water bottle that I squirt into the bag when I'm emptying it). 

However...

1) If the water is cold, then I try to make sure that it doesn't reach my stoma. I've observed my stoma shrinking when cold water hits it and there's obvious concern about that giving the water an opportunity to breach under the wafer. 

2) If using warm water, I don't have too many concerns about it affecting my wafer.

I haven't noticed a decrease in wear time by doing this, but most of the time I only enough water to loosen the output for easier evacuation from the bag. 

@veganostomy

Hi Eric.  I rinse (pretty vigorously 😄) every time I empty, which is about 5 times a day.  I usually wear my pouch 5 days.  I could go longer, but my hair starts to get too long under the wafer and becomes itchy.  I've never noticed any problem with adhesion because of the rinsing.  I may be really lucky, but things stick to me really well.  Seriously, I sometimes take hour-long soaks in a very hot jetted tub every day, and even the adhesive around the wafer does not start to lift or peel.  I guess I should count my blessings.  Maybe I have ideal ostomy skin? 😄  BTW, I use Hollister 2 piece Ceraplus flanges.  I've also tried Coloplast Sensura Mio.  Same results there.  The only brand that will not stick to me like glue is Convatec, but I've only tried their moldable flange, which melts off of me in a couple of days.  Also, I have a pretty long stoma, so I have no fear of it retracting enough with cold water to cause a problem. So, I may be atypical when it comes to rinsing and not causing problems.  So many variables.     

Welcome Brian B! Pardon my ignorance but what is an AML...a major leak is all I can figure out so far.  Sorry.

Ive had my Ostomy 12 some years & I've  been rinsing since the 1st time I emptied on my own. No issues unless I do not have a great seal then yes, sometimes water will get beneath the wafer needing to change the pouch.  

I also like rinsing my bags.

I use cold water, and if I can feel sudden cold around my stoma then I know the water is getting under the wafer.  Nice way to get an early warning of problems.

I sometimes wonder if rinsing contributes to filter clogging.

My stoma moves in and out, and when it is in water can get under my wafer.  Going to try warmer water as suggested above.

Jon

@glenn-giroir That's really great to hear!! It's kind of crazy how varied our experiences can be, even with the same product. 

Posted by: @winnie

I sometimes wonder if rinsing contributes to filter clogging.

If the water doesn't touch the filter, then the risk of it having an effect is probably low. However, some filters have no protective membrane and will soak up water like a sponge, so aggressive rinsing isn't recommended if you are using one of those pouches. 

The Coloplast Sensura Mio, with the large pre-filter, is one of those "do-not-rinse" bags. 😂

Posted by: @veganostomy

 

The Coloplast Sensura Mio, with the large pre-filter, is one of those "do-not-rinse" bags. 😂

Eric Actually you can rinse these bags! If you modify the bags?

I cut the centre of the ring filter and half of the pre filter sponge ring off, reseal the ends and poke a hole each side near the carbon filter. bags can be rinsed with a squirt bottle including the ring filter surface each time the bag is emptied. This way I can make a bag last 3 to 5 days. I think the ring filters with hole lower down in the filter ring, capillary the water up to the carbon filter, when that gets soaked it fails . A quick rinsing with water without to much contact time appears to work for me. Also cutting the ring filter the way I've described in a previous post aids the ability to shake out down that's pancaking, something I've not been able to stop. The extra layers help to trap the output I find and its hard to free. If only the manufactures could develop non-stick bags it would be bliss.

@chrisandbagpus Yes, that definitely can help, but I think the majority of users aren't planning to modify the bag ✂️

@winnie...I use the Hollister 8331, one piece.  The filter does clog within 3 days. However  folding the top edge over & hold snuggly against me  when I shake it to  rinse does seem to prevent most of  the water getting into the filter area.   I also find taking a square of toilet tissue,  folding over the front & back of the pouch over the rectangle filter.  Then holding the top of the pouch and squeezing from right to left does help squeeze out the moisture collected & works again for another day.  Then I repeat till I change as needed.  

I also sleep on a bit of a slant to help output go down instead of climbing up the pouch or gathering around the stoma.   Add air to your pouch at night to also give more room for sliding down.  Try adding a more solid foam a board or a cushion under your mattress to also keep the flow down stream. . 

Sorry for the late reply, as I just noticed the thread.

I also rinse my bag out at every empty. I use a standard bidet on my toilet, and  direct a vigorous stream of water into the bottom of my of my Hollister two piece  bag, until all the waste has been flushed out. Emptying a full bag takes less than 3 seconds and I'm done.

I am able to use the same wafer and bag for 5 days at a time between changes. Really helps the supply budget!

Good Morning everybody

I also rinse everytime I empty if possible with maybe 4 -6 oz of water . It just makes me feel like things are cleaner . I also carry a collapsible cup with when I'm out running around . Works good for me . 

I am a rinser, also. I think it makes the outlet easier to clean and uses less toilet paper. When I am out and about, I use a little 2-oz bottle of water with a flip-top spout that I keep in my bag for this - because it is just 2 oz it doesn’t work as well as the cup of water at home but it helps with cleaning the outlet.

The revival of this topic is great timing. I'm (mostly) done a new article on rinsing ostomy bags, and I'm hoping to publish it soon. 

@njewell1 I like the idea of those collapsible cups, and the 2oz bottle is also a great tip @llholiday.

I'd really love to get a video done for this article, but that's always the most time-consuming aspect so the video may be pushed until after the article is done. 

I too rinse most always. 18 months out from surgery. Recently problem with leaks. I wear Hollister Ring Barriers, Hollister 1 piece drain, and even Brava Barriers Strips. 3 leaks-under and out the sides in the last 5 days. I have had some before. Average maybe 1-2 a month. Wear time has usually been 4-5 days. HELP!!!

Posted by: @tinker

3 leaks-under and out the sides in the last 5 days. I have had some before. Average maybe 1-2 a month. Wear time has usually been 4-5 days. HELP!!!

Welcome to the forums, Tinker.

Those unexplainable, sudden issues with our appliance are never fun, but it happens to all of us at one point or another (many examples on this forum). 

It might be worth creating a new topic, so we can focus on troubleshooting your current issues, and hopefully we can find a solution :) 

Cool didn’t know everybody else does the same and rinses out their appliance! I did it just because it doesn’t feel so fresh and thought I was perhaps a little capricious for insisting. I usually have a nozzle water bottle I use for that on the road and an old measuring cup in the bathroom. I had suspicions maybe this cut short the life of my appliance but despite these thoughts my appliance has been lasting a solid week generally having to change it because I’m pretty sure I can start smelling the damn thing. I’ve been on a good streak of no incidents for thee weeks now. 

now that I jinxed myself I’ll wake up Im a situation (I bet anything on it now lol)

@tinker I keep a hair dryer handy to make sure my skin is dry after I wash it, and again after I apply the barrier film. Low heat but It works well. I use PreP Skin Barrier in a Dabber Bottle and a convex pouch and haven't had a leak in the last 10 months (except from a defective filter) . Im very active and normally get 5 to 7 and as much as 10 days wear time. I usually change because I feel I need to check my skin or i may see minor loosening of the barrier edges.