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Ostomy undies

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LLNorth
(@llholiday)
Joined: 5 years ago
Posts: 532
Topic starter  

Has anybody tried the specialty ostomy undies, like OstomySecrets? I would like to try them but before making the investment (they are not cheap) am wondering if they seem to run large or small in size, and if the pocket leaves enough room to avoid pancaking. 

Colostomy 4/30/18.
I love the smell of coffee in the morning. It smells like .... victory.


   
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VeganOstomy
(@veganostomy)
Admin
Joined: 10 years ago
Posts: 4193
 

I've used several men's underwear made for ostomates, and while they do add support, there is more of a risk for pancaking because they put pressure on the appliance and stoma. You also have to be the type of person who likes to wear your ostomy bag under your clothing (and pants), which isn't for everyone.

Hopefully, some ladies can chime in with their experience. 

Just your friendly neighborhood ostomate.
~ Crohn's Disease ¦ Ileostomy ~


   
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Dona
 Dona
(@dona)
Joined: 7 years ago
Posts: 832
 

Hi LL North,

Can't tell your gender but .. I have been wearing briefs made by Bali . I don't know if your issues are  support and/or keeping the bag off your skin. I use Holister bags with a 'cloth' cover, so it doesn't feel like plastic next to my skin. These supply plenty of support for the bag, but don't squish it down over my stoma. 

I can wear my bag inside ( under) these undies with comfort. The high waist (about at my navel) and the wide waistband work well with my stoma placement. This could be different for you. 

These run around 10.00 ( US) on Amazon. The price varies depending on supplier ( even from Amazon, or if you by in sets of three etc.) They last really well too.

Barely There ( by Bali) comfort revolution microfiber seamless briefs.:

https://amzn.to/2WS8dsV

These also fold up very small and dry quickly so are great for travel, or just keeping one handy in your emergency ostomy pack.

Good luck.

Onset of severe Ulcerative Colitus Oct.2012. Subtotal colectomy with illiostomy July 2015; Peristomal hernia repair ( Sugarbaker, mesh, laparoscopic) May 2017.


   
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LLNorth
(@llholiday)
Joined: 5 years ago
Posts: 532
Topic starter  

Dona, thanks, I will check the Bali’s out.  My colostomy was April 30 2018 and I have been wearing old-fashioned cotton grannies, which don’t do anything to support the bag. On the other hand, I don’t want to wear anything tight that might cause pancaking. The Bali’s sounds like a nice middle ground. Linda

Colostomy 4/30/18.
I love the smell of coffee in the morning. It smells like .... victory.


   
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 LK
(@dlkfiretruck)
Joined: 7 years ago
Posts: 1460
 

I will be looking for a revue if you decide to try these. I have avoided it because of the cost.

LindaK

Linda


   
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Paulastomate
(@paulastomate)
Joined: 5 years ago
Posts: 1
 

Yes, I ordered three different styles of womens’ underwear from my ostomysecrets. I wear a size large but ordered medium due to the given measurements. They are all UGLY, baggy granny panties and far too large. The “backless” ones are particularly unattractive IMO. They do not hold the pouch in, it still hangs away from my body because the front is just so loose and baggy so that it is that much more obvious. My takeaway? Don’t get the special stuff, try a high-waisted panty that is a light body shaper, perhaps in a size larger than you would get without an ostomy. It should flatten your belly enough to conceal the pouch without hindering its function.


   
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 LK
(@dlkfiretruck)
Joined: 7 years ago
Posts: 1460
 

Wow, that is disappointing and then some. Have you checked out the video Eric has about clothing for women? Maybe one of the gals there has tried a brand that works well. I wish I could see well enough to find it for you but for now I can not. Does the company allow for a refund at all. It may be worth a try. Money is money and a faulty product faulty.  I hope you can find a product that works for you. 

LindaK

Linda


   
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VeganOstomy
(@veganostomy)
Admin
Joined: 10 years ago
Posts: 4193
 

Welcome to the forums, paulastomate! Thank you for sharing your experience with those. It's a shame they didn't work as well as you'd hope.

Linda, I'm not aware of any company that will take back undergarments, which makes purchasing them even more of a challenge. I'm glad that we can share our experiences with them and hope to find a balance between being informed and taking a risk when purchasing them :)  

Just your friendly neighborhood ostomate.
~ Crohn's Disease ¦ Ileostomy ~


   
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LLNorth
(@llholiday)
Joined: 5 years ago
Posts: 532
Topic starter  

Hi Dona, I ordered a pair of the Barely There to try, and they seem pretty nice. The fabric is not too thin, they are stretchy (but not limply stretchy) and comfortable, and they fit very well with my stoma placement, which is to the left and about 2 inches below my belly button. Lastly,  I feel like my bag is not flopping around. I am going to machine-wash them in one of those little mesh lingerie bags to preserve the elastic, and let them air dry. Linda of the North 

Colostomy 4/30/18.
I love the smell of coffee in the morning. It smells like .... victory.


   
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Dona
 Dona
(@dona)
Joined: 7 years ago
Posts: 832
 

Hi Linda,

Thanks for letting me know that they are working out for you. My stoma is on the right but, about the same placement as yours. They do keep the bag from flopping and give it some support as well. And they ride very gently over the stoma.

I just put them in the washer ( gentle, cold water) like I wash most things and then a dryer on low.

They seem to come out just fine.

If you look , you can also find fun colors and some lacy patterns in this fabric and style. by Bali.

I believe I have a few similar ones made by Jockey brand too that are really good.

I think the real thing to look for are the brief style with the higher waist, and the wide band at the waist....I used to wear bikinis Ha... that won't do anymore.

The good thing was after 3.5 years with UC I was ready to burn ALL my underwear!

Wear them well.

Onset of severe Ulcerative Colitus Oct.2012. Subtotal colectomy with illiostomy July 2015; Peristomal hernia repair ( Sugarbaker, mesh, laparoscopic) May 2017.


   
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 LK
(@dlkfiretruck)
Joined: 7 years ago
Posts: 1460
 

So True Eric. What was I thinking? Dona, you made me laugh some. Burn your undies. I have actually done that once. I have worn the ones I like to death and have had to sew the elastic back on. I was thinking I would buy some of the kind that have the pocket in them but with being too skinny right now, probably not a good idea at this time. But I am keeping an eye out on what you gals find and like. I have almost always worn what my sisters and I called granny panties, I always found them far more comfy as I was always aware of the elastic on anything shorter. I know in summer I wear an elastic spaghetti strap top under my loose shirts and I loved the support that top gave to me and my pouch, it had a lot of room for stretch in it. I was canning pickles at the time so the support was better for me then not wearing that shirt. This is why I will be watching for what you all like best.  So, I am reading in here to see what you ladies like or do not. Thank you all for this. 

LindaK

Linda


   
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 LK
(@dlkfiretruck)
Joined: 7 years ago
Posts: 1460
 

So True Eric. What was I thinking?  Welcome to this site Paulastomate.  Backless panties? I need to get out more! How long have you had your ostomy? Care to share your story or have you and I missed it?  Regardless, Glad you are here.

Dona, you made me laugh some. Burn your undies. I have actually done that once. I have worn the ones I like to death and have had to sew the elastic back on. I was thinking I would buy some of the kind that have the pocket in them but with being too skinny right now, probably not a good idea at this time. But I am keeping an eye out on what you gals find and like. I have almost always worn what my sisters and I called granny panties, I always found them far more comfy as I was always aware of the elastic on anything shorter. I know in summer I wear an elastic spaghetti strap top under my loose shirts and I loved the support that top gave to me and my pouch, it had a lot of room for stretch in it. I was canning pickles at the time so the support was better for me then not wearing that shirt. This is why I will be watching for what you all like best.  So, I am reading in here to see what you ladies like or do not. Thank you all for this.  May I ask something here? I thought that all ileostomies were on the right, just at different heights? Anyone?

LindaK

Linda


   
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LLNorth
(@llholiday)
Joined: 5 years ago
Posts: 532
Topic starter  

LK, those stretchy spaghetti-strap tops (undershirts, I call them) are great for keeping things smooth-looking. I have been wearing Jockey brand - they are soft and stretchy, and I bought a size bigger than I usually would, which gives them enough length and stretch to stay down over the bag (I wear the bag inside leggings or yoga pants also a size larger than I would have worn before my ostomy - being comfy and keeping that bag concealed while avoiding pancaking is really important to me). The undershirts/tops come in colors and patterns, which look good if they should show below my shirt.

Colostomy 4/30/18.
I love the smell of coffee in the morning. It smells like .... victory.


   
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 LK
(@dlkfiretruck)
Joined: 7 years ago
Posts: 1460
 

LLNorth...Hi there... I looked to see the size I bought and it is a size larger then I would normally buy. Likely an accident on my part. I got it at the thrift shop and fell in love with the way it felt on me and the support it gave me. I had thought about buying a specialty item for the support, but this top works really great for me, especially for the amount of standing and bending I do in a single day. I did not feel too warm in it either. In our hot summer climate that was important to me. (I have cactus growing in my garden) Being dehydrated at the time, I was also worried about pancaking, but since I have been able to eat more fruits, that has not been an issue at all. Also the amount of stretch in the top is really great I found, while giving the support it also gave security. If you can imagine, I am ...well, 61 as of yesterday and it was the first time I had ever worn a slinky top like that ( my mothers words!) but I loved it.

Linda


   
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