If you use the two piece, are you familiar with venting the air on your own? (I do it with one hand and a pencil) I, too, am at work from 11a to 8p. I've spent my fair share of lunches doing bag changes wherever I can drive to meet my wife or attendant.
Work is what pushed me to stay on fiber gummies. Take 2 every day for nice poo. The "pancakes" Greg mentioned were embarrassing at the office. Aaron Mann On Sun, Mar 15, 2020 at 3:00 PM Michelle Kephart <[email protected]> wrote: > I use the Hollister brand and it has a little vent, but it's not great at > letting air pass-through. I don't have to put a lot of air in the bag. Just > enough to prevent it from being a completely flat vacuum. I take Senna > every few days if my stool starts to get thick, but it's usually not a bad > consistency. Part of the problem is that I'm not able to change the bag or > wafer on my own, and I'm by myself for a majority of the day. When it used > to leak, it would happen very slowly. If I could change it on my own, it > wouldn't really be a problem at all. The only time it would make a mess was > when it started early in the day and I couldn't find anyone to come by to > help me change it. I know the air trick is unusual, but I haven't had a > single accident when we do it. Even with all the troubleshooting I've had > to do over the past year, it's way better than anything I experienced with > my old bowel program. I'm so glad I have it now. > > On Fri, Mar 13, 2020 at 3:35 PM Greg <[email protected]> wrote: > >> I never had a leak, but had the wafer lift up, called "Pancaking." >> When the poo is soft a sticky, it blocks the opening and goes under the >> wafer. Luckily its not messy. It seams the messier it could be, the less >> likely will be. Though if its really runy, make sure you don't let it fill >> up over full. >> Greg >> >> >> On 3/13/2020 2:21 PM, Aaron Mann wrote: >> >> I never have an issue with the bag leaking due to not having air. Do you >> have the bags with the air vent on them or without? Is the wafer getting >> pushed off your belly from the stool? If it is the latter, I have found >> that consistency of the stool can matter. If it is too firm, try taking >> Fiber Gummies or Fiber and some other form to loosen your stool lab so it >> doesn't push the wafer off. I offer this because I know what a pain it is >> to constantly have a bag with air in it on your belly. >> >> On Wed, Mar 11, 2020, 8:27 PM Michelle Kephart < >> [email protected]> wrote: >> >>> I got a colostomy almost one year ago, and I wish I would’ve done it >>> sooner. I am 37 years old and 11 years post injury, C4/5 complete. I spent >>> the better part of the year trying to figure out why the wafer would not >>> stay on and nothing was in the bag. I finally figured out that it was >>> because of a lack of air in the bag. I found this website to be extremely >>> helpful with troubleshooting: >>> https://www.veganostomy.ca/ostomy-leaks-tips/ >>> >>> I decided to get a colostomy because I was having more accidents and the >>> constant anxiety that I was about to have another accident was wearing me >>> down. I was afraid to vary my diet at all. Now that I have the colostomy, I >>> rarely think about it. Even when my colostomy leaks, it is so much easier >>> to clean up. It doesn't get on my chair, I don't have to sit on the mess, >>> and I don't have to worry about poop getting on my skin sores when I have >>> them. If we catch the leak early enough and it doesn't get on my clothes, I >>> don't even have to get out of my chair to clean up. And since we solved the >>> mystery of why my bag was leaking, I have not had a single accident. I also >>> love that my life is not dictated by the schedule of my bowel program. My >>> skin sores healed up pretty well after I stopped sitting in my shower chair >>> for so long. >>> >>> Like Aaron said, sex is pretty doable with the colostomy. Go into it >>> with a fresh empty bag. In fact, I think it's better because I'm no longer >>> worried about pooping on my husband (that's never happened, but it would be >>> mortifying)! And yes, the farts are audible. I also like to keep a blanket >>> or something else on my stomach that will muffle it. Or I blame the dog :) >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> On Wed, Mar 4, 2020 at 5:51 PM Aaron Mann <[email protected]> wrote: >>> >>>> C4/5 | 32 years post| 47yr old >>>> >>>> I got my colostomy ~ 20 years post. At the time I got it done I was >>>> going in for my 2nd flap surgery. I developed a small wound on my bottom >>>> that progressed to a stage 3 quickly. The problem I was having is that I >>>> would have an accident, not be thoroughly cleaned on/in the wound, and just >>>> spending 1-2 hours every other day on a hard shower chair. These factors >>>> make it near impossible to prevent fecal infections in any type of wound. >>>> Once that happens the healing process is greatly hampered. The plastic >>>> surgeon said that I had to do everything I could to prevent future skin >>>> breakdown. He asked me about a colostomy and it took me two months to >>>> decide. >>>> >>>> Post colostomy: >>>> I really wish I'd done this sooner. Granted having a colostomy when >>>> younger would have presented very uncomfortable life situations. I tell you >>>> though, not having to do bowel programs is a HUGE plus. No more training >>>> caregivers how to put suppositories in me, stick their finger up my bum >>>> checking to see if I'm done. Not to mention the embarrassing times of >>>> having an accident. Some so bad that crap is EVERYWHERE. Being cleaned up >>>> like a 1 year old. Completely and totally ashamed that someone has to clean >>>> you up. It is so much easier to have a bag and/or wafer change. Travel is >>>> more convenient. No need for dragging around a shower chair. >>>> >>>> Now, few downsides, some more important than others depending on how >>>> well you handle things. If you don't keep regular with the right diet, your >>>> stool can be too firm and push the right off your belly. Too loose and >>>> you'll be changing more often. It has taken me years to figure out on my >>>> own the right combination of fiber gummies to take daily to keep it just >>>> right. Let's talk gas. Now farts are funny at any age. You must have a >>>> sense of humor if you have a colostomy. There is no longer the built in >>>> muffler of sitting on a cushioned seat. Make a fart sound with your lips >>>> right now. That is what colostomy farts sound like. I carry a hoodie on my >>>> lap for two purposes; I can bundle it as a makeshift muffler over my bag on >>>> gassy days or wear it when cold. Sex. Have your attention now? Spontaneity >>>> will present some new barriers to overcome. Best answer is be open to >>>> adaptation regarding your colostomy. If I plan on having fun with my wife >>>> or whoever (just kidding hon), then I have a wide ace wrap to put around my >>>> belly to cover the belly bag. It has worked so far for those intimate bumps >>>> n rubs. >>>> >>>> Please ask questions, best thing us old quads can do is impart our >>>> ?wisdom? >>>> >>>> Aaron Mann >>>> >>>> >>>> On Wed, Mar 4, 2020 at 3:29 PM Danny Espinoza <[email protected]> >>>> wrote: >>>> >>>>> >>>>> I've got one but as a result of my seat belt cutting in to me and >>>>> haven't known anything else. >>>>> >>>>> -Danny >>>>> >>>>> -------- Original Message -------- >>>>> Subject: [QUAD-L] Colostomy - Yea or Nay? >>>>> From: "Nancy Gillen" <[email protected]> >>>>> Date: Wed, March 04, 2020 7:17 am >>>>> To: <[email protected]> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> Nancy Gillen <[email protected]> >>>>> 9:58 AM (18 minutes ago) >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> I am seriously thinking of getting a colostomy. If you have a >>>>> colostomy, will you share your experiences/opinions. Need input. >>>>> >>>>> Thanks, >>>>> Nan >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>
