Getting The Right Ostomy Pouch For You

Like anything in life, there is a certain amount of variety when it comes to ostomy pouches. The world of ostomy pouches is not known by many people besides those who have actually had an ostomy, and I guess that makes sense. If you have just recently gotten an ostomy, or are just looking to learn more about them and ostomy pouches in general, then this article is for you. I know from personal experience that the right ostomy pouch can mean the difference between living a normal life and feeling like a stinking, leaking, bag of crap all the time. I do not wish for anyone to feel like that, even my worst enemy. So before you jump the gun, remember that there is quite a bit to consider when buying ostomy pouches. I don’t want you to make the same mistakes I did, so that’s why I’m writing this article to hopefully point you in the right direction when it comes to ostomy and ostomy supplies, products, and related accessories.

First off, it is important to note the difference between a one-piece ostomy bag and a two-piece ostomy bag. Though the names pretty much give away the physical differences between these two ostomy bags, you still need to know what makes each one special and why you should choose one over the other. A one-piece ostomy bag is one where the skin barrier and the actual bag are joined together in one piece, and cannot be taken apart from one another. The benefit of a one-piece ostomy pouch is that it is quite more discreet compared to the two-piece pouches.

People who are wearing tight fitting clothing or participating in some sort of athletic activity often wear these one-piece bags. Conversely, a two-piece bag is one where the skin barrier and the bag can be taken apart in two separate pieces. This is more convenient for people who are just casually going about their day or living their lives at work or at home. The reason for this is because getting the skin barrier to fit right is not always easy, and this is usually where the most leakage happens. A two-piece bag has the luxury of being able to change out the pouch when it is full without removing the skin barrier, making it much easier and faster (and more comfortable) to change the pouch out here and there.

Obviously you will want to pick the ostomy pouch that works best for you. In my personal experience, I have always had better results with two-piece pouches. I don’t really like to change the skin barrier all that often because it can lead to skin irritation as well as leaking. That is why I mainly use two-piece systems that allow for quicker and more comfortable and consistent changes. There are also drainable ostomy pouches and closed-end pouches, and the name describes both of the pouches pretty effectively as well. Closed-end pouches are pretty much made for one time use, and are made to be disposed of after you change the pouch. This can be nice while you’re traveling or at work or something like that, because you don’t have to worry about trying to clean or drain your ostomy pouch. The drainable ones are reusable and can save you money on ostomy pouches in the long run.