Category Archives: Ostomy Care

Product Reviews on TotalHomeCareSupplies.com

Posted by Jeanne Lowry on March 10, 2016 under BladderMatters, Ostomy Care, Very Urological | Be the First to Comment

Hey – let’s check in with a few product reviews, shall we?

Review of Ca-Rezz Cream
“Mother-in-law has very very dry skin on her legs and we’ve tried all kinds of different creams. The aids at the assisted living said to her after she started using this ‘Whatever you’re doing don’t stop because it’s doing an amazing job’. That’s a #1 rating if you ask me.”

Review of Prevail Belted Shield
“Exactly what I was looking for.”

Review of Hollister New Image 2-pc Convex Flextend Barrier Cut-to-Fit
“I have tried several brands of ostomy bags, and Hollister New Image Flextend is the only one that lasts more days. I have to change mine every 4 days. My output is liquid consistency due to my recent surgery and liquid diet. I have to use strip paste in addition to prevent leakages.
Easy to use.”

Review of First Quality Adult Briefs
“Just GREAT!”

Review of Hollister M9 Deodorizer Drops
“I used this product in the 1980 when I first had to have an Ostomy and it was great then and everything that I have tried never really did the job. then I found this site and was able to locate the Product and have been over joyed ever since, it really does work and only a few drops and no odor. Fantastic!!!!”

Review of Dale Foley Tube Catheter Leg Band
“My mother has difficulty using her hands and hand strength and this was just what she needed so she could do it herself!”

Review of Secure Personal Care Waterproof Sheeting
“This was exactly what I was looking for. My father is 93 years old and completely incontinent. We, of course, have a pad on his bed at night, but it was not big enough to protect the sheet and mattress cover. Therefore, we were having to wash all of it most every day. Thanks for providing a great product.”

Thanks so much for the great reviews, everyone! If you’d like to write some of your own to help out your fellow customers, feel free. Just follow the links on each individual product page.

Links for the Ostomy Community

Posted by Jeanne Lowry on November 19, 2015 under Ostomy Care | Be the First to Comment

The ostomy community has come a long way since the Internet arrived. In the past, individuals did have books or group meetings, or when necessary, they could make an appointment with their WOCNs (wound, ostomy, continence nurses), but going through all that to talk about some minor skin issue was often more hassle than it was worth.

Now there are many sites where those with ostomies or those faced with the prospect of having one can learn, discuss and share. Take a look at the sites below, and comment if you have any you’d like us to add!

United Ostomy Association of America
The UOAA has a wealth of information, and there are smaller chapters all over the US. You can find online support as well as in-person!

Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation of America
The CCFA supports those with these two different diseases during all stages, including when an individual has an ostomy. The CCFA supports the Take Steps fundraising challenge which everyone, including family and friends, can get involved in.

Wound Ostomy Continence Nurse Society
If you don’t have a regular WOCN you see, or you’ve moved, this site can help you find one in your area. There is also an entire section on patient information.

Youth Rally
Youth Rally is a great camp program that is for kids and teens with all types of bowel and bladder conditions.

Awestomy!
Awestomy is a site that sells undergarments for those with an ostomy. There’s also a blog, which hasn’t been updated recently, but contains great, fun information for those with an ostomy.

Inflamed and Untamed
Sara Ringer has moved past her ostomy to a j-pouch, but has chronicled her entire experience with IBD on her blog, and continues to be a supportive member of the ostomy community.

Dan Sharp
Dan Sharp is Sara Ringer’s boyfriend, and faces IBD himself. He is also very involved in the IBD community and is good for a laugh.

ConvaTec Stomahesive Paste: 183910

Posted by Jeanne Lowry on August 20, 2015 under Ostomy Care | Be the First to Comment

This article is part of our continuing series on ostomy items that we carry here at TotalHomeCareSupplies.com. Last time we talked about Hollister’s Adapt Paste – this time we’d like to explore a different paste: ConvaTec’s Stomahesive Paste.

Paste, when in reference to ostomies, is not an adhesive. Rather, it’s something of a filler to help with uneven skin surfaces, to help the bag stay closer to the skin. ConvaTec’s Stomahesive Paste is hydrocolliod-based – a hydrocolliod substance is something that becomes a gel when exposed to water. So this paste is gel-like and able to to be molded to the shape needed by the wearer.

How does this paste increase the wear-time of the ostomy bag system and protect the skin? On retracted and flush stomas, this paste can caulk in the crevices and make sure that skin barrier is as flush to the the surrounding skin as possible. This means less leaks, so the skin is safer and the seal is more likely to last longer.

Keep in mind that this is a pectin-based formula as well, for those with any allergy concerns.

There are two ways to apply the paste. One way to apply the paste is directly to the skin. Since some people find the paste more moldable when the it has been allowed to “set” for a bit, so the paste can be applied right after the cleaning of the skin, while allowing the area to dry before applying any skin barriers.

Another way to apply the paste is to the skin barrier or wafer. In this case you’d apply a small amount around the opening of the wafer. Do not spread it around, rather, apply the wafer to the skin to allow the paste to spread and create an additional seal around the stoma,

Do you have any other tips about using paste to help create a better seal for ostomy skin barriers? We’d love to hear them in the comments below!

Hollister Adapt Paste: 79300

Posted by Jeanne Lowry on June 25, 2015 under Ostomy Care | Read the First Comment

Welcome back to our series about ostomy items available here on TotalHomeCareSupplies.com. Today we’re going to take a look an ostomy accessory item, paste. Paste is used by those with ostomies to fill in (or caulk) the uneven skin that may exist in the stoma area, in order to create a better seal for the bag. A flat skin surface is ideal for a great flange seal, and the paste can be used to prevent any output drainage from getting under the pouch seal.

On Total Home Care Supplies, we sell a two ounce tube of Adapt paste, which should last most ostomates at least a couple of months (depending on how much paste they use during each bag change and how often they change their bag).

The paste can be used on the skin barrier or on the skin itself, or both. It’s up to the individual to determine how best the paste can be utilized. Some people find that the paste works best when it’s been allowed to “set” for a few minutes, so you can either apply it to your new skin barrier piece before you remove your old pouch, or, if applying to your skin, you can put it on first thing after cleaning your skin and have it on while allowing your skin some drying time. Make sure you clean and dry your skin well before applying the paste or other ostomy products.

Please keep in mind that the paste does not have any adhesive properties to it, and too much paste may affect the seal. Also, the paste does contain alcohol, which may sting to irritated skin. Please alert your health care professional to any irritated skin you may have, as it is not normal to have that skin issue.

What are the best uses you’ve found for the Hollister Adapt Paste? Tell us in the comments!

Hollister Premier Drainable Cut-To-Fit Transparent Pouch: 8331

Posted by Jeanne Lowry on April 9, 2015 under Ostomy Care | Be the First to Comment

Today we continue our look into ostomy items with the Hollister Premier Drainable Cut-To-Fit Transparent Pouch, with the item number 8331. Please note that this pouch is transparent. Additionally, you may see the words “cut-to-fit” shortened to CTF.

This is a one-piece system: the pouch and the flange. The type of adhesive used is a Flextend adhesive. This type of adhesive protects the skin over extended wearing time from irritating discharge.

Many of the features that make this pouch easy to use and easy to close are similar to the features of the two-piece pouch system by Hollister. To empty this one-piece pouch, lightly pinch the sides of the leak-proof outlet for easy control of content flow. When you stop pinching, there are firm reinforcing strips that shut. Then, you can simply wipe the tail of the pouch closed with some bath tissue, and begin to seal the pouch. To do so, roll it three times in the same direction and press from the middle out. You should be able to feel the seal close up your pouch.

This pouch provides the highest level of discreetness and comfort provided by odor-barrier, rustle-free film and ComfortWear Panels. There is also an integrated filter.

When cutting the flange for proper sizing, this item can be used for stomas up to 2 ½ inches.

We hope you’ve been enjoying our Ostomy Items Series, and we’re happy to let you know that there are more on the way!

Hollister New Image Lock ‘n Roll Drainable Two-Piece Pouch: 18182, 18183, 18184

Posted by Jeanne Lowry on March 26, 2015 under Ostomy Care | Be the First to Comment

As part of our series about ostomy items, today we’re looking at Hollister’s New Image Lock ‘n Roll Drainable Two-Piece Pouch with Filter. This product is nearly identical to product items 18193, 18192, 18194, which we wrote about here, but this one is beige instead of transparent.

One of the valuable features of this product is that opening, draining and closing this pouch is altogether a very simple process. First unroll it and empty it by squeezing lightly on the sides of the opening. To close, take the end, roll or fold it three times in the same direction, then, while pressing from the middle outward, you can actually feel the pouch seal and become leak-proof. This process is intuitive enough for those with vision problems, and is not overly–complicated, so those with dexterity issues can complete the process.

Now let’s check out a couple of reviews that have been written on our site about this product:

“Easy for me and my daughter to use after I came home from the hospital. Stays put!”

“Definitely the best bag I have used. It is durable, comfortable and quiet. The two-piece system is easy to maintain and practical for venting and regular use. Suggest switching off between two bags during the week for longer life. I was skeptical about the Velcro closure at the bottom, but now prefer it to all others – its more flexible (better comfort) and it is easy to open and clean.”

Happy Certified Nurses Day!

Posted by Jeanne Lowry on March 19, 2015 under Caregiver Corner, Ostomy Care | Be the First to Comment

Every March 19^th, certified nurses are celebrated. This date was picked because it’s the birthday of Margretta ‘Gretta’ Madden Styles, who was an expert in nurse credentialing. Board certified nurses help their employers stay on top of the changing medical world and bring new perspectives to old problems.

If you head over to Twitter and search for #CertifiedNursesDay or #CertifiedNursesRock, you’ll find all sorts of smiling faces, fun photos and enthusiasm.

There are a staggering number of credentials and certifications that a nurse can receive. Wikipedia has quite an extensive list, but they admit it is incomplete. Just a few of those different types of nursing certifications include Certified Health Education Specialist, Licensed Practical Nurse and a WOCN: a Wound, Ostomy, and Continence Nurse, who recently had their own shout-out here on the TotalHomeCareSupplies.com blog.

For all you certified nurses out there: thank you so much! We know you do so much to care for your patients. Check out the fun video below from American Nurses Credentialing Center:

Hollister New Image Flexwear Skin Barrier CTF: 14203, 14204

Posted by Jeanne Lowry on March 16, 2015 under Ostomy Care | Be the First to Comment

This post is part of our series about the ostomy items that we carry at TotalHomeCareSupplies.com. This item, Hollister’s New Image Flexwear Skin Barrier CTF (Cut-to-Fit) comes in two different sizes: the 14203 has a 2 ¼ inch flange as a part of the two piece system (the flange and the pouch, not included) and the 14204 has a 2 ¾ inch flange.

The term “Flexwear” is how Hollister indicates that the product is a standard wear skin barrier, as opposed to an extended wear skin barrier. The barrier protects skin from corrosive drainage.

This type of skin barrier is a floating flange, which eliminates pressure on tender post-operative abdomens, though many find it comfortable after the post-surgery stage depending on the placement and whether their stoma is convex or concave.

This Cut-to-Fit system provides the utmost security with by with its patented locking system. A tape boarder is used to keep the flange on the skin.

A review of this product by an ostomate states that this product is “Easy to fit, durable, good product,” but recommends that an adhesive remover be used when it’s time to take the product off of the skin.

Hollister New Image Lock N Roll Drainable Pouch Transparent with Filter: 18193, 18192, 18194

Posted by Jeanne Lowry on March 7, 2015 under Ostomy Care | Read the First Comment

Today, we’ll be continuing our series, taking a closer look at some of our ostomy items. Hollister’s New Image Lock N Roll Drainable Pouch Transparent with Filter comes in three different sizes: 1 ¾ inch flange, 2 ¼ inch and 2 ¾ inch.

The exciting part about this pouch is how easy it is to close. All you have to do is take the end, roll or fold it three times in the same direction, then, while pressing from the middle outward, you can actually feel the pouch seal and become leak-proof. That’s why they call it the Lock N Roll! It’s great for all drainable pouch users, but especially for those with vision issues or those with dexterity problems.

Not only is it easy to close, it’s also easy to empty. Simply give the sides a light pinch to open the pouch, and you’ll be able to control the content flow. As soon as you stop pinching, there are firm reinforcing stripes to that shut the pouch. You can then use a tissue to easily wipe the inside of the pouch clean, and you’ll be able to roll it closed again.

This model also features an integrated filter to keep all odors inside the pouch without filling with gas. The pouch walls are odor barriers and rustle free. Belt tabs are also included. You’ll find a ComfortWear pouch panel on both sides. And do remember that this pouch is transparent.

If you have used this pouch before, please let your fellow ostomates know! You may comment below or leave a review on the product page. Thanks!

Hollister New Image Cut-to-Fit Convex Flextend Skin Barrier, with Tape: 14803, 14802, 14804

Posted by Jeanne Lowry on February 27, 2015 under Ostomy Care | Be the First to Comment

We’re taking another look into one of the ostomy items that we offer at TotalHomeCareSupplies.com. The Hollister New Image Cut-to-Fit Convex Flextend Skin Barrier, with Tape is special because of its convex shape, offering a better fit to those with stomas that are recessed, retracted or flush.

The convexity is ideal for tender, post-operative abdomens because it eliminates pressure on the area. Part of how it’s able to do this is the “floating flange,” which this item shares with the Hollister New Image 2pc Flextend Skin Barrier CTF. There are three sizes available: the 1 ¾ inch flange has a maximum barrier opening of 1 inch, the 2 ¼ inch flange has an opening of 1 ½ inch and the 2 ¾ inch flange has an opening of 2 inches. And once the wearer finds the perfect fit, the barrier protects the skin over extended wearing time from irritating discharge.

Before we finish up, let’s take a look at the reviews for this barrier:

“I have tried several brands of ostomy bags, and Hollister New Image Flextend is the only one that lasts more days. I have to change mine every 4 days. My output is liquid consistency due to my recent surgery and liquid diet. I have to use strip paste in addition to prevent leakages. Easy to use.”

“This product made my post-operation experience as easy as it could be, considering the worries I had about having a colostomy.”