Overnight bags for uninterrupted sleep?

Hey guys! I'm fairly new to this site but I've looked all over and can't seem to find an answer to this one? I have CD (17 years) and an ileostomy (5 years). My issue is this: Is there some type of bag that will allow me to sleep through the night? I wake up anywhere between 1-3 times every night. It's getting old and I need my beauty sleep. Any ideas? Or existing inventions? Thanks!

Hi Sally,

This seems to be a constant problem, especially for ileostomates who have a high output. Of course, there is the obvious solution, and that is to restrict your intake after a certain time so less will be passed while you're sleeping. Another one would be to use a high output pouch only when you are sleeping. If you use the Convatec two-piece system, this is easily done by just snapping the smaller pouch off and replacing it with the high output one. I am sure others will have additional good suggestions for you.

X_

Hi Sally... As Xerxes said, a nice 2-pc system would allow size changes. My colon acts like an ileo due to cut-paste surgeries. The first surgery took 11 cm of ileum, the second surgery took a couple separate chunks of the large intestine, then the colon at the sigmoid/colon junction. That was 5 years ago. I wear the large bag day and night because when my body decides to flush, I blow the smaller bags off. I used to blow larges off too, but ileosorb and diet helps. I use Coloplast's Assura system. It has small bags, large bags, and stoma caps for intimacy or showering. They all fit the same wafer. The filter in the bag doesn't really work, but I like that because I think gas still stinks through the charcoal. I haven't had any trouble with leakage. I put the little swim/shower sticker (enclosed) on it just to be safe. Another thing I find useful is Ilesorb or Par-Sorb granule packets. They turn the liquid to gel-mush so liquid doesn't leak. I use Eakin seals to protect my parastomal skin and get a good adhesion/seal with the wafer. I don't use any preps or adhesive removers, as suggested by WOCN, and the skin's been healthier with a better fit. Another idea for good glue-sticky is heating pieces with a hairdryer or heater. For me, it worked better than my hands or armpits, like the WOCN showed me.

Could you tell me more about the Ilesorb or Par-Sorb packets? I have never heard of them.

Hi Sally,
There are bags that have what I call a spigot at the end of the bag instead of the opening with the clamp. It's a nice-sized bag and I find it lasts the night sleeping and will give you confidence to do the same. I still get up in the middle of the night, but it's only once and some nights I sleep all the way through. It's by Hollister and they take most insurances. I don't know what size you need, but if you go to hollister.com you will be able to see all the new items. They get new stuff all the time. I have been using these bags since July and I love them. They are called "New Image High Output Drainable Pouches". I will check in more often and see if it worked out for you. I first had a colostomy from 04-10 and just had the ileostomy put on for good. I hope this helps and please if you need any other help, ask. I'll be happy to pass on any useful hints.

Blessings,
Maria

How to Manage Ostomy Leaks with LeeAnne Hayden | Hollister

I never heard of the swim/shower caps to put on stoma? OMG, that would be great. I use Hollister and only the Convatec paste and strips. I would love to look into that. Please tell me, can I find them on the Hollister site? Thank you for the info.

Blessings,
Maria

Hi Sally,

I've had my ileostomy for over 30 years and it's rare to ever get a full night's sleep without having to go to the bathroom and empty my pouch (I prefer the word "pouch" to "bag". It sounds less icky!) I agree totally with Xerxes. Try to limit what you eat before you go to sleep. If you eat a big salad, you may as well just stay awake!

Usually one visit to the bathroom at around 4:00 A.M. does it for me. I use a Convatec and I don't think using a larger pouch would make any difference for me. I would still want to empty it, even if it wasn't totally full. My technique, which I've mentioned when this question came up before, is to not even dwell on it and to just get up and empty the pouch. If I start thinking about it (can I make it till morning? will I get back to sleep? etc.) my brain will turn on and I'll never get back to sleep. Also, I keep a night light in the bathroom so I don't have to turn on all the lights. Hope this helps.

PJT

Thanks for all the responses. I have tried not eating past a certain time or watching what I eat but it doesn't seem to affect the amount of output, just the consistency. I guess mine is on duty 24/7 no matter what. I will look into the larger output "pouches" when I place my next order which should be within the next week. Great to have someone to ask who understands and has experienced the same issues. You are all so pleasant, optimistic and inspiring! Do you think that's because of all we've been through or were we like this before and it just got amplified? Thanks again!

Hiya.
If high output at night is a big problem, then try eating around 5 large marshmallows half an hour before bedtime. Along with the gelling sachets, this will help to slow down output and you might get a full night's sleep. Give it a try and see how you go. Let us know how you get on.

Hey there...today is my 2-year anniversary. That being said, I had the same fear as you. I tried staying up later...no dice. What I've been doing is making sure I'm done with dinner before 7 and let the chips fall where they may. I sleep solid throughout the night, there are exceptions, when I get gassy. This is rare. Sorry to hear that you have to get up that often. Also, try eating a light dinner. They don't make our bags any bigger, I don't think that would help either. Hope you work it out or if some other folks have any other ideas.
OSTOMATES RULE!!

If your output is very watery, you can get some specialist bags. They are the same as urostomy overnight bags. You have a tap (but it's wider than the urostomy ones) on the end of your bag. Then, a tube attaches to that and attaches to a bag you have on the floor. We can get them in the UK, not sure if you can get them?

Hi Sally,
Talk with a Hollister representative about their high-output bags with soft taps. These bags are designed for ileostomates with high liquid output. The bag has a plug under it which will allow it to drain into a much larger bag. Hollister is good about sending people samples for their products. Good luck!
Prime

I too have the same problem even when I am up - watching TV or reading, so you can imagine how it is going to the bathroom every 15 minutes or less, especially when invited out to a friend's house for dinner. It has almost been a year and my situation has improved depending on food. Marshmallows do work and so does rice in slowing the bag down.
Also, I have to keep my stress levels low or my bag causes problems such as gas, not emptying, then get a headache or bag empties too much at one time and will burst.
Unfortunately, I have to take just a small dosage of morphine - the side effect is constipation, and with a sleeping pill, I can at least get 6 hours of sleep without getting up. You are taking the right approach by talking to people and trying different foods to see what agrees with you, hopefully, in time you will be able to control your stoma so it doesn't make you miserable.
Can anyone answer: When your bag is 3rd full, do you get stomach cramps or get a headache? Regardless if it is liquid or solid, I have an ileo. Good luck Butterfly48

Primeboy--do you have Hollister numbers for the appliances you're talking about? That would be useful. Thanks.

Hi Ilsn2u,
I use the Hollister New Image 18013 High Output Drainable Pouch. When I was in the hospital, the ET nurse told me I could get tubing and a large collection bag which could hang off the side of my bed if necessary. I never ordered it because the high output bag was sufficient. I have not seen the large collection bag in the catalog so you should talk with a Hollister rep about it. Keep in mind that the 18013 pouch is intended for ostomates with liquid or muddy output. Solid stool will not drain out of the bottom tap. Good luck!
Prime

PS: I never get cramps or headaches resulting from the fullness of my bag.

Hi Butterfly - I don't get a headache when my bag is full, but I do get one if I eat pastry of any kind, although puff and flaky are the worst! Weird ......!

Ilesorb and ParSorb are the brand names. Here's one link http://www.brucemedical.com/abflak.html

I get mine at http://www.byramhealthcare.com/

Hope that helps

Marcella

Yeah, I have the black eyes to prove it as well. I might check these posts out, but I use Coloplast pouches and really don't want to change. I will chat to Primo, haven't heard of these things down here in Australia... Mooza. Will come back to this page later in the day, will talk to my stomal therapy nurse as well, find out why we aren't told about any of this stuff. Hmmmm.
I do use the ileo gel, but I can't be bothered turning the toilet light on to put another one in if I have more watery substance during the night. I think my brain is soooo switched on to just get up during the night. I've actually just sprawled onto the floor hahahah, not funny at the time, but the ileo gel works great... I thought someone had another idea. Should have read first. xx Mare - Mooza

Mini caps from Coloplast might be what you are after for shower or swim or intimate.

Yep, we would all... myself included, like to not have those black eyes. I wanna sleep through the night. Oh well, I need water during the night, so it's by the bed. Very dehydrated, and even 5 hours of straight sleep would be amazing. xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Hi Sally - I really know how you feel as I have to get up numerous times in the night to urinate as the nerves there were destroyed in my last surgery in 09. I think I have slept only once through the night since 09.

Couldn't you take a dose of Imodium before bed? Perhaps that would at least cut down on the number of times you have to get up. Might also help you sleep better - I know it makes me sleepy when I take it.

Hi, everyone. I'm a newbie here, though I have lots of experience with other fora. I don't have an ostomy myself, but am supporting my partner who has an ileostomy.

The problem of getting through the night with having to empty the pouch every couple of hours has been messing up her sleep and therefore messing up the rest of her life. I went looking for solutions and found this discussion. Thank you! She contacted her supplier, and has been trying out the Convatec pouch with its spigot-ish tube at the bottom.

Her supplier's support person also sent along a couple of urinary collection bags, which come with attached clear tubing which connects inside the pouch's spigot. The problem with this setup is that the diameter of the tubing is narrow at the two connection points; it clogs very easily with the undigested bits.

I found that I could replace the original tubing with larger-diameter clear tubing bought from a hardware store: 1/2" inner diameter, 5/8" outer diameter. This goes over the outlet from the pouch, and over the intake of the urinary bag. It was somewhat difficult to remove the original tubing from the urinary bag. What I found worked was to cut the tubing just outside of the bag, then push a very small flat screwdriver between the tubing and the bag's intake to break the contact between them in one spot. Then needle-nose pliers to twist up the tubing, breaking it free from the bag.

The problem we're working on now is emptying the urinary bag. Its outlet is too narrow, and again clogs easily. Since we're on a limited income, and my partner's insurance is refusing to cover the expenses for her supplies, we need to be able to empty, clean, and re-use the pouch and bag. Can anyone suggest methods for unclogging, or other good collection systems? Thanks!

Hi Bunsen. It seems to me that you are looking for solutions to treat the symptom, but not the problem. Your partner is losing an enormous amount of fluid and that situation needs to be stopped ASAP. There are lots of medications that can help, ranging from Imodium, Lomotil to opioids. Diet is also important. Your partner's GI doctor will suggest what's best. I have been living with an ileostomy for 6 years now so my advice comes from personal experience. I can tell you that I don't eat late dinners and I use a large drainable bag from Hollister. I usually wake up twice nightly to empty the bag regardless of how much or how little content there is, and I fall asleep right away with confidence that the bag won't fill and burst. You have come to the right place for information on ostomies and there are some great discussion threads on your area of concern. Good luck!

PB

It's not that simple, I'm afraid. The ostomy surgery was performed in an emergency; the stoma is neither well-shaped nor well-positioned. If the stool thickens more than slightly, the stoma blocks and distends. The skin around it gets irritated and the flange starts to leak.

My partner consumes large amounts of homemade rehydration fluid, per the WHO recipe, and her doctors are keeping an eye on her bloodwork.

The only flange system she's found so far that can accommodate the sunken-in stoma is a highly-convex flange from Convatec. It doesn't look like she can use the Hollister stuff or the Coloplast night pouch.

Diet and meal scheduling are a work in progress. :-