Advice for Using Hollister Convex Ostomy Belt?

Hi, does anyone who uses an ostomy belt have any advice? I am starting to use Hollister convex with a belt and so far, two days, no leaks!

What kind of advice are you looking for? The belt is the answer to many stop-leak issues, plus extra support. Wearing a wrap too helps curb a hernia.

What are you looking for advice-wise?

I use the thin belt that comes with the appliances all the time. I just prefer it that way. Don't make it too tight.

Hi Just,

People ask this question from time to time and it always makes me go 'huh'? You've got a barrier stuck to you with just some adhesive bandage holding it on, that if any part of the seal fails... you'll have a leak that will end up fouling the whole adhesive part causing the barrier to fall off. So they put attachment points on the bag/barrier for a belt, which will not only help with the adhesive adhesion, but keep pressure on the barrier in the event of a leak. And people ask if they should wear a belt? It's like asking if you should wear your seat belt while driving. If you're daring and don't mind the mess if an accident happens... leave it off. If you like peace of mind or knowing you're doing everything possible to avoid embarrassment (or worse)... put it on. It's really that simple.

Some find a belt uncomfortable. I know I did. But after a week or two you forget it's there and feel naked if you don't have it on. Some folks have such great adhesion of their barrier to their skin they say they don't need it. Most aren't that lucky. For me... I'd say it's a no-brainer. But they invented the term 'no-brainer' for a reason... if you get my drift.

;O)

OMBRO... you nailed it.

No brainer and seat belt analogy

Priceless.

(He has had experience in both as a car crash dummy testing vehicles for the D.O.T.)

Words of Encouragement from Ostomy Advocates I Hollister

Hmm, I wear my bag at an angle so it fits completely in my panties. This means that those attachment points on the wafer are at an angle and can't snap evenly onto a belt. I've also tried other belts and their round openings that fit over the wafer actually pushed against the wafer and jostled it, making me fairly certain that the wafer would start to come off. I really wanted to like using a belt - seemed like good insurance against leaks. 🤷🏼‍♀️

You do know that not all ostomy bags have the loops for the belt.

And that is a crime indeed. Not having those attachments. What's worse maybe is not having an e-z poppet valve on the bag top to purge gas and add fluid.

That will be the next big thing for sure.

Added protection equates to added assurance... confidence too.

Six years ago when they sent me home with this contraption, they left me clueless regarding accessories, even options. I kept blowing that flange daily. Common sense told me there should be a belt. I had to ask. I got the new appliance with loops. Big difference.

I mean if we were trees, standing still all day and night, I could see not using a belt.

Just gotta have my belt. I wear a wrap too.

And the bulge, that little boobie mound, aka hernia, has stayed small, restrained using these two methods.

There's always one in the group that has to be different, eh Eefy?

Well... I've heard from a reputable source that Warrior wears his bag completely in his panties too... so maybe he'll explain how he does it. And hopefully without pictures!

:(

I told you, Bob, not to mention that in public! By the way, the crotchless ones you sent for Christmas were a hit.

So back to smack...

Should I mention your penile implant? (Oops, my bad.)

Not that I have leak issues, but I wish my bags had belt clips on them. I also think the belts need to be wider than those 1-inch ones that the regular ostomy bag places have.

I use the thin Hollister clip-on belts occasionally around the house.

Mostly, I use Nu-Hope support belts. For work, I use a 3-inch wide one. The belt holds in my parastomal hernia, but my stoma is visible as a bulge.

I also use a 4-inch wide belt with a prolapse strap for going out to dinner or church. The strap pushes my stoma down a little. My ostomy is barely visible while wearing it.

At first, belt pressure caused skin damage around my stoma from the wafer hole. I added a barrier ring. This works really well. I now cut the wafer hole larger and use the moldable barrier ring to seal around the stoma.

I don't understand why they don't. Just like I don't understand why some bags will have the option of either filterless and filter, yet some only come with a filter. In certain brands, they make zero sense on a lot of things, and there are so many things they could be doing. But the problem is most of these companies don't actually have an ostomy, so they don't really know firsthand how their own product works and in many ways doesn't. They need someone that has one coming up with ideas for wafers and bags and everything else. I have a million ideas and ways they can improve and make something new that would work, as I am sure all of us on here do. I think we should all get together and make our own line.

If you use a belt with your Hollister 2-piece, you will know that the belt rolls up and becomes very uncomfortable. To fix this, I have put the Hollister clip at the end of the belt onto a Coloplast belt. It's only a 15-minute job to cut the Hollister clip from the Hollister belt and then sew it onto a Coloplast belt as shown in the photo.

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Belts are optional. I chose to wear a belt for a couple of reasons. First, a slight pressure around my convex bag might prevent a parastomal hernia since it acts much like a hernia belt. Secondly, I have heard about blowouts with stomas with stool everywhere. I believe a belt adds security to the placement of the barrier. After I change my barrier, I will slightly tighten my belt temporarily to set my barrier. I believe a belt adds security.

I wear a belt. If it's advice you're looking for, here's some:

Always keep a spare belt. Accidents are rare, but can and do happen, and you need a spare or two just in case. No one wants to wear a wet belt after washing it.

I second that. I had an awful lot of leaks prior to wearing a belt. Now they are very few and far between, rare in fact, and usually as a result of turning on my side in bed. It's also become a habit to hold my pouch when turning.

Subconsciously, you can do that in your sleep. Kind of weird, right? Have you tried wearing a t-shirt in bed? I've been wearing one for the longest time. Not only does it keep the bag in place when you're turning, but it also acts as insulation if a bag were to blow.

It's kind of like a barrier, in a sense, between your bed sheets and your body. It catches most of the poo if you have a blowout.

But I do believe a belt is necessary 24/7, whatever the width is.

You got to keep that mounting bracket close, tight, and flush to your skin.

I wear a “stealth belt” with mine. I wear it daily and sleep without it (as taking it off at the end of the day is like taking off a bra for you ladies, I assume). However, my ileostomy was converted to a colostomy in a second surgery after a few months with the ileostomy. The colostomy has far fewer leaks, but the stealth belt did help reduce the number of leaks with the ileostomy as well. A convex barrier with an “Eakin Cohesive” wax ring also helped me a lot. If you're not getting a good solid seal, nothing's going to stop the leaks. But finding the right supplies/process for you makes all the difference. That being said, I love my stealth belt and hope I never have to go without it. But sometimes I do have to get a breather without it, as it can feel like wearing a girdle. But the support is great.

I have changed to a convex bag from Coloplast that I like much better and the belt that goes with it. I was having a problem because my stoma was almost skin level on the left side. This has worked out the best for me, and the belt was a big help.