Hollister Ostomy Pouches: Recurring Leak Issues

 

 

 

 

I’ve been using Hollister ostomy pouches for about 15 years trouble free.  I loved the product.   Over the past 6 months I’ve started to have bag leaks develop at various points in the seams.  Near the spout, then on the sides.   At first I thought it was a freak but it happened twice in one box of product while on a European vacation!   After only two days of wear.   I thought it might be a bad box.   So I continued and more leaks kept happening some like the photo were 1/16 inch blow outs during dinner.   I contacted Hollister and they were apologetic but this cannot happen for confidence reasons. Even after I contacted them more leaks happened with their product. They said there might have been mfg problems with that Lot so I continued using the pouch.   But the leaks continue.  More seam failure.  Hollister has a quality control problem- Major- not to be trusted. 
Unfortunately this product can’t be trusted or used.  
I will contact them again as it must be corrected! 

 

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I use Hollister closed bags and have not had this problem. Something to look out for.

Hi Bow,

I'm in exactly the same boat. I've been using Hollister since 2014 when I got my shitbag and they've been pretty good. Last year I reported leaks with the roll-up Velcro-like closure bags and then it stopped. Then a month or so ago I started getting the leaks again at the same spot... where the closure is heat-bonded to the plastic bag. The plastic in that section is really thin and when you slide your fingers over the Velcro closure to secure it, the pressure puts a hole in that weak bag area. I contacted Hollister with the lot number and other info and they apologized and sent me new bags from a different, more recent lot. The first bag lasted about 12 hours, the second one about 4 hours. Tossed the whole box and went back to the stupid plastic clip closure bags. Hate those, but at least they don't leak.

Seems Hollister is having problems these days... I guess all we can do is let them know... and switch to other products. So anyone else having bag issues with Hollister products... please let them know. Don't assume they know or that someone else will tell them. The more that complain, the more seriously they'll take the issue. Squeaky wheel gets the grease and all that. Anybody having issues with other brands' bags that we should avoid?

;O)

I use Hollister Velcro closure bags. In 19 months, no problems at all so far.

My colostomy output is mostly firm with little liquid.

When emptying, I spend extra time thoroughly cleaning the plastic sealing lips. Also, I get as much output as I can out of the fold-up drain area below the plastic lips. I noticed if some output remains in that area, when I fold, then squeeze the Velcro, hydraulic pressure is exerted in the seal area plastic. This puts force on the internal plastic edges. Any weakness and a leak forms. If I do it correctly, the Velcro feels firm when I press and it easily locks together.

If some output remains... Velcro feels soft and squishy. And continued pushing to secure it pressures the plastic seams.

I'm lazy. Don't rinse out my bag with every empty. If the plastic is not sealed properly during manufacture, then leaks will occur regardless of anything I try.

Just my experience.

These experiences are similar to my own. Holister must have changed material and mfg process because in my experience it is the seams that are letting go.  This is not acceptable.  This has happened after only one day or less wear time.  It has happened in side seams too not just when emptying at the spout.  I’m sure we are not alone in this problem.  
I agree be a squeaky wheel. 

Staying Hydrated with an Ostomy with LeeAnne Hayden | Hollister

I have had the issues around the plastic as well. Called Hollister and they replaced them, but certainly seems to be a running issue.

It upsets me to hear this is happening to so many of us.  I had the same experience, leaking around the seam near the tail of the appliance, but it only happened twice from pouches in the same batch.  That was probably a couple of years ago, and I've not had a problem since, fingers crossed.  We definitely need to let them know, loudly, when problems arise.  It would be really pissed if I was forced to switch brands, as it took me a lot of time, trial and error to find the system that works best for me.

Terry

Hey Bob, yeah, Coloplast... they either have pinholes or bigger holes in the bags. They have changed their plastic for the bag and the plastic for the Velcro bottom. More so lately, the Velcro closure at the bottom doesn't match and line up when you go to close it, so you have to tweak the tabs to get it to Velcro shut. Some of the bottoms of the bags have been having a hard time opening when you go to empty them. Some will also have deep cut lines that look like someone took a box cutter to it.

I swear these manufacturing companies need to stop messing with the product, stop changing things, and stop downgrading the plastic to cheaper crap that doesn't hold up. I don't understand why they don't leave well enough alone, especially when the product used to be good.

I used only hollister, and before September of this year, they were consistently reliable... but that's when it all changed. 

Like you, I got bags pre-equipped with tiny flaws that leaked. I returned several boxes for replacement. Additionally, many of the bags I got would only last a day before the odor became a thing. Prior to that time, I could get 3 - 4 days from a bag, suddenly I was only getting one day, occasionally two.

I believe they may be experiencing a quality control issue. But for convenience, I bought my bags from Amazon, so I wonder if Amazon has just stocked up on a really bad lot of bags. 

My only recourse was to stock up on bags so when I needed to return a box, I still had some on hand. 

I use hollister bags with no problems really. A while back I had 2 bags leak at the spout. I wrote hollister and told them the box number and the bar code and they sent me replacement bags. I told them with my insurance it isn't good to lose 2 bags to manufacturing errors. They were really kind about it and sent me the bags in like a week. 

Used Hollister in the hospital then continued on the outside, was not happy with their quality.

I went to another hospital for another incident (runaway dirrarea) and they used Coloplast products and I was extremely impressed with their quality and attention to detail. So I've been somewhat happier on them ever since.

I'm of course always looking for something better.

I'm looking for a product that turns the wafer into a thin protective type sheet with high skin bonding that then marries to a floating wafer that is held into place with large adhesive flanges, no paste or rings required. This will allow the body to move and the wafer to pretty much float on top, not bonded to the skin.

I've noticed that perhaps ConvaTech may have something I'm interested in with an accordion like connection to allow maximum flexibility.

I too have used Hollister bags for 47 years with no problems, then they started bursting at the seam around the opening. It is awful when you can't trust what you've been used to for so long. Then they stopped making the same ones I've been using all these years, and they only have the shorter appliances now. No other choice except 12 inch. I've been buying off brands on Amazon. After reading your comments, I probably won't ever go back to Hollister.

Have you looked at Cymed? They are quite different when it comes to being on the skin. Sounds like what you might be looking for.

 

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Wow, Beth!!! Where did THAT come from? I'm on the Cymed site right now and it sounds very interesting. Tell us more about your experience with this stuff.

What other gems are you hiding from us down there in the "greenest state in the land of the free"?

:-O

Ditto. !!!

Hi ro,

  I hear ya, sister!  But don't do anything based on MY recommendation!  I'm a 'torture test' of sorts for ostomy products, as I'm at the extreme range of what most ostomy products are designed for, and thus not in the majority of the target audience.  I empty my bag more times in a day than most do in four days, and I'm not gentle or kind to my ostomy stuff in any way shape or form.  When stuff breaks on me I'm not happy about it, but I'm not surprised.  But it would be nice to hear from everyone who has had issues with their ostomy products so all can be informed.  

;O)

Yeah, bro... like Consumer Reports! It's in our best interest to share that type of information among ourselves.

I see no reason not to do this. We gain benefits from it.

Lol, no secrets, just a lot of digging and curiosity about what all brands there were. I have not been able to try this due to me being in and out of surgeries for an entire year, but now I am able, so I am reaching out to them for a sample. I thought all you guys had seen all the brands, and I thought you all would have seen this one. I am sorry I would have posted it a long time ago so you guys could have tried it.

I'm just teasing you... but you got me thinking... do most of you ostomates do a lot of research looking at different ostomy products, or are you more like me and if something works, I just stick with it and don't go looking? I probably should do more looking around for different products, but my time is limited and I guess I figure if it isn't broke, don't fix it. But I'm curious if I'm the outlier or part of the norm? I would like to know of any new or even older but not well-known ostomy products that I'm too lazy to find on my own. If anyone else is using anything off the beaten path and it's working, please let us know. This is really good info!

;O)

Bro... I know how your mind works... you were going to compare me with crash dummies, but thought better... didn't you? Hmm... I wonder what happens to our bags of shit if we get rear-ended by someone at a stoplight doing 60 mph and looking at their cell phone. Or if we have a head-on collision and get tossed through the windshield... does our bag beat us to the windshield or get ripped off by the shards of glass as we go through it? We need to make some videos... any volunteers???

;O)

Those are some vivid images.

If we ended up dead in an accident, who gives a shit? They've got to clean that up.

Crash dummies have nothing on you, Bob.

May I ask what the item number on the bags that you're using is? My Mom uses New Image- 5018132. She has recently been experiencing a number of leaks.