Hollister vs Coloplast for a Flushed Stoma - Experiences?

Which one? Where to begin. On November 27th, I had an end colostomy. I was fitted with Hollister products with little to no training on how to put it on. My husband had to step in and learn through YouTube on how to fit me with the bag. Fast forward, after many leaks and blow-outs later, we are trying to figure out which one would be beneficial to me. Has anyone had Hollister and switched to Coloplast or vice versa? If so, what did you like about one or the other? Which one do you think would benefit me, having a flushed stoma?

When it comes to brands, it is a personal preference and also what works best for you. Everyone is different. The best advice is to call and ask for samples. There are many different manufacturers besides Hollister and Coloplast; there is also ConvaTec. These three are more popular. There are also Nu-Hope, Safe n' Simple, and Marleen, among others. You can Google and get the numbers, ask for samples, and try to figure out what works best for you. Being flush with the skin would be to try a convex, but if your stoma is sitting in a roll or crease, it might not stick and hold to your abdomen. Did they tell you how to wash the skin and make sure it is completely dry before placing a wafer on, and also how to cut the wafer? Cutting it should be to the size and shape of your stoma.

I use Hollister bags. They’re longer than others and mine has a Velcro closure and stoma viewing option. If your stoma is flush against your skin, you might want to use a barrier ring and a convex bag. It’ll push your stoma out more and lessen or eliminate your leaks.

Do you have any access to an ostomy nurse?

Getting samples and trying different brands as suggested is a start, but there are so many variables, it will take you quite a bit of trial and error to figure it all out. Even one or two visits with an ostomy nurse will give you a good foundation and help you get started.

People here are very knowledgeable and they will chime in with great advice, but nothing is as good as an experienced eye on site.

FWIW, I have used both Hollister and Coloplast successfully. Both have pluses and minuses, but you need to figure out your leak issues first. Assuming your fundamentals are solid, a different brand may work better. But being new myself, I can say that many initial problems I had were more about my technique than the appliance.

In the meantime, a few things that gave me trouble:

1) It's best to clean the skin with only water. If you use soap, make sure it contains no lotions and clean the skin well with water to remove all soap. Anything left on the skin can cause the appliance to loosen and leak.

2) Make sure the skin is very dry. If you use barrier wipes, the liquid must dry completely. Some people use hair dryers on a low setting or a small fan. I had a very bad experience with barrier cream that just didn't dry well, so now I use the wipes or nothing.

3) Barrier rings (wax-like rings that go under the appliance) can help prevent leaks. If using these, make sure to warm them well so they stick better to the skin. I was taught to press them with my fingers after applying to the skin.

4) While learning, I recommend flange extenders. These are semi-circular pieces that are designed to go around the outside edge of your flange. Depending on the brand, two or three extenders will cover the entire outside edge. I found these invaluable for helping to delay a leak. They gave me more time to spot a problem before it became a mess. You may or may not need these permanently, but I consider them a great hack while learning.

5) Make sure the flange is sitting flush against flat skin. Any scars, skin folds, etc., will provide a weak spot for a leak. There are ways to deal with these problems, but it would be difficult to assist without more detail. This is where an ostomy nurse would be most helpful.

Hi Heather, it's early on in your recovery, but you should consult with your surgeon or primary care doctor about irrigation, in which case you might not have to wear a pouch.

Words of Encouragement from Ostomy Advocates I Hollister

I started with Hollister. The hospital set me up with a pretty large flange and clear pouches. I had samples for different pouches and eventually downsized the flange and pouch length. I loved the QuietWear pouches. Earlier this year, they announced they had material supply issues for making them and stopped producing them this month. I was a bit upset over this. I learned that other more seasoned OstoMates have seen many changes like this.

Anyway, I eventually fell in love with Coloplast's Sensura Mio now. As others mentioned, there are pros and cons. I don't miss the Hollister filters constantly getting soiled or the fuzz coming off of the pouches. I don't like the odor from the Mio filter, but it keeps working at releasing gas. The Mio's have a chambered system that keeps them from getting soiled.

So much to learn! I am almost finished with my 4th year and feel like I'm still figuring things out.