Affordable Ostomy Guards for Comfortable Wear

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264
Unicornbean
Mar 18, 2025 6:54 am

I'm having trouble with wearing pants, other than sweatpants, because of where my stoma is. Jeans and other pants restrict drainage of my ileostomy. I'm thinking of trying an Ostomy Guard, but on Amazon, they're stupidly expensive. A fancy shaped piece of special plastic and Velcro, $80 and $90 and more. Anyone out there find one at a more reasonable price?

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Bill
Mar 18, 2025 7:29 am

Hello Unicornbean.
It seems unfortunate that almost everything related to medical issues appears to be extortionately (and perhaps exploitatively) expensive.
However, research and development costs are often partly to blame and some devices are not financially 'worth' producing unless they cover all the development costs. I have found that the most practical way around this issue is DIY.

I have made numerous devices for my stoma at no cost except my time. These devices tend to cater precisely for whatever 'my' needs are at the time of their making. (They would not suit everybody)!
Three devices that I use on a daily basis are:
1) A 90 degree waste bend to guide the output from stoma to the bottom of the bag/sleeve.
2) A stoma 'guard', which does a similar job but doesn't stick out so far, which is more convenient for daytime use. 
3) Baseplates: These mean that I do not have to rely on the manufactured bags/sleeves to stick and stay on my skin 
Both devices (1&2) 'fit' onto my own baseplates, which have been designed so that the devices are inside the bag/sleeve rather than an external attachment, as I could not envisage how anything outside of the bag would do much, other than cause pancaking. 
It should perhaps be said that I have made dozens of slightly different devices to perfect the items for my own use and I continue to make more as the changing needs of my stoma seem to demand. 
Sometimes I feel envious of those who manage to find a manufactured device to suit their needs but (as posts on here have shown) there are many  ostomates who are still  looking for things to suit their particular set of circumstances, which tend to be many and varied.
Having expressed my view several times that AI and 3D printing could be beneficial in this regard, I did briefly have a look at what this might entail. What I found was that the technical issues were way out of my expertise and the equipment was too expensive to warrant the outlay. 
Thus, I will continue with knocking things up in my shed with whatever I can find in terms of materials and tools.
Best wishes

Bill 

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SusanT
Mar 18, 2025 2:47 pm
Reply to Bill

I really admire what you've done, Bill. I'm afraid that many of us lack the expertise to do it; I know I couldn't. That leaves us at the mercy of ostomy supply manufacturers.

To the OP, is there a way to get this guard through your health plan?

In the US, even if an item isn't covered, I can usually get a discounted price by filing with insurance. I don't know how these things work in Canada. Sorry.

Beth22
Mar 18, 2025 2:50 pm

Hey unicorn, I always wear my ostomy bag outside my pants. I don't like my bag tucked in my pants. Have you thought about doing that? Then if you want your bag covered, get an ostomy wrap; a lot of them have pockets inside the wrap so your ostomy bag can sit in it. Ostomy Secrets makes a good one.

Cody9723
Mar 19, 2025 2:21 pm

Hello unicornbean

I found a decent stoma guard on Amazon for

$21.99. It works well. I hope this helps and it is what you're looking forโ€ฆ

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drsnickers2
Mar 22, 2025 4:47 pm
Reply to Bill

How did you fashion your stoma guard?

rlevineia
Mar 23, 2025 4:18 pm

Love your lox! Low salt. Colostomy or ileostomy? Wore only sweatpants at first. I hated the plastic lump going down the front of my pants. Uncomfortable lump stuck out. Pants and belt made it worse. I use a horizontal stealth belt. Your pouch will sit sideways in it. Tighten my belt as much as I want. You can get a slip-over or Velcro type. $60-120. I have two (vertical and horizontal) and they are in great shape after 6-7 years. I climb mountains and hike miles in them. Loose poly T-shirt, with jeans/belt and just shorts. Can you see my stealth belt?


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oldfart1942
Mar 23, 2025 6:10 pm

Rlevina: Re the Stealth Belt looks interesting. I wear sweatpants with the Hollister pouch outside the pants. My wife made a nice soft black cover to use when I go out.

Does the Stealth Belt let you wear pants with a shirt inside the pants? That is what I want.

SusanT
Mar 23, 2025 6:18 pm
Reply to oldfart1942

It will probably depend on stoma placement. Mine are so high that I could tuck in a shirt and only catch a small portion of the bottom of my bags. I normally "blouse" it out a bit and I'm good to go. I imagine a belt that supports a horizontal bag would work for most.

almelia
Mar 23, 2025 11:52 pm

I made a stoma guard for under my wetsuit. I cut the upper toe piece from a pair of old 'croc' type gardening shoes.

Unicornbean
Apr 03, 2025 2:06 am
Reply to Cody9723

Where did you find it? Was it Stoma Dome brand or something very similar?

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