Affordable Ostomy Care Tips and Alternatives?

Hi there, I'm from Indonesia.

I have found that a lot of resources on the internet regarding ostomy care are irrelevant to me because I cannot find any of the products.

For example, I have been trying to search for a bag deodorizer, and no one sells it. I need to import it, and I am frankly too poor for that. I know they're not really required, but I share a bathroom with my siblings, and I think they're a bit disgusted by it, so I wish to eliminate as much odor as possible, including what's on my body.

For now, my makeshift skin prep that I was taught in the hospital is hypafix around the stoma. But some parts of my skin are still raw, and taking off the hypafix is kind of a hassle. I tried searching for skin prep, and it doesn't exist either.

Honestly, I don't know if anyone relates since I see most people are from countries with pretty comprehensive healthcare, but meeting a local ostomate is also a bit hard here.

So my question is, does anyone know if there is an alternative for deodorizers and a better alternative for skin prep? And if anyone has other frugal ostomy tips, it would be much appreciated!

G-Day haibahafifah,

There is a very good room deodorizer called "Glen 20" in Australia; see if you can buy that in Indonesia. If not that one, they may have something like it. Also, a good eucalyptus spray. Start thinking outside the box and see what you can come up with. A deodorizer for your bag; a good one is to put some Tic Tacs in your bag.

Regards, IGGIE

A cheap deodorant or perfume left in the bathroom at home can be sprayed after you change or drain the bag. To be honest, it would work much better than any ostomy deodorizer.

Why are you using the Hypafix? It looks like this is a tape. Does your bag not have its own adhesive? Or is it a problem with leaks?

If you have leaks, let's see what else you could do.

Have you tried not using the Hypafix?

If it is necessary to use the Hypafix, you may be damaging the skin when taking it off. Are you using an adhesive remover? There should be some version of that available there.

Coconut oil apparently works well as an adhesive remover.

Stories of Living Life to the Fullest from Ostomy Advocates I Hollister

Head and Shoulders shampoo has zinc in it to clean the area around the stoma. Maybe you have something like that.

I use Hypafix around the stoma and then stick the bag on top of the Hypafix. This was the only way it would actually stick to my skin. I tried powder and paste (we have those, but the only accessory I can find is powder and paste, usually Convatec, and it's damn expensive) and didn't get great results; it would leak in 8-10 hours. I have an ileostomy, and the output after surgery was very watery. Though admittedly, I haven't tried it now; my output is thicker.

Room spray has been great; just a problem with my bag (maybe it's just me, but sometimes I smell it when going out. I don't know if it's my anxiety or it actually smells since it's not leaking). And huh, you can put Tic Tacs in there? I guess it's food, so it makes sense.

I actually like the idea of using Hypafix this way. If it's working and affordable, leave it alone. Any other solutions are likely to be more expensive.

It's very likely that the problem is skin damage from removing the Hypafix. You need adhesive remover. If you can't find that, then try the coconut oil Bob suggested. Though I'd really expect you to have adhesive remover.

If you do try Coconut Oil as an adhesive remover, you will have to make sure you remove it all 100% or your bag will not stick to an oily surface.

Regards, IGGIE