Ileostomy Products

You should be able to obtain the information you need from your ostomy nurse. My nurse provided me with all the necessary supplies to get things started along with contact information for ordering additional supplies.

I personally used Hollister products. Their website also has a good video library that you may find helpful. It can be found here.

I had the same problem with the bags. I'm petite so the regular sized bag didn't work for me, as it hung halfway down my thigh.

I much preferred the Hollister New Image Mini Drain, which was a much better size for me. And it's not too small that you have to empty it so often. As TinCan says, you can also speak to the ostomy nurse. If you are using a different supplier, such as Coloplast, they make several different sized bags as well.

bethie-you'll need to wait on ordering supplies because you won't know the size of her stoma until after surgery..the stoma nurse will get her fitted in the hospital..the stoma usually shrinks within the first 4-6 weeks which may require switching appliances during recovery..additionally the bag comes in a few sizes..I used the hollister brand but loved coloplast bags best but was allergic to their adhesive on the wafer..I think the biggest names are hollister, convatec, and coloplast.. They all have start up programs meaning they'll send you free samples..at the beginning I ordered so many samples from all 3 companies and just played around until I got the right fit. It becomes a bit of trial and error with this..I'm having takedown next week and had to change the size of my wafer just last week as my stoma must have shrunk again recently..I would recommend ordering the powder, rings, barrier protector, and adhesive remover..they are all good to have on hand even if you don't end up using all..If you're lucky with insurance covering it than I say order a variety of things..I was lucky and I do have lots of different samples of stuff I'd be more than glad to send you if you don't get coverage..pm me if interested..

Additionally-does anyone know of a place to donate non used osteomy supplies? After next week I hope to be done for good and have a variety to donate

I was going to say all the same as randi!

It will also depend on how much output she has. My son is 8+ now but has had his ostomy since he was 3. He uses the big ol 12" bag so that he can get mostly through the night. He wears what is called a care-fix by a company called nu-hope. It is almost like an old fashioned tube top that he tucks his bag into so it doesn't hang out. There are many belts and products on the market but he likes this one the best. Ostomy secrets has some good ones too.
Good luck to her!

I think Coloplast makes the best products. I understand why she feels this way b/c they can be unsightly. However, I got very creative with tape. I mold my 10 1/2" bags into a much smaller bag that I wear during the day. I order Leukotape that holds very well and does not come off (Leukotape is something used in PT clinics). The first thing I do is tape the top part down that has the filter. That already makes the bag smaller and since the filters do absoultely nothing as far as I'm concerned, no sense having it sticking up so high above my belt line. Then I mold the sides of the bag. End result is pretty much a small rectangle. I wear an ordinary bag at night while sleeping secondary to much increased output.
Lastly, have her order a stealth belt (stealthbelt.com). These are awesome and really help to conceal the bag even better. Good luck.

I sent my left over ostomy supplies to FOW....Friends of Ostomates Worldwide. They have a website. They supply ostomy supplies to people in countries where getting these supplies any other way is almost impossible.