As you may have guessed, this post is about the ostomy supplies I use - from different bags, to creams and sprays, this is what I'm currently using. I'll also show you how I store some of my supplies, please bear in mind I am incredibly unorganised!
For me, like a lot of other ostomates (people who have ostomies - ileostomies, colostomies, urostomies) it's been a case of trial and error trying to find the right ostomy pouch/bag and combination of extra supplies like rings. It's actually on going for me as the adhesive on the bags i have less leakages with cause an allergic reaction to my peristomal skin, but... they cause less leakages. I know my leakages occur because of a dip to the right of my stoma, which is where I've put on weight since by surgery in June. My (fantastic) stoma nurse and I are still working on it - suggestions are welcome if you've had this issue. We've tried various rings and convex bags.
From top left we have: Dansac X-Tra Strips, Hollister convex bag, Coloplast Sensura Mio convex two piece system (convex flex barrier and drainable pouch), Dansac Tre soft convex, hand wipes, Coloplast Brava mouldable rings, dry wipes, Dansac skin protector wipes, Trio Elisse barrier wipes, Coloplast Brava powder, Coloplast Brava barrier cream, Trio Elite adhesive remover spray, black nappy sacks, Aquacel silver gauze dressing, Tegaderm transparent film dressing, non-sterile non-woven dressing.

most of the time during the week - they are the
most comfortable bag I've found but probably the most retro style. The adhesive is like a material plaster which skins to my skin great and feels really secure. I do not like the opening on these, I find it difficult when I have thicker output. These bags sounds like you're wearing a crisp packet - honestly they're so noisy, but most of the time, I'm the only person that sees my stoma/ostomy pouch so I'm not too worried how it looks.

So, with the bag leakages, I realised part of my problem was that I could NEVER get my bag on in the right place - I have a round belly since putting on a lot of weight since surgery and I can't get the right angle to see under my stoma. I realised that it might be helpful to try a two piece.

As it had been a few months and I was desperate to try and get a grasp on these under base plate leaks, I tried the Sensura Mio click convex (above)- it does still irritate my skin but not as much. If I only wear it for a day or two of the week and wear the Hollister bag for the rest of the week to give my skin a break it's fine. A two piece system is definitely better for me - I can place the base plate around my stoma easily and make sure it's secure and then click the pouch into place.
All of the products so far - so pouches, base plates, strips, sprays, wipes, rings, cream and powder are all included in my prescription. Different districts in the UK and prescriptions allow people to order different amounts - I know some people are limited to like two sprays per month, and if you're changing your bag daily or twice daily like I know some people are, this isn't enough. It's really frustrating because these people are them expected to pay for extras from the pharmacy and these sprays are like £8 a can.
As I've mentioned I have an ulcer which sometimes appears underneath my stoma - my stoma nurse and I have NO idea how it come up there, it just appeared one day and it was so painful. It sometimes bleeds, but my consultant and stoma nurse aren't too concerned about it, though I am gonna show my surgeon when I see him in a few months as it's not supposed to be there. Currently what I'm using to combat this is Aquacel silver gauze - which is EXPENSIVE, and tegaderm film, I'm kind of making a make-shit waterproof plaster which I have to cut to size each time, then put the ring on it, then the ostomy pouch. I'm trying to protect it from leakages (because poop is acidic, yo - and ya don't want poop in an ulcer), sometimes, the leakages do get under there, but it's mostly protected. I just make sure to clean it well.
Storage time!
When Coloplast sent me samples, they sent every thing in individual plastic wallets and y'know, I'm pretty self conscious about single use plastics - considering I have NO CHOICE but to use them to survive (I'd love to invent eco-friendly stoma supplies but I do not have the brain for it). I was gonna throw them out, but then I realised, I could semi-organise my bedroom ostomy supplies!I'm pretty sure that's everything - if anyone has any questions, please ask, whether it's to do with supplies or stoma life in general, or something unrelated! Oh, and if anyone has a fix for the under the base plate leaks please get in touch!