Toilet Paper Usage

Oh My Days! .. I am just the same!

I can't believe how much we get through due to my Ileostomy! Thank goodness it's easier to buy now but is costing me a fortune!

Might not buy the one with the cute puppies anymore and change to economy, although not sure the rest of the family would appreciate that. 

Apparently Savers are good and cheap but not sure if they are open at the moment! Will be joining you in buying shares .. keep me informed!

Take care and keep safe x

Hi there - I’ll be honest that does sound a lot! I seem to remember I used to use a couple of sheets to twist up inside the bit that rolls up at the bottom and then a sheet to clean the  plastic strip at the bottom before rolling it back up again. Are you cleaning the full inside of the bag when you empty it?

Perhaps you could buy some of the cheap stuff for your stoma use and save the expensive stuff for more delicate parts?

The supermarkets seem to be getting a bit better stocked up here now but when the panic buying first started I found some of the more unlikely places like farm foods etc. to have stock.

I have since had a reversal and had luckily bought a huge pack of Andrex quilted before the panic started as I can go several times once I start - I also managed to get hold of some 2-ply for emergencies but I don’t think that will last very long!

Hope you’re both managing ok with your stomas

Take care

Karen x

Hi, I'm with you as well on this one. I bulk buy ther single sheet packs from Amazon. They're about £17 per box for 36 packs of 250 sheets. I use about 6 sheets per empty,  sometimes more, sometimes less. 

I was on it at the start of this and ordered an extra box straight away. I haven't even finished the box I already had yet... whoops does that count as hoarding , but it means that it keeps my lovely Costco toilet paper available for ther rest of the family..... who seem to go through toilet paper at a speed that makes me wonder what an earth they're doing with it!

Hi Silver Birch

Certainly agree with emptying Basil frequently x I too dislike the feeling a full bag 

Inanna xx 

Hello Silver Birch (one of my favourite trees by the way).

Charlie and I are nearly two years down the line now and settling into a steady relationship.  I'm not finding I need to empty the pouch so often, maybe four to five times in 24 hours, but like you I don't like to feel that weight building up.  I find that the underwear with the pockets in has really helped with that.  They give support and are more comfortable in hot weather or when moving around.  I tried a belt but the pants are much better for me.  There are various companies that supply them and they do come on prescription (via your delivery service or GP) but I like Vanilla Blush (lovely quality and excellent service).

As for the toilet roll issue, I counted too, especially when the panic buying started.  A good strong brand (Aldi's 4 ply is really good and economical too) is the best.  I use a single square just to make sure the opening to the pouch is clean but that usually only takes maybe five or six sheets maximum per drain and Charlie is prone to stodginess rather than liquid output.  I make sure that the first part of the fold is clean but the rest of the pouch has an inner liner anyway and I am not mucking about in that.  It's meant to be like the bowel and I wouldn't try cleaning that - never thought I'd be having 'poo' conversations like this but you get past a lot of the social niceties with bowel cancer, don't you?

During the panic I just enlisted every family member and friend and got them on toilet roll alert.  Bless them, they scoured the county and we managed.  But in an emergency I would just have cut up some dry wipes and used them.  After all we have our provisions for a reason....

Hope some of this helps.  Charlie and I are sending you lots of encouragement.  It gets easier, it really does and, as pets go, a stoma isn't so bad - no walkies, no hairs on the carpet, only a tendency to make interesting noises when not needed in the conversation.

Stay safe

Hello Everyon

Thank you for the replies. Really helpful - the number of sheets has reduced since the first couple of weeks, but still feels a lot, but glad to know I am not alone here! I have taken to rinsing out the drain flap by using a 10 ml syringe to squirt water in, then I hold the edge shut and wriggle it around a bit, and that gets it really clean, and that is what has helped me to reduce my toilet paper use a bit. I have found that some bags clean easier than others - the Sensura Mio seems to clean really easily, but the Dansac I am currently trying out does not, and the seams of the drain need extra attention.

Toilet paper with puppies on? Really? I had no idea such treasures existed. I use a recyled loo roll, but if I knew where to buy Puppy loo roll, I would use that for high days and holidays!

LB61 Thanks for the link to Vanilla Blush . . . that's definitely is worth looking into. I am very active, and have to be for my job as well, and a keen hillwalker, so some support for the bag would be brilliant. Re: poo conversations, I'm with you on this one - I am (or should I say) was a very private person, and very discreet, but now - well, that's all changed! The brilliant thing is there are so many wonderful people willing to share experience, tips and ideas to make life easier for us 'ostomates'.

With best wishes.

'Privacy' ?  I used to know that word but I just can't recall what it meant. 

It is great that there is help out there.  It smooths out some of the wilder peaks and troughs on this journey.  I had help and I'm glad if I can say something that helps now.

I can recommend what my family now refer to as the 'kangaroo pants'.  My colo-rectal team suggested the product and the company and I now use them and the hernia support 'girdle' for exercise - back in the gym with the local Macmillan Cancer Rehab group and doing fine.  So they really do add comfort in action and the support needed to avoid the dreaded parastomal hernia

Good luck and hope you are back in the hills soon