FAO Star10473-Please read

It’s the urostomy bag that fills quick and my other bag can sometimes burst. It’s hard to get my head around it all . I thought I was doin great with it all but get really low at times 

Hi Star10473 

I’m glad I asked, as I assumed it would be the colostomy! 

When you want to go out, are you ensuring that the urostomy bag is completely empty? Mine takes quite a long time to fill and of course it depends on what I have been drinking. If you are going out to somewhere you know, make sure you know in advance where toilets nearby are located, and empty your bag regularly while you’re out even if  you don’t feel it’s needed. 

Do you have a toilet card or radar key? Both of these can help you get quick access to either disabled or other toilets.

With the colostomy bag, are you sure that the hole is cut to the right size for your stoma? You can measure this with the template provided in your boxes of bags, and your stoma nurse can help if you need it. The hole needs to give a snug fit. 

There are additional products which you can use to help in keeping the bag attached, and they will work on both stomas. A product called Fusion Independence Applicators are little lolly pop sized applicators which are impregnated with adhesive which you apply to the skin before attaching the bag. Brava elastic strips go around either bag on the outside after it is applied and these help keep the bag on. These things can give you extra confidence going out. Again, I’d make sure I had a fresh bag on when going out to make there’s nothing in it to start with.

I always take a bag of stoma supplies with me when I’m out, and a change of clothes, just to be on the safe side! I would not wear tight fitted tops or trousers going out-I prefer longline tops to hide everything and I don’t believe anyone can see either of my bags. 

I hope some of this might be helpful for you, but others might have some more ideas for you too.

Sarah xx

It's quite a lot to get your head around isn't it? 

I can't add much to what SarahH21 told you. But for reference, I have to empty my uristomy bag about every 1.5 hours. Whenever I'm out, the first thing I do is locate restrooms and will generally empty completely right before beginning the trip or heading home.

My colostomy bag tends to fill suddenly and very quickly. I've been struggling with watery output for weeks and that fills the bag faster as well as weighing alot so the appliance feels insecure. I always carry multiple spare supplies just in case it happens while I am out (not happened yet). 

Quite difficult to feel confident going out but I push forward one step at a time.