What do you carry in your shoulder bag?

Hello JumpJump. 

I had a colostomy in September 2024 and when I started going out and about a bit as I was recovering from surgery i always took plenty of supplies with me. Over time it’s reduced a bit but a year in I still want to be prepared.  Doing it that way helped me build my confidence at living with a stoma and now I carry varying amounts of supplies depending on what I’m doing. 

Now for a hospital visit or if I’m out for the day I take a scaled down full kit - wipes and dry wipes, removal spray, enough new bags and disposal bags for however many changes I expect to make and then one more of each just in case. I also have some adhesive fabric tape and a small air freshener. 

My opinion - take the full kit this first time and as many times as you need to after that to gain some experience so you know what you really need.

Good luck! 

Since using Brava elastic tape to supplement the ileostomy pouch adhesive flange I no longer take any stoma supplies with me on a day out. I had several leaks prior to using the Brava. I use a Fusion stick to prepare my skin before applying the pouch and tapes; this primes the skin and improves adhesion. Sitting hunched up on an aircraft for 5 hours is the ultimate test and so far, so good over the past 3 1/2 years. In addition, my stoma nurse from Day 1 told me to clean my stoma and surrounding skin with just water and avoid soaps, moisturisers, etc. Sound advice it seems.

Dulac

Mine's a Urostomy and I carry a couple of pouches, (from different boxes if possible in case of manufacturing problems), spray, wipes, plastic bag for wet clothes,  small bag for rubbish, pair of leggings and thin T-shirt.

Takes very little space in small rucksac, rest left for purse etc. There's space for a nightbag if going on a Tube in case it gets stopped for a while.

I have had to change in the past, ezpecially when active in hot weather, now leaks are more likely at home when I've forgotten to empty it while  lolling on sofa watching TV. I replace  pouches and spray monthly too  especially when warm.

It all becomes second nature

All the best,

Latestart

ps ever since I learnt to warm the pouch pre sticking it on and then cupping my hand over it for 2 minutes so it sticks well  my leaks are very few.

Hi Jump Jump

I have had 4 stomas...two temporary ileostomies, and I now have a permanent urostomy and a permanent colostomy. 

My key learning over the years is quite simply - the right stoma bag is 'predicatable' and does not leak/fail. Sometimes it takes a lot of effort to finally find that bag, but it is possible. (I struggled awfully with my second ileostomy - it was a high output stoma. In hospital the bag was failing within  a few hours - one day they changed the bag 6 times. But eventually we solved the problem after multiple different stoma bags). My current colostomy has never leaked. And my urostomy has never leaked. I've of course had accidents - purely operator error, like leaving a valve open but my current bags  have never failed before  a 'planned' change. 

Then on going out, I always carry one change of stoma bag (ready cut of course) when I go out. And while I do not normally use flanges, I carry a few with me - if the bag starts peeling away, its a great short term temporarily save the day. 

While I've so far never needed my kit on my permament stomas while I'm out, I feel very relaxed about going out because I've got 'in case' with me. 

All the best