Which is the best pouch for me?
Choosing the best pouch for you is a bit like finding the best pair of shoes. Not every brand fits every foot, and the brand your friend or neighbour likes might not be the right one for you. Ostomy pouches are similar.
Many factors go into picking the right pouch.
Fit = wear time
The better your fit, the longer your seal lasts. It means you don’t have to worry about leaks and your skin will stay healthy.
Some people choose their pouch based on closure, or other factors. This may mean a trade-off with a flange is not an ideal fit. This means more frequent changes are necessary to keep skin healthy and prevent leakage. This is a personal choice.
Reliable wear time and healthy skin starts with selecting the best flange for you.
The first choice to make is whether you need a flat or convex flange.
Deciding whether you need convexity starts by looking at:
Take a look at: | May or May Not Need Convexity | Probably Needs Convexity |
The height of your stoma | Sticks up |
|
The contours of your abdomen | A bulge behind your stoma |
|
Your abdomen | Firm
Flat |
Soft
Has loose skin |
Your stoma | Is a loop stoma (the stoma has two openings)
|
You will choose between a one-piece system or two-piece system. Each has advantages, so it is really up to you which one you prefer.
Using accessories
“Accessories” like rings or belts can be essential to creating an effective seal and keeping skin healthy.
Rings:
- Protect skin beside an oval stoma inside a round opening
- Fill in space that convexity might not fill completely
- Keep a seal when your skin pulls away from your flange
- Help even out the contours around your stoma
- Come in different thicknesses and recipes
Size
See how to measure and select the correct size for your stoma here.