Hi Eric, I have had a recent colostomy (2 weeks ago) and I'm finding your reviews and instructional videos quite good. You are concise and comprehensive. There are an overwhelming number of products choices and options out there and these viedeos really help to inform. Thank you and take care, Ron
Thank you for this information. I just got the StomaGuard and while it’s a little larger than I’d like, it seems to cover my stoma very well. I use a one-piece from Coloplast, so I decided against the stomadome even with a wrap holding it in place. At first I thought I was being overly cautious in getting stoma protection, but within the first 30 seconds of being with my horse recently, she head-butted me in the stomach as a greeting and rebuke for being away for so long. Only my daughter has been allowed to ride and visit the barn since the pandemic started, so she’s been a bit under-exercised and bored. She’s gentle, but she’s still 1,000 pounds of muscle and bone, and she doesn’t know her own strength - or the fragility of the humans around her. I’m so grateful you did the product testing and review. It raises awareness about an important issue that we may not think about until we go back to a normal life. I’m not thrilled with the bulkiness of the product as I’m pretty small, so I don’t think I’ll wear the guard unless I really feel there’s a decent chance of impact. But I was sure glad I had it at the barn recently.
I certainly don't wear a stoma guard all the time, but as you said, there are times when you do need one and they do work out quite well! Having dismantled a large shed a few years back, I was constantly in contact with construction debris that would often hit my stomach area and these guards were very helpful. Thanks for sharing your experience!
I just got my StomaShield from Stoma Guard this is my first time wearing it and I really like it already. We'll see how it does with time but it feels good on, lightweight and I like the security of having protection over my stoma for just daily activities
Hi Eric, you are an excellent presenter for us ostomates. I am newly in the community 3 weeks ago and have learned so much from your videos. I felt hopeless about returning to work in the future as to how I would be able to function. I appreciate all your efforts and please keep the videos coming. PS like your T-shirts especially " Strut your front butt" lol. Gary
Goodness, I go away for a minute and come back to two videos. What a treat. I'm currently in the hospital for Sepsis along with a healthy dose of kidney infection. I'm thankful for my iPad which allows me to watch You Tube and keep up with all of your tips, tricks and advice. Any advice on how to make the food taste better😖thanks for another great video. Do you think a convex stomach needs one of theses? 🤔✌️❤️✌️🤔
Sepsis and a kidney infection? Oh my!! Hospital food - if it's not tasting good because of a medication you're on, then there's not much that can help. I always add salt to hospital meals to make them more palatable, but do you have any family or friends who can bring you maybe a seasoning shaker or something like that?
Vegan Ostomy ~ My husband takes very good care of me. He kept offering to bring me "real" food lol sadly, I was told that at some point I am going to lose this kidney. This all stems from a botched surgery in 2015 when I had my bag attached. I have been hospitalized several times for this since then. ✌️❤️✌️
Hello Eric. Do you think one of these guards will be helpful with a prolapsed stoma? My father's stoma keeps coming out about 6-7 inches. The surgical correction is not an option as of right now. We are looking for something to keep his intestine inside.
I've only prolapsed a few times under unrestrained abdominal activities (i.e. lifting), but it's always been temporary, so my experience is limited. I'd personally have a conversation with a stoma nurse to see what the best option for your dad might be. I don't know whether a stoma guard might be too restrictive and cause harm or not.
I've had my stoma shield for about 2 years now and it's the best thing I've done. Allows me to wear a seat belt, or have my cat rest on me and not have me worry.
That would be this one: www.stomagear.com/ They come with a wider, different coloured belt, which should actually work better than the one I had at the time of filming.
Eric... are there any accessible interviews with you available? I'm really interested in how you segued your "before" life into this super helpful platform. Thanks!
I do have several talks, presentations, and interviews posted here on UA-cam and on my site. But my "before" life with Crohn's was pretty dismal. My before Crohn's life was far more interesting. LOL
@@VeganOstomy : Awesome, I'll have a look around. Your "before Crohn's" life was both dismal AND interesting? Oooh, now I gotta know.... that's the stuff good novels are made of! 😁
I've recently had an ileostomy and I've been wondering how I'm going to be able to wear my kilt for an upcoming wedding. Would you have any advice on this? Kilts are typically secured quite tightly around the waist. I'm thinking a stoma guard could be the answer. Thanks in advance.
I haven't worn a kilt, but a stoma guard would likely be a good solution. Is this the first time wearing one? Are you able to see what it's like well before hand so you can plan what options you might need?
Hello Eric, where can I purchase the guard with the black belt? also would this guard be good with a stealth belt? If so where can I purchase them? Thanks Frank
That would be the stomashield (an older version). It would be too big to work with the stealthbelt. Something like this: www.veganostomy.ca/stomadome-review/ (photo with a stealthbelt included) would be better, although, I would still opt for a neoprene/hybrid belt if I wanted protection. What's your use case? Are you using a 1pc or 2pc appliance?
@Vegan Ostomy Where can i buy that stoma guard with straps as shown in the video ? I checked in USA amazon but could not find. Please, attach links where i can buy from. Thank You for all your help !!
Most companies will ship internationally. Contact the manufacture of a stoma guard you like and inquire on shipping. Have reviews for several guards on www.veganostomy.ca 😉
You talk about guards protecting against things that "bump" into your stoma. What do you think is the most convenient shield to wear while sleeping so a person can roll over with an ileostomy and, sleep on their side?
I'm a side sleeper (both left and right side) and I don't wear a stoma guard at night. I don't even recommended wearing one at night because a) your stoma won't be hurt by rolling on a soft mattress, so a guard won't offer many benefits b) stoma guards tend to reduce the capacity of your bag, which can lead to leaks, especially at night when you can't monitor your output. I hope that helps 👍
I know children and babies with ostomies Can you touch on the subject and.....using heating pads n blankets with a worry about the bag melting off and other myths Thanks. Kw
Hey Kinetic, I don't have experience with pediatric ostomy care, but you may want to post your questions on my community forums: www.veganostomy.ca/community/ Re: heating pads/blankets, I think they are unnecessary and potentially dangerous. I use body heat only when heating my wafer, either by rubbing it between my hands before applying it or holding it in place using gentle pressure. I know some people use hair dryers and heating pads, but there's a risk of burning your skin if you aren't careful.
My wound care nurse told me to use my heating pad on low setting, but I thinks parent should consult their child's Pediatrician with questions like this. ✌️❤️✌️
When I return to work I ill eventually go back to the saw at work at the meat packing plant . I am worried I will puncture the bag or it will leak as I use my belly alot to move the slider . If i understand my stoma is 1 inch. What one do you suggest and how do I purchase it in Canada?
Hey Harley, due to the costs I was never able to get my hands on one for review. I did reach out to the company several times, but received no response. I really can't say whether it works better than anything else out there. Plastic seems durable enough for nearly every circumstance, and I would imagine that if you need metal to keep your stoma protected, you're probably wearing full body armor anyway 😉😁
Well ironically you're not too far off. I was medically discharged from the Army for my Crohn's.. haha. But I'll follow up and let you know--I have one coming in the mail. I decided to bite the bullet on the $$ because I cut metal and weld for work and I don't want to be a little hot metal away from the worst day ever. Plus, they have a fireproof sleeve that kinda attaches to the bottom of the guard so that's pretty nifty too. My stoma is a little higher than average so I can't really tuck the bag into my pants, which means I need to cover it externally and OA is the only one I've found that can do that. I got the StomaSheild first and it's ok but I found it doesn't like to behave if I move around too much. We shall see.
I have a heavy duty Ostomy Armour I am a skater and it is what I need for sport. I have found it comfortable and feel pretty safe skating with it on. I even forget I have it on. The heavy duty padding which goes around (not overtop) the stoma is quite thick. I just purchased the stoma guard stoma shield as a lighter option for daily wear. I really like both products.
@@VeganOstomy Hello Vegan Ostomy...we have never heard from you. We typically don't send out samples. The Heavy Duty is made of aircraft grade aluminum and the Titanium is, of course, titanium. Strong, comfortable, high quality. yours, Ostomy Armor. info@ostomyarmor.com
The video is titled Guide to Ostomy. Accessories: Stoma Guards. You have 4 stoma guards in the display. The guard is the one in the upper left corner. It’s the only one that comes with the belt. The other three are smaller. Where can i get that stoma guard
Hi I'm a 54 yr old grandma who is to have a temporary ileostomy and have three grandchildren two which are three years old. They love to jump and hang on Grammy as much as possible which do you recommend for me for my abdomen is quite tender and quite distended. Praying this surgery will answer some questions for me. Been watching your channel a lot before my surgery on Aug 14.
Thank you so much for these videos. I am 2 months post ileostomy surgery which will most likely be permanent. These videos have been a tremendous help in realizing my life is not over!
+dawn clements What country are you living in and how long are you expected to have the ostomy for? You'll be tender for a little while, and I'd hold off on ordering (or using) anything until you have fully healed.
Vegan Ostomy they are saying 3 months and if my pain and bloating goes away they will be taking my colon out and reattaching my small intestine to my rectum. We take care of our 3 yr old grandson in a two week period 5 24 hour days and 2 12 hr days. My daughter is a nurse and now is divorced so we to save her on daycare we just keep him. He is very active and loves to snuggle and just is all elbows and knees.
I don't recommend using a stoma guard with a stealthbelt - they don't really fit inside of the belt and you could cause injury to your stoma. If you need protection in the form of a stealthbelt, check out their Hybrid version, which offers protection in the same form factor : ua-cam.com/video/qk1dk0IkGD0/v-deo.html
Good question. I guess it depends on the goal. Some are probably going to be too large and uncomfortable while sitting. Unless the wearer expects their stoma to be hit by something, I don't think there's a need to use one while in a wheelchair.
I bought the small StomaShield from Stoma Guard and it's just right. I didn't follow their sizing instructions else I'd have been in the large, which would be too much for me. I got small since I never tuck my bag into my clothes
Hi Eric, I have had a recent colostomy (2 weeks ago) and I'm finding your reviews and instructional videos quite good. You are concise and comprehensive. There are an overwhelming number of products choices and options out there and these viedeos really help to inform. Thank you and take care, Ron
Thank you for this information. I just got the StomaGuard and while it’s a little larger than I’d like, it seems to cover my stoma very well. I use a one-piece from Coloplast, so I decided against the stomadome even with a wrap holding it in place.
At first I thought I was being overly cautious in getting stoma protection, but within the first 30 seconds of being with my horse recently, she head-butted me in the stomach as a greeting and rebuke for being away for so long. Only my daughter has been allowed to ride and visit the barn since the pandemic started, so she’s been a bit under-exercised and bored. She’s gentle, but she’s still 1,000 pounds of muscle and bone, and she doesn’t know her own strength - or the fragility of the humans around her.
I’m so grateful you did the product testing and review. It raises awareness about an important issue that we may not think about until we go back to a normal life. I’m not thrilled with the bulkiness of the product as I’m pretty small, so I don’t think I’ll wear the guard unless I really feel there’s a decent chance of impact. But I was sure glad I had it at the barn recently.
I certainly don't wear a stoma guard all the time, but as you said, there are times when you do need one and they do work out quite well! Having dismantled a large shed a few years back, I was constantly in contact with construction debris that would often hit my stomach area and these guards were very helpful. Thanks for sharing your experience!
Your videos are so helpful. Thank you for doing them. It is great to get honest, easy to understand information. Well done!
Thanks, Chris. I really appreciate that!
I just got my StomaShield from Stoma Guard this is my first time wearing it and I really like it already. We'll see how it does with time but it feels good on, lightweight and I like the security of having protection over my stoma for just daily activities
That's great! Enjoy it! 👌
Hi Eric, you are an excellent presenter for us ostomates. I am newly in the community 3 weeks ago and have learned so much from your videos. I felt hopeless about returning to work in the future as to how I would be able to function. I appreciate all your efforts and please keep the videos coming. PS like your T-shirts especially " Strut your front butt" lol. Gary
Good luck with everything, Gary! Glad you found the channel. 👍
This is cool, didn't know they had these products out. Now I can get something to protect my guitar from smashing against my bag. Great vid, thanks!
+Mario Robert Vega Jr. Awesome! Glad the video helped!
Goodness, I go away for a minute and come back to two videos. What a treat. I'm currently in the hospital for Sepsis along with a healthy dose of kidney infection. I'm thankful for my iPad which allows me to watch You Tube and keep up with all of your tips, tricks and advice. Any advice on how to make the food taste better😖thanks for another great video. Do you think a convex stomach needs one of theses? 🤔✌️❤️✌️🤔
Sepsis and a kidney infection? Oh my!!
Hospital food - if it's not tasting good because of a medication you're on, then there's not much that can help. I always add salt to hospital meals to make them more palatable, but do you have any family or friends who can bring you maybe a seasoning shaker or something like that?
Vegan Ostomy ~ My husband takes very good care of me. He kept offering to bring me "real" food lol sadly, I was told that at some point I am going to lose this kidney. This all stems from a botched surgery in 2015 when I had my bag attached. I have been hospitalized several times for this since then. ✌️❤️✌️
+Angel For Animals Wow. I'm sorry to hear that. Glad you've got a great husband by your side.
Hello Eric. Do you think one of these guards will be helpful with a prolapsed stoma? My father's stoma keeps coming out about 6-7 inches. The surgical correction is not an option as of right now. We are looking for something to keep his intestine inside.
I've only prolapsed a few times under unrestrained abdominal activities (i.e. lifting), but it's always been temporary, so my experience is limited.
I'd personally have a conversation with a stoma nurse to see what the best option for your dad might be. I don't know whether a stoma guard might be too restrictive and cause harm or not.
I've had my stoma shield for about 2 years now and it's the best thing I've done. Allows me to wear a seat belt, or have my cat rest on me and not have me worry.
Glad you love it =) They have a newer design that I've been using this year. Works like the old one, but it has an updated look.
I'm thinking of getting one as soon as I have my ostomy surgery
Could I get a stoma guard to use while bathing ,showeri
ng, etc?
I have been trying to find the guard with black belt but can’t find them anywhere. Would appreciate if you could point me in the right direction. Thx
That would be this one: www.stomagear.com/ They come with a wider, different coloured belt, which should actually work better than the one I had at the time of filming.
Eric... are there any accessible interviews with you available? I'm really interested in how you segued your "before" life into this super helpful platform. Thanks!
I do have several talks, presentations, and interviews posted here on UA-cam and on my site. But my "before" life with Crohn's was pretty dismal. My before Crohn's life was far more interesting. LOL
@@VeganOstomy : Awesome, I'll have a look around. Your "before Crohn's" life was both dismal AND interesting? Oooh, now I gotta know.... that's the stuff good novels are made of! 😁
@@youthecat I should clarify! My life WITH Crohn's (a.k.a my "before Ostomy life") was horrible. My life before Crohn's was way more normal. LOL
@@VeganOstomy : Understood. 😉
I've recently had an ileostomy and I've been wondering how I'm going to be able to wear my kilt for an upcoming wedding. Would you have any advice on this? Kilts are typically secured quite tightly around the waist. I'm thinking a stoma guard could be the answer. Thanks in advance.
I haven't worn a kilt, but a stoma guard would likely be a good solution. Is this the first time wearing one? Are you able to see what it's like well before hand so you can plan what options you might need?
Hello Eric, where can I purchase the guard with the black belt? also would this guard be good with a stealth belt? If so where can I purchase them? Thanks Frank
That would be the stomashield (an older version). It would be too big to work with the stealthbelt. Something like this: www.veganostomy.ca/stomadome-review/ (photo with a stealthbelt included) would be better, although, I would still opt for a neoprene/hybrid belt if I wanted protection. What's your use case? Are you using a 1pc or 2pc appliance?
@Vegan Ostomy Where can i buy that stoma guard with straps as shown in the video ? I checked in USA amazon but could not find. Please, attach links where i can buy from. Thank You for all your help !!
I think this is the one you're looking for (it's a newer style from what's in the video) : www.stomagear.com
@@VeganOstomy Yess, thats the one i was looking :) . Thank you again for your help
Where can I buy one of these in Canada ?
Most companies will ship internationally. Contact the manufacture of a stoma guard you like and inquire on shipping. Have reviews for several guards on www.veganostomy.ca 😉
You talk about guards protecting against things that "bump" into your stoma. What do you think is the most convenient shield to wear while sleeping so a person can roll over with an ileostomy and, sleep on their side?
I'm a side sleeper (both left and right side) and I don't wear a stoma guard at night. I don't even recommended wearing one at night because a) your stoma won't be hurt by rolling on a soft mattress, so a guard won't offer many benefits b) stoma guards tend to reduce the capacity of your bag, which can lead to leaks, especially at night when you can't monitor your output.
I hope that helps 👍
I know children and babies with ostomies Can you touch on the subject and.....using heating pads n blankets with a worry about the bag melting off and other myths Thanks. Kw
Hey Kinetic, I don't have experience with pediatric ostomy care, but you may want to post your questions on my community forums: www.veganostomy.ca/community/
Re: heating pads/blankets, I think they are unnecessary and potentially dangerous. I use body heat only when heating my wafer, either by rubbing it between my hands before applying it or holding it in place using gentle pressure. I know some people use hair dryers and heating pads, but there's a risk of burning your skin if you aren't careful.
My wound care nurse told me to use my heating pad on low setting, but I thinks parent should consult their child's Pediatrician with questions like this. ✌️❤️✌️
When I return to work I ill eventually go back to the saw at work at the meat packing plant . I am worried I will puncture the bag or it will leak as I use my belly alot to move the slider . If i understand my stoma is 1 inch. What one do you suggest and how do I purchase it in Canada?
+MultiZorrozorro Go with a wide guard that covers the top half of your appliance, like the Stomashield. They will ship to Canada.
Thank you
Any experience with Ostomy Armor? It seems to be really high-end. As a mechanic, I also appreciate that it's metal, but it's pricey. Thoughts?
Hey Harley, due to the costs I was never able to get my hands on one for review. I did reach out to the company several times, but received no response. I really can't say whether it works better than anything else out there. Plastic seems durable enough for nearly every circumstance, and I would imagine that if you need metal to keep your stoma protected, you're probably wearing full body armor anyway 😉😁
Well ironically you're not too far off. I was medically discharged from the Army for my Crohn's.. haha. But I'll follow up and let you know--I have one coming in the mail. I decided to bite the bullet on the $$ because I cut metal and weld for work and I don't want to be a little hot metal away from the worst day ever. Plus, they have a fireproof sleeve that kinda attaches to the bottom of the guard so that's pretty nifty too. My stoma is a little higher than average so I can't really tuck the bag into my pants, which means I need to cover it externally and OA is the only one I've found that can do that. I got the StomaSheild first and it's ok but I found it doesn't like to behave if I move around too much. We shall see.
Awesome! Let me know how it works for you! Sounds like they've been adding more products/accessories to their catalogue! That's great to know.
I have a heavy duty Ostomy Armour I am a skater and it is what I need for sport. I have found it comfortable and feel pretty safe skating with it on. I even forget I have it on. The heavy duty padding which goes around (not overtop) the stoma is quite thick.
I just purchased the stoma guard stoma shield as a lighter option for daily wear. I really like both products.
@@VeganOstomy Hello Vegan Ostomy...we have never heard from you. We typically don't send out samples. The Heavy Duty is made of aircraft grade aluminum and the Titanium is, of course, titanium. Strong, comfortable, high quality. yours, Ostomy Armor. info@ostomyarmor.com
The video is titled Guide to Ostomy. Accessories: Stoma Guards. You have 4 stoma guards in the display. The guard is the one in the upper left corner. It’s the only one that comes with the belt. The other three are smaller. Where can i get that stoma guard
That's the Stomashield. www.stomagear.com/ They have a newer style than the one in that thumbnail.
Hi I'm a 54 yr old grandma who is to have a temporary ileostomy and have three grandchildren two which are three years old. They love to jump and hang on Grammy as much as possible which do you recommend for me for my abdomen is quite tender and quite distended. Praying this surgery will answer some questions for me. Been watching your channel a lot before my surgery on Aug 14.
Thank you so much for these videos. I am 2 months post ileostomy surgery which will most likely be permanent. These videos have been a tremendous help in realizing my life is not over!
+Beth Miller :) Glad I could help!
+dawn clements What country are you living in and how long are you expected to have the ostomy for? You'll be tender for a little while, and I'd hold off on ordering (or using) anything until you have fully healed.
Vegan Ostomy they are saying 3 months and if my pain and bloating goes away they will be taking my colon out and reattaching my small intestine to my rectum. We take care of our 3 yr old grandson in a two week period 5 24 hour days and 2 12 hr days. My daughter is a nurse and now is divorced so we to save her on daycare we just keep him. He is very active and loves to snuggle and just is all elbows and knees.
Vegan Ostomy USA
what would work best with a stealth belt?
I don't recommend using a stoma guard with a stealthbelt - they don't really fit inside of the belt and you could cause injury to your stoma. If you need protection in the form of a stealthbelt, check out their Hybrid version, which offers protection in the same form factor : ua-cam.com/video/qk1dk0IkGD0/v-deo.html
Hey Eric how are you. Looking good great video great work. See you in your next video. Take care. from Ann.
+Ann Thistleton Thanks, Ann!
Hi sir how to order I’m from Philippines
Hello, you'd to contact the company who makes the product you are interested in. Not all of these are sold internationally.
What about wheelchair users? Can they use these products
Good question. I guess it depends on the goal. Some are probably going to be too large and uncomfortable while sitting. Unless the wearer expects their stoma to be hit by something, I don't think there's a need to use one while in a wheelchair.
Hello again what brand is the small Velcro one i keep melting my bag on the stove because mine sits higher
Always cj
Hey, Christina. That one is the StomaDome: amzn.to/2w39y5p
To bad i live in middle east it semi impossible to get these accessories
Most companies will ship internationally. Just contact them and see what options they have available.
Need your help
Can you explain? I'm not a doctor, so medical questions should go to your nurse or doctor.
I find the guards way to big.
Which have you tried? some are very small (as you can see in the video).
I bought the small StomaShield from Stoma Guard and it's just right. I didn't follow their sizing instructions else I'd have been in the large, which would be too much for me. I got small since I never tuck my bag into my clothes
hello iamsoniya poudel 20 year old iam users ostomas bag
+Soniya Poudel Hello 👋
Vegan Ostomy hi✋