Appliance change questions
How often to you change your appliance? If two piece do you change both the bag and wafer?
I use a 2 piece Coloplast Sensura Mio Click. I use the smallest wafer, 10502. I get 3 days, but day 2 it's starting to look like it may need changed. The barrier gets pretty swollen near my stoma. However, when I do change it my skin looks fine. It never itches or burns between changes. When I remove the barrier it does appear as though it is starting to deteriorate. Am I pushing it too far?
hi. As you surgery is still quite recent, your stoma could still be changing size before it settles down. You should make sure to check the bag is cut to the right size each time. I am not sure if you are in the UK or the US? In the UK you are recommended to change every 2 days for hygiene reason.. I know in the US, especially if there is cap from insurance companies, people often wear bags for longer with no issues. Hope you find a change time that works best for you. Laura, Moderator, BladderCancer.net 
@Stuyoung09 - I change every week and use the Coloplast assura. It is normal for the barrier to look a bit "swollen" near the stoma but when you change, see how far out from the center it looks that way. Usually it appears white or lighter in color. The closer to the outer edge that it appears swollen or lighter in color shows that it is should be changed. As for caps in the US regarding number of supplies - normally we can get 20 per month - which should be more than enough for someone. Or your urologist can write an annual script for more and cite the supporting reason. I have never run out of bags or wafers and if I needed more than was provided, it would be simple for my script to be changed. Your stoma will reduce in size for a few weeks or more post surgery. Best of luck to you. Linda Urbanski ( moderator, Bladdercancer.net team member)
great advice and good to understand how things work in the US. That said, I need 60 bags a month and use minimum of 40, so personally would struggle with a limit of max. 20. Laura, Moderator, BladderCancer.net Laura mackenzie - Understood as you have 2. That is the reason why the script is written for that patient so to have it for their needs. In my humble opinion, a person with a urostomy does not need more than 20 a month so that is sufficient in most cases. Linda Urbanski ( moderator, Bladderancer.net team member)
Well, I finally found a supplier that will bill the workers comp that covers my case. I will be getting more products shipped to me next week. Whew, I was down to about 2 weeks and was starting to worry a bit.
sorry to hear you faced cancer twice. Glad that responsibility was recognised and support is provided by the workers comp. Keep stepping forward, you are doing so well. Laura, Moderator, BladderCancer.net @Stuyoung09 - wow - Sorry to hear that your work environment was the cause of your cancer. Unfortunately I hear of that on occasion. Good that it is covered with workers comp so no cost to you but I know that it also tends to limit which docs you can see and where you can get supplies etc as everyone does not work with WC. My best to you and thank you for sharing. Linda Urbanski ( moderator, Bladdercancer.net team member)
