Wondering if wafers and adhesives deteriorate when stored in a hot car? I wanted to keep a kit in the car so I'm never caught out without supplies, but don't know how these pectin/wax parts will hold up in our very hot summers. Anyone with advice? Thanks!

Barbara

Hi Barbara,

The short answer is yes, they will deteriorate in hot conditions. My friend is a stoma nurse so has to carry stoma supplies with her in the car and she uses a cold storage box to keep them cool.

I have always been told that supplies must be kept somewhere cool and dry so even the bathroom isn't really the best place for them either.

The only suggestion I have is to make sure that you keep them out of the sun and replace the spares regularly to make sure that they give you optimum performance in the event of you needing them.

I have to say that the only thing I carry with me (unless I'm going off the island) is a spare bag which I keep in a zip lock bag in my handbag. I think once you have gained confidence in your appliance you won't worry quite so much about possible emergencies.

Shell

Hi Barb,
Yea My Mom's stoma nurse gets rid of her supplies once a month. We are in North Florida.
Even in the winter we will have enough warm days to cause a problem. The best thing is to get a cooler and replace the coolant or carry a spare in your purse rather than your car. I now carry a large purse or back pack or messenger type bag for a cleaning wipes and change of underwear for me (I have an IRA) and a complete change for mom's ileostomy. I certainly have some interesting conversations when I'm digging for something that has fallen to the bottom of my purse.

Thanks, Tempest and Shell! the cooler is a good idea, but I appreciate the simplicity of assurance that things will get easier, too. I guess I read Rae's disaster of a post about firehosing and needing a complete change of clothing recently, so I've been REALLy prepared for any eventuality! I left the house today with a ziplock bag, a few paper towels, and your bag set up, Shell - just powder, nothing else. so it will come! We have a cool room sort of pantry within our barn where I"ll keep my supplies, and will make sure to keep the stock fresh. What wipes do you each carry or what supplies in your bag? I don't need scissors or barrier wipes right now. Do you carry cleaning wipes of some kind? Shell, do you carry a squeeze bottle? I want to get a small one as I think you're right about the rinsing being good for the stoma edge. Or maybe you just do that at home.

Also, while I've got you buttonholed once again (I'm so grateful for your experience, Shell), I wonder if I'm folding the velcro coloplast end correctly? Do ALL the folds come up toward you? The first fold of the little harder plastic strip wants to go underneath - downward, backward, however you'd describe it, rather than up, forward, envelope-like in the direction of the other two folds prior to sealing the velcro tabs. Cant' quite parse how it should go.

Thanks!

Barbara

Hi Barbara,

Well the only thing I carry in the zip lock bag is a spare bag, a scented nappy/diaper disposal bag (which must have long since lost it's scent) and an individually wrapped wet wipe (which has probably dried out by now) - nothing else. To my shame I haven't checked it in ages (so much for my own advice about rotating supplies! ). I really am very compacent when it comes to being prepared but I guess that's because I have so much confidence in the system I use. Heck, I even wear white skirts and jeans!

I am not a big believer in spending a fortune on accessories either and the bottle that I also keep in my handbag is an old mineral water bottle (yeah I know I'm cheap! ). All I do is point the tail end of my bag up and pour water in that way. I don't really do it for any other reason than to make emptying much quicker and easier. My stool is nearly always too thick to just pour out and as I mentioned before I hate having to do the "giant toothpaste tube" thing to empty it.

And finally - Yes, you are folding the end of your bag the right way, it should go in the same direction as the other two folds. I also though that it seemed to want to fold in the opposite direction at first but I think it's a deliberate feature intended to give a better seal.

Hope this helps

Shell

Barb,
I carry the cottenelle wipes. They are kind to my tender butt and do not have lotion that will interfere with my mom's wafer adhering properly. They come in a small purse size as well as a larger size for the bathroom. I also carry some santitzing gel just in case we don't have access to water.

It will get easier and you will worry less.
Good luck.

I have already had Eakins Soup in my travel bag due to the weather.. I opened it up and it was like 1000 wads of gum in a bag - Yuk!

Barb, I was keeping extra supplies in the car until jason told me they would melt, and when I checked they had...lol

Now I keep an extra set up at work, and I only carry pre cut tape with me. If I know I'm going to be out all day or far from home, then I carry a set up in my bag. But, so far I've been lucky, and I haven't needed anything.

janna

Oh you lucky people who take this all for granted! I was at a nice restaurant recently with a group of about 20 people. Dinner was just served when I felt a little pop on my ostomy bag with, that I did not recognize. I excused myself from the table to use the restroom only to find that one whole side of my ostomy bag had come "unstuck". To top things off there was no toilet paper. I cleaned up as best as I could with paper towels meant to dry hands on, then had to "pad" my tummy with more towels to catch any more output. To make matters worse I had ridden to the event with a friend so we both had to leave without completing our meals. I swore I would never be without a change of underwear, ostomy bag, wipes, and wafer again!

Ah, Eakins Soup - I love it. Ya gotta maintain perspective here, mmmm? Janice - I have had three bags on in the last 24 hours! Thank god my story like yours - that sudden sinking feeling when you hear or feel the pop off - happened at home. The first one ws bad enough, but number two was a real shocker - came loose where it never has before, no apparent reason, little perverse thing. gotta order my supplies tomorrow and quit trying out things that don't necessarily work! What a mess you must have had! Me, too, Janna, I am just carrying simple things with me now and hoping for the best. It only takes one public blowout to cure casual attitude!

Barbara

Anybody consider a hard plastic pencil case in a small cooler with ice under it for short term?

Janice, that's terrible. I guess I do take it for granted. Maybe I better start carrying things more often.

Barb, I've been tempted to try what Shell uses, but I haven't had any problems so I'm just sticking with what I have. I'm glad to hear you're doing so well.

janna

I have had only one major blow out and that was about a year ago... Knock on wood, havent had a leak since the end stoma. All I carry with me now is a extra clip in my front pocket and pink hype tape (like my duct tape) With those two items I can get to wherever Im going! I think in time trust and knowing what kind of leaks you may get will def play into what you carry!
Barb, give me a call in a week or two when you are feeling up to it to chat .. always wondering how you are doing