I am using coloplast bags that have a vent HOWEVER the vent doesn't seem to work very well. My bag blows up like a balloon with very little stool in it. I use a large bag at night and it often feels like it will explode with all the air in it.

Are the rest of you having this problem? Any solution or hints? Is there something that can be added to the bag to "dissolve" the gas?

Yes! The vents are totally useless! Mine blow up when I drink beer. I have had a couple leaks when the gas makes the side of the wafer open up to escape. I open up my bag just to let the gas out during the night...luckily I can do it in the dark, without getting out of bed...

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Cataja,

My WOC nurse gave me a few samples of these:

http://www.amazon.com/Osto-ez-...Z-Vent/dp/B000RBFI9K

You make a tiny hole in your bag and stick the plastic plug over it with adhesive, so you can vent air out and then plug it back up. The vents on the bags are worthless, but these seem to be a much better solution. I never ended up using them b/c for some reason I had fewer issues with gas blowing up the bag with my loop ileo, but my WOC nurse swears by them, and she is very experienced in ostomies. Might be worth a try.

Thanks for the information. I hadn't heard of the vent but will certainly give it a try. I did talk to a rep at Coloplast who is sending what sounds like their version of the vent that goes on the bag. She told me something I already knew which is that the ileostomy stool is so thin it clogs the filter as soon as it gets near the filter.

Thank goodness! I thought it was just me. I use the Coloplast one piece and the vents are less than useless. In the morning my bag is HUGE and heavy, full of wind which is silent or I am asleep!

I wash my bag out and was told that ruins the vents; I don't agree with this as even before I wash them they blow up! I do find it quite amusing mind - good job really!!

Yeah, beer really blows up the bag. Soda doesn't do too bad. Opening up the bag to vent in bed is kinda mean if you are not alone! I have just kind of accepted I will need to get up between 4 and 6 to use the bathroom. I do worry about rolling over on the air bag and waking up in the dreaded puddle of poo. 2+ years, knock on wood :-)