Stepping into the Future… A new Season by Sarah Biggart

Even a veteran ostomate needs a little support. Recently, I reached out to Convatec’s telehealth provider, Corstrata, for a virtual ostomy visit. Through this visit, I discovered it might be time to make some changes to my pouching routine. I have worn a Convatec 2-piece system with a Durahesive® wafer, (no tape collar), and a clipped tail closure for 20+ years. And it has served me so well with 5-day wear time and the ability to do all the activities I wanted to do comfortably and confidently.

I am now less than a year away from my 50^th birthday. My body and skin are aging and changing. I have always had a perfectly round stoma; however, during my thorough visit, I discovered that I now had a very slight oval stoma. The nurse suggested I try Convatec Esteem Body™, and samples were sent by our me+ team.

I had a very busy summer, with travel and all kinds of events and obligations. Typically, this is not the best time to try something new, especially when what I was using worked so well. Additionally, I will readily admit that I am a bit set in my ways and resistive to change, (as I mentioned, I am coming up on 50).

Summer was coming to a close and with a long, quiet Labor Day weekend at home, with no real plans except for chilling and grilling, I decided to take the leap and try my new samples.

The first thing I noticed was the low profile of the Esteem Body™ pouching system. There were many firsts for me with Esteem Body™:  a one piece pouch, soft convexity, shorter in length, and no tail clip. Right away, all of these things felt pretty nice.  

As the weekend went on, it was hard not to notice how much technology has advanced over the past twenty years. This pouch felt like the future with so many innovations and upgrades to what I had been wearing.

I planned on changing after my typical five days and told myself that if my skin held up and looked good, that I was going to take the leap and make the change.

My skin held up great, and I was really enjoying the new system. The next day I placed an order with my supplier for Esteem Body™ pouches.

The next week, my husband and I were walking around the harbor, enjoying one of our favorite places to be, grabbing some dinner and soaking in the sunset. As we were walking, talking and catching up with each other, I found myself carrying on about my new Esteem Body™ pouch. It was like having a brand-new car! I was enthusiastically telling him about all the bells and whistles and how good it felt against my skin.

I think the biggest change to adjust to personally was letting go of my beloved clip. Using the gripping tail closure and cleaning the drainable pouch opening was different than I was used to. My samples arrived with really clear instructions and best practices when emptying, and I quickly got the hang of it.

When we first receive our ostomies, many of us have to go through some trial and error to find the right pouching system. Once we find that perfect fit, it may be hard to try something new. I was operating under the “If it aint broke, don’t fix it” mentality.

This process has taught me to be more open to change and curious to try new things when it comes to my pouching system. Convatec is always innovating and providing us with the latest and greatest in ostomy care.

Being a me+ member allows me to reach out to our me+ team, try samples and explore what might end up being a major upgrade to my routine. As our options expand, I made a promise to myself to check in more frequently and try them out. I can always go back to what I am currently using, but I won’t know unless I give it a shot.

Before beginning a new skin care routine, please consult with a healthcare professional. Our Convatec me + team and WOC Nurses are available to you by phone, you can reach them at 1-800-422-8811.

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