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Pouch filters - do they work... at all?

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Posted 8/5/2016 8:45 PM (GMT -5)
I've been wondering if pouch filters work. I have yet to experience a situation where I thought they did. Even if I replace my pouch immediately before going to bed, for instance, I still wake up at 4 am with a pouch so full of gas that it is about to explode and feels painful.
Posted 8/5/2016 10:12 PM (GMT -5)
Probably not. But I didn't even know about pouch filters when I had an ileostomy, so...

The only thing I can say is, if that your stoma is permanent, there should be a lot less gas after a year or so. In the first year after my surgery, I would usually have to get up once in the middle of the night to empty the bag; I would also wake up with a massively distended bag. At some point I realised not only was I not needing to get up in the night anymore, the bag was only half full when I woke up.

It takes a long time for the bowels to reach optimum functioning after bowel surgery - 1-2 years, going from what I've read and my own experience.
Posted 8/7/2016 9:55 AM (GMT -5)
To give you a straight out answer...NO...they do not work.
Posted 8/7/2016 3:05 PM (GMT -5)
No if you have an ileo. Sometimes with a new bag it will work for a bit. But once I lay down its done.
Posted 8/7/2016 3:15 PM (GMT -5)
Agreed. I've had my ileo for two months now. As far as I can tell, the gas filters don't do anything. I've tried a lot of different brands. Overall the best pouch for me is the Sensura Mio - all of its features work superbly well (the adhesive doesn't irritate my skin, when attached it is flexible and strong, I like the material etc) apart from the filter, which gets clogged up right away.

Weirdly, when my bags come in their delivery box, there are little stickers to cover the gas filters (in case you don't want to use them). What's the point, given that they don't work anyway?
Posted 8/7/2016 3:28 PM (GMT -5)
Ha I use the Mio as well and always think the same thing about those little blue stickers!
Posted 8/7/2016 5:04 PM (GMT -5)
They never did anything for me either. My bag was always filling up with air. I even tried the little plug you can install yourself, and those are problematic as well.
Posted 8/7/2016 5:31 PM (GMT -5)
I echo "they don't work". I ended my sample experiments
now using the Mio Assura which is the older model of Mio Sensura
as I can't do the new model I'm allergic to flange and bag cover
and found both filters to be bad.

I started with Hollister out of the hospital, tried convatec, before I
change brands and found a convex that worked well for me as stated above,
and their filters didn't seem to be any better.

I have a bunch of attachable EZ vents to try. Just haven't gotten around to it yet.
Some swear by them. You can attach to bag, then open the valve cap, release
gas, close cap and done. Not a filter, a cap in plastic that you fashion on bag.
Posted 8/7/2016 7:55 PM (GMT -5)
You should give the ezvents a try, but for me, they didn't work well. A few times I opened the vent and it was like a volcano.
Posted 8/8/2016 1:22 AM (GMT -5)
Geeze I wondered about them as well. I guess I'll give them a shot but no expectations really. It's not looking like they have a handle on filters yet lol.
Posted 8/11/2016 9:15 AM (GMT -5)
I have had my ileostomy for about 3 and a half years, and have tried every brand of pouching system I could find. In my experience, the filters do not work at all, on any of them. Sometimes they even leak a bit after a few days. The stickers are provided to cover the filter while in the shower, because they don't work as well when wet....which is why they don't work long, if it all....ileo output is very wet!
Posted 8/12/2016 12:24 PM (GMT -5)
It seems like I am the only one who they work for! I do cover the filter opening with a piece of Sure Seal so that it doesn't leak (sure seals are breathable and waterproof). I tend to wear my pouches for no more than 3 days and I am VERY active...gym, water sports, running and yoga. I have found that the 3 brands I've used have all worked with the sure seal cover (Hollister/Convatec/Coloplast). I have also compared them to the EZVents which I find harder to apply.

The one thing to remember is that they need gravity to help them work. So, when you are sleeping (laying down) they do not draw out the excess air. BUT once you get up and empty that first time they should work after that.

They also work best when a person eats a clean diet. I notice that if I eat foods that are highly processed I will have more gas (that the filter cannot keep up with) than if I eat foods in their natural state. Not to mention if you drink anything carbonated/or with a straw you will have a higher amount of gas.

I am sorry to hear that so many people have issues with them...hopefully they will improve over time...I know products have improved in the last 15 years I've been using them!!
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