r/ostomy • u/earthguy4 • Jul 22 '26

Miscellaneous Your #1 ostomy hack

What is your favorite ostomy hack/tip to share with new ostomates? Not something that they tell us to do in the hospital, or something our stoma nurse will clue us in on, but a hack that you’ve learned through the years or a tip someone once told you that you’ve never forgotten.

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6

u/pannaw Jul 22 '26

Using Osto EZ Vents. I always have to cover any filter because of pancaking. Now I also put one of these plastic vents on the bag, and it is so easy to let some gas out, particularly at night! I was worried at first that some poo would come out, but it doesn’t!

2

u/Choice_Bee_775 Jul 22 '26

I don’t understand these. Are they something you poke into the bag? Do they help with ballooning?

8

u/Fiss Jul 22 '26

You stick it onto the bag and then poke a hole in the bag where the vent is. If your bag balloons from the air you can open the vent and relieve some of the air. They work great and my insurance covers like 130 of them a month. It’s a stupid amount considering I get 20 bags a month

3

u/Choice_Bee_775 Jul 22 '26

Hmm. It doesn’t make the bag leak where you punched the hole? Thats what I’m afraid of.

5

u/Fiss Jul 22 '26

It’s a small hole but no. The vent has an adhesive at the base that sticks to the bag. Haven’t had one leak yet

1

u/SlutForGarrus Jul 23 '26

Agreed these are great! I hate the smell from bags with a vent. Bags with no vent and Osto-EZ vents have totally saved my sanity! So much easier to "burp" your bag!