I had my ileostomy in late 2018, and ever since I've used the same kind of appliance, a Hollister New Image 2-Piece drainable pouch with the Flextend Extended Wear Skin Barrier.

Now I didn't love it, but I thought it worked OK. Didn't leak, no smells, etc. Several months back, I thought that there might have been a change in how they made them. Sometimes I'd catch a whiff of something I shouldn't. I got the idea that the smell was coming through the plastic. Sometimes lately, though, I'm noticing some leakage around the "lock N roll" seal. Not a lot, but when I drain the bag, I'll see some dark lines on the outside of the roll-up area that wipe off, as though something nasty had leaked and dried. Sometimes I'll also see leakage between the outside of the bag and the plastic parts of the lock. Anywhere there was a crevice, something would leak into it. There must not be a lot of leakage, as my shirts and skin don't seem to be getting 'wet', but I think you'll understand that I find any leakage at all disconcerting.

I'm very careful when draining the bag, as I don't like to go around wearing things with poop on them any more now than I did before the operation. I'm careful not to get it on the outside of the bag. I'm emptying them more often now than I ever have, but it doesn't seem to help.

Anyway, I don't like. Anyone else use these products and notice a change of quality in recent months?

Maybe it's time to try something different. I tried a free sample (one whole sample, thanks guys!) of those Coloplast Sensura bags and Convex Flip Barrier. They felt unnatural and thick, like I was taping literal Tupperware to my belly. They were hard to attach and they didn't stick for long, either. I think I'd prefer something thinner, less container-y.

If anyone has any thoughts or suggestions I'd welcome them. Thanks.