Finding the right stoma products

The fit is the difference

Fit comes first and is the first step when considering leakage prevention and skin health. The SenSura Mio is proven to significantly reduce leakage against other leading brands on the market*.

With the launch of SenSura Mio Concave - the SenSura Mio range is complete, meaning now there is a specific solution for people with regular, inward and outward body shapes.

The SenSura Mio range is designed with BodyFit Technology^®, to follow body movement and provide a secure fit for individual body shapes. Learn more about the features of the SenSura Mio Range in the sections below.
If you would like to try SenSura Mio, but are unsure of your individual body profile, try the BodyCheck tool to find the best appliance for your body.

Do you need a flat, convex or concave?

The SenSura Mio range lets you choose between a flat, a convex or a concave baseplate. What's best for you depends on the area around your ostomy and the position of the ostomy.

If the area around your ostomy is deep-seated or uneven, a convex baseplate can help provide a good fit. The curved shape of SenSura Mio Convex provides support and comes in three sizes: Soft, Light and Deep.

• The Soft Convex can provide the proper support in the area around the ostomy, if it is above skin level.
• The Light Convex has a light curve that gently helps the ostomy protrude, if it is in level with the skin or in a slightly deep-seated area.
• The Deep Convex is suitable, if your ostomy is below skin level and needs a lot of help to protrude. It has a deep curve, which provides a good grip.

A Coloplast professional can help identify which size is right for you.

If the area around your ostomy is an outward bulge, curve or hernia, a SenSura Mio Concave solution may be the right solution for you. It is the first appliance specially designed for outward areas. Its concave baseplate supports your stoma with less creasing and folding in the adhesive.

View our range of SenSura Mio products

Five steps to help prevent leakage

Leakage can be a huge worry, and depending on the scale, problematic and embarrassing when it occurs. Take 5 simple steps to reduce your chances of leakage.

1. Check your stoma template. Your baseplate should fit snugly around your stoma. Make this a regular part of your routine.
2. Change your appliances and any recommended products as advised by your stoma nurse. Don’t wear your appliance longer than advised.
3. When you change your appliance, use plain tap water and dry wipes to clean and dry the skin. Make sure that the area under the baseplate is free from hair, and the baseplate is securely fixed to your skin from stoma to the edge.
4. Check the area around your stoma. Has your tummy shape changed? New skin folds, creases or scars can take a path for leaks to follow. Convex-shaped baseplates, Brava rings, tapes and pastes can all help create a good seal around the stoma.
5. When you remove the appliance check:
   a) The skin around your stoma for soreness
   b) The back of the baseplate for any evidence of the output soaking into the adhesive.

These simple tips can make all the difference.

How can I tell if I have sore skin?

As many as 73% of ostomates have reported skin problems as being an ongoing problem. You can usually tell if you have an issue if:

• Your skin under your baseplate is more pink/red than the surrounding skin
• There are patches of broken sore skin
• The skin is weeping
• The skin is painful
• The skin is very itchy

Sore skin can occur in several areas:

• Directly around the stoma
• At the edge of the baseplate
• Or under the whole/large section of the baseplate.

Although sore skin is common. It is not something you have to put up with and can usually be resolved.

Four tips to help you manage sore skin

1. Check your stoma template. Half the incidences of sore skin are caused by templates that are too large. Your baseplate should fit snugly around your stoma. Make this part of your routine.
2. Change your appliances and any recommended products as advised by your stoma nurse. Don’t wear you bag longer than advised.
3. When you change your appliance, use plain tap water and dry wipes to clean and dry the skin. Make sure that the area under the baseplate is free hair and the baseplate is securely fixed to your skin from stoma to the edge.
4. Be careful when removing your appliance. Many find adhesive removers helpful when removing their baseplate.

Odour, or rather the worry about odour is a natural concern for many people with a stoma. The good news is that it is a rare issue and is usually has a cause that can be resolved.

What causes odour ?

• The adhesive on your appliance may have lifted away from your skin, allowing air to pass underneath.
• You have developed a leak.
• The filter on the bag has become wet, letting odour escape through the filter
• You are experiencing diarrhoea
• If you have a urostomy – you may have a urine infection
• If you use a drainable bag – the end may have got soiled/wet with the output
• It may be that you are just more conscious of odour than those around you, remembering it from when you empty your pouch.

What can you do to reduce odour?

• Do not wear your bag longer than is recommended.
• When emptying a drainable bag: Clean the end before closing the outlet of the bag
• On older bags, the filter can become wet from activities such as swimming. Use a filter cover to protect it from becoming wet. Some newer bags – such as SenSura Mio have built in protection, so do not usually need a cover.
• Diet can impact the odour of your output. You may choose to avoid foods if you notice an issue. You may choose to try pro-biotic yoghurts or adding a drop of peppermint oil or charcoal tablets to reduce wind.There are many air fresheners that you can use in your bathroom to keep it fresh after a change. These range from sprays to aromatic oils. Prescription odourises are available in the form of sprays or drops which can be inserted into your bag, or for use when you are in the bathroom.
• If you have a urostomy – ensure you are drinking plenty of fluids (water/squash) at least 8 cups a day (if you have a kidney or heart condition please confirm your oral fluid intake with your nurse specialist)