Ostomy News Notes (Philippines)

May Issue 2008

April Issue 2008

How to DressTransparent Pouch Bags

Cover for Transparent Colostomy Bags

Colostomy bags can come in two colors: the opaque and the transparent.

There are occasions when colostomates are confronted whether to expose their colostomy bags in front of people especially when they are using transparent ones. There are already several companies abroad that offers pouch bag coverings that has two purposes: to hide the stool and likewise minimize the noise when the stomach seems to be grumbling.

I have been using both opaque and transparent pouch bags. Each bag can be costly and their is no reason not to use the transparent one's.

Here below, I would like to share how I dress the transparent colostomy pouch bag. I usually dont cover my transparent colobags at home but when I have to leave the house, I have to use the black dressing not to expose it to other people who may be ignorant of what a colostomy intervention is.


sample transparent colostomy bags


Materials: black cloth porous and thin, scissors, needle and thread


Using a pen, trace the shape of the transparent bag in the black cloth leaving an allowance of 2 mm or more so that there is space when the transparent bag gets inflated with gas.

sew the lines that have been traced with the given allowance.


and afterwards invert the black cloth it so that the sewed thread is now hidden inside. Trace the middle and cut with scissors again with the proper allowance.


get ready to insert the transparent pouch bag inside the sewed black cloth; fit well so that it is not too loose or too tight. I use one big clip that holds the pouch and the cloth at the top most portion so that the cloth is not easily pulled out.

If the cloth will exactly fit the colostomy bag, there will be problems when the bag begins to bloat, so it is advisable that there is enough allowance for the cover to avoid this problem.

It is also advised that the bottom part of the black cloth where the colostomy bag is clipped should have some open and free space. This will allow some accessibility when disposing stool and clipping it back again.