Hi Sass,
Funny you should ask.. my carer has been bugging me to ask the same question on a forum.
We normally have to change mine about every 2-4 months. Mine usually needs changing when the balloon gets low on water, as the tube sticks out further. I can always tell when it needs changing because it starts feeling like something is pinching my stoma inside. All we can figure is that my stomach acids end up causing the balloon to spring a leak, and within a few days to a week, if we don't change it out, it will come out on its own. I've had that happen twice in almost 3 years.
Early on, we used to go to the ER to have it changed. No more. Changing it out is simple. A HHA nurse visited our home and showed my carer how to do it. It takes all of 5 minutes. Oh, you want to do it on an empty stomach. :mrgreen:
Dale
Hiya Joel!