For many people with colostomies, that "something else" is a pouch (also called an appliance or bag). This is made of thin flexible plastic or rubber, which adheres to the skin over the stoma to hold feces until a convenient time for disposal. These are comfortable, odor-proof and secure.
An alternative for many colostomates with fairly solid stool is "irrigation," a kind of enema through the stoma done every day or two. This permits them to empty the bowel at a convenient regular time. They wear only a tiny pouch or a soft pad over the stoma the rest of the time.
