2 ??? concexity??? and the urge to have bm- 3 months new

Ok I am 3 month colostomy and love the new life don't get me wrong I would rather have this than go back.... anyways, the ??? I have is the flange around the stoma doesn't seem to seal against my skin this past month so the poop goes under it closest to my stoma therefore I am changing flanges daily, too expensive for that lol... anyways I heard someone taking about convexity what is that can someone get more specific name brand etc... I have a colostomy want to stick with 2 piece and order through edgepark... and will convexity work for the issue or do u have a better option.... also I keep getting the urge to have a bm this whole past month and I keep passing gas through my rectum if I push like I am having bm... I don't care about the gas if that is ok but the urge is killing me I don't pass much mucus so the doc said to use warm water enema 2 x a month which I do but the urge is daily and lasts a while what can I do any advise??? Thanks for any help...

Sunshinefl,

A convex wafer or a convex insert into your wafer is probably a good idea, given your description of what is going on with your output. I also HIGHLY recommend using Eakin Seals. Even tho the E.S. are sold in shapes like a disk or wafer, they are meant to apply under the wafer that you use for the pouch. Personally, I only use strips of them, cut to fit just around the stoma hole opening of the wafer just like you would apply stomahesive paste or such. With the combination of the convexity and E.S., you may solve your problem rather quickly. I did.

You didn't mention what 2 piece appliance you are using. I use Convatec. It is cheaper for me to buy the convex ring inserts and just pop them inside of the rim of the flange right where the pouch snaps on. Only takes a couple of seconds after you cut the hole for the flange. Be sure to leave the backing on the flange to protect the sticky part while you are doing this step. You will notice that the whole wafer pushes back a bit as this insert is put into it. That's ok. That's what it does. Then when you apply it to your abdomen, the gentle pressure, which I don't even notice, makes the stoma pop out a little and when output is expelled, the stoma doesn't contract under the wafer. Does this make sense? If not, I'll try to explain better......

BTW, make sure you stand or sit up real straight when you apply your wafer. Many times, having excess skin or wrinkles under the wafer does not allow for a good fit. A good example...I'm thin and if I don't stand up straight and actually VERY gently pull the whole abdominal skin area slightly from the stoma as I apply the flange, when I stretch with my arms over my head (like you do in bed), it can really pull the skin under the wafer, and cause a bad "stick" and leaks.
Now I ask .... does this make sense?? You may already know/do this, but I just thought I'd post it.

Best of luck to you.

Do you have a colostomy with solid or more watery output? The Convatec Durahesive wafer is very good for output that is more on the liquid side. I'm guessing that if you have waste getting behind the wafer, it is more liquid...I have found that the Convatec Durahesive works better for my watery ileo output than the New Image did...just a personal thing!

They do come with and without convexity...and like Peggy said, you can always add the convex ring to a regular wafer. I purchase from Edgepark and get mine with the convexity and I also get the two piece appliance. I also add an Eakin Seal...but I use the whole 'donut'...I just apply to the wafer and then apply the whole thing to my stomach.

I don't have the part numbers in front of me, but I know they are listed under the Convatec section in the catalog. I hope you find something that works for you...once you do, it should work for a LONG time...it just finding what you prefer AND what works:)

Ok thank you all very much I will try I am going to call ythem today and see if they will send me a sample so I don't have to order a whole box just incase... one more question I hope I don't seem dumb but do you not use paste I didn't see that on your list?

Sunshine, My dr had me to give myself a fleets enema for seven days and report the out put back to him....I will be three months on teh 13 of this month....I had mucus and some blood toward the end of the week....he told me that was very good which means the rectum is still alive and makes reconnection a better possiblity....He also said I could do this when needed just not daily.....I do about evey week and it helps so much...but ask your dr.....kim/maggie