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Showering...what I find that works...

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Posted 8/25/2009 2:38 PM (GMT 0)
I recently read about someone not liking the Dove moisturizing bodywash...and I found myself thinking that I'm glad I have had no issues with my Oil of Olay Quench bodywash, as I never considered it may be a bad thing.

So, I continued thinking about the struggles I had had with showering and how my skin barrier would always get wet no matter what I tried.  This is my new found success:

I use the Hollister 88300 one piece system (I love it!!!) and before showering I place two inch strips of the 3Ms transparent medical tape around my wafer...sometimes doubling up toward the top sections.  This works so well for me!  I had tried the Saran Press n Seal but it doesn't work nearly as well as the tape.

My plan is to use the Press n Seal in addition to the tape for swimming and long water day situations.  : )

Anyway, I hope you all have things that work for you too...but I just wanted to share what works for me, as since I've started doing it with the tape/Saran my accessory has been lasting up to 7 days or longer.  : )  I love it!!!!!

smurf  

Posted 8/25/2009 4:49 PM (GMT 0)
That is really useful information. Thanks for sharing. I can hardly wait to swim, but it will be 3-4 weeks before that happens.
Posted 8/26/2009 12:19 AM (GMT 0)
I use the tape and saran b/c:

 

1. The seals cost a lot more than the tape.

 

2. I really am not motivated to have any more boxes of anything crammed into my bathroom.

 

3. I guess it's kind of a personal thing...the tape is a little normal...it's not specialized and that just makes me feel good.  blush

 

 

 

smurf  

Posted 8/30/2009 11:42 PM (GMT 0)
Hi All,

I've found that a simple plastic shower cap (doubled over) and a rubber band at the base works for me. My bag is the Hollister 88400 with the sweat fabric on the skin side. I used to shower then use a hair dryer to dry the sweat fabric.

The adhesive barrier gets wet but does not harm the seal. I change my bag every 3-4 days. usually after the filter starts to get clogged and no longer functions.

Thanks for your idea Robin.

Ron
Posted 8/31/2009 12:11 AM (GMT 0)

Thanks Robin, I'll try that.  Sorry for the dumb question but where does one buy 3M medical tape?  Will a normal pharmacy carry it or is it something I need to go to a hospital supply place for?   I bet the tape will give me an added level of security in general and not just in the shower.  I use the Hollister 2 piece and it's prone to seeping out as the adhesive weakens (usually after 3-4 days).  cheers !!!

Connie

Posted 8/31/2009 3:43 PM (GMT 0)
You can get the tape at any pharmacy section.  I started using it b/c I had open wounds from staph infections caused by the immune suppressant medications I was on prior the surgery.  It took a good five minutes to prepare myself just for a shower!  I like the tape b/c it seals the edges of my wafer pretty good.  I'm learning that if I use my finger nail to press it down into the little ripples on my wafer (those develop just b/c of how it's formed to my body) the seal works even better.  Sometimes there is moisture but it's a heck of a lot better than showering with nothing at all!  I thought about it the other day and I've gone 6-8 days with my accessory for the past six weeks! 

I've never used the seals before...I saw them in one of my medical supply catalogs and I just cannot justify spending money on a box of seals that I could easily use up within a week or two's time.  Depending on my daily activities I shower up to twice a day and it's just so easy to slap on tape shower and be done with it.  : )

smurf  

Posted 8/31/2009 5:51 PM (GMT 0)
Oh, ya know what Robin...they are one per wafer...(you don't put them on and take them off) so it really isn't as expensive if you are thinking that you use one a day.

I put one on when I put my new wafer on and it stays on until I take the wafer off...its the perfect water barrier...it really isn't anything extra to do and I can shower without thinking about it, I just towel off and go. I also get about 5-6 days wear time.

Hope that helps with the price side of things...but we all have our 'special' ways, don't we:)
Posted 9/1/2009 7:50 PM (GMT 0)
Gosh I love this site! I would be so lost without you guys, today In the shower I shaved the site where I beleive my stoma will be, i'm a pretty hairy guy, my jpouch surgery is next Friday
and I am trying to get used to the thought of the stoma being there, I kinda got nauseated while shaving on the shower, hopefully once I actually have the stoma I will be ok! Anyone else have these worries?
Posted 9/1/2009 9:06 PM (GMT 0)
i had all kinds of silly worries before i had surgery, its totally normal.
And you might get kind of grossed out by it at first, i did, but you get used to it very quickly. Esp once the staples and all get out its much easier to deal with.
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