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Urgent question for a friend

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Posted 8/21/2010 8:20 PM (GMT 0)
Hi folks!  I have a friend who recently had a permanent colostomy due to colon cancer.  She is doing very well physically, but is having issues with her bags falling off.  I have had no issues at all with my bags since my surgery so I don't have any advice for her.  Anyone??  confused

Thanks!

~ Anne

Posted 8/21/2010 8:46 PM (GMT 0)
hi Anne,
glad your friend is recovering well physically. i had the same problem with the wafer just peeling and falling off. i had my ileostomy surgery on July 8th. at first it worked great and each wafer lasted for 5-6 days, then i don't know why it just couldn't hold for more than 2 days. which equipment is she using? i was using hollister the whole time. i consulted with hollister's stoma nurse and she adviced me to use the wafer that has all of it's surface sticky yellow (not only in the center of the wafer) plus, spraying the adhesive spray all over the wafer to help it stick better. so i tried it yesterday and it does look a lot more stable this way, this adhesive spray really seem to totally glue the wafer to my skin, will see how long it lasts, but this time i'm truly optimistic it'll last longer.

hope this helps (if my explanation was clear) good luck to her.
Posted 8/21/2010 9:54 PM (GMT 0)
Thank you for your response and good wishes 2b...  I'm not sure which equipment she is using, but I will surely pass along your idea!

Posted 8/21/2010 10:32 PM (GMT 0)
If she is using paste, stop using it and start using eakin seals. Also try Sure Seals. Ever since I started using Sure Seals I don't even notice the bag anymore when using the ostomy belt.
Some wafers you can't use skin prep or it will cause the bag to fall off. I was using skin prep and was only getting 2-4 days wear time. I stopped using the prep and my wear time shot up to 6-7.
Posted 8/22/2010 12:53 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks, New Shiny!  I sent your response to her.  I know she will appreciate the suggestion!

Posted 8/22/2010 1:22 AM (GMT 0)
i second the no skin prep, and the sure seals!

Also, she might want to try using a hair dryer on it for a few seconds after applying. And she needs to make sure the hole is still the right size, her stoma may have shrunk and she isnt getting a good seal
Posted 8/22/2010 2:52 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks Summer!  Yet another super suggestion!

Posted 8/23/2010 2:53 PM (GMT 0)
what do you guys mean by skin prep? i'm having a hard time with the terms in Hebrew and in English :/
Posted 8/23/2010 2:57 PM (GMT 0)
skin prep is the stuff you rub on your skin before you put the other stuff on, sometimes its a spray, sometimes its a little wipe, i had some that looked like little suckers
Posted 8/23/2010 2:59 PM (GMT 0)
When I was using skin prep, they were small wet wipe looking things. When you wipe them it forms a glossy film over your skin.
Posted 8/23/2010 3:07 PM (GMT 0)
oh i know what you mean, i use it, that's how the stoma nurse at the hosp taught me. but it's supposed to help the wafer to stick better, doesn't it? what do you all use instead?
Posted 8/23/2010 4:24 PM (GMT 0)
And she'll need to be careful with the type of soap she uses. Ostomates should not use one with lotion or scents and I think Dial, Ivory and Neutrogena are pretty good! Some people don't use any soap at all...personally I've always used Dial without problems.

Yes, for some Skin Prep can cause issues...I think it's individual to the patient.

Also, the brand that works for each patient varies depending on their body. Some work for one person but fall off on another! Have her contact the manufacturers for samples (link to all of them at www.UOAA.org)

If her stoma is small or close to her skin she'll want to use 'convexity' where the wafer is cupped and a little stronger...that will pull the stoma out so that the contents fall into the ostomy pouch easier.

Is her output thick or liquid?
Posted 8/24/2010 2:02 AM (GMT 0)
from what i understood the skin prep is to keep the skin from getting irritated, its not the same as that adhesive spray.
Posted 8/24/2010 2:19 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks NASCARon and OHIO... I have sent my friend your responses... any suggestion or idea at this point is encouraging to her! 

OHIO - her output is pretty loose... she is still getting used to eating "real" food.  She does follow a pretty strict vegan diet... do you think that would have anything to do with the content?

Posted 8/24/2010 4:05 AM (GMT 0)
Recently I've been trying a convatec wafer and pouch that didn't have the rim to snap the pouch on, just the wafer and the pouch stuck to the wafer. I've been dealing with skin ulcers and this is lighter but I am changing back to the old one because the pouches kept falling off. The doc has put me on Creon a medication that helps with absorbstion and the output is very thick. I just don't think the pouch that just sticks was strong enough stickem to keep it in place and the pouch would fall off.

I use the smith nephew no sting skin prep and I believe the GM no sting and it is a small little spounge that does the same as the smith nephew. My products are mostly all from Convatec but have heard good things about coloplast and I'm thinking of checking into that for samples.

My stoma is convex and I have a butt load of redundant skin so it is difficult to get a good stick.
Posted 8/24/2010 6:58 AM (GMT 0)
summer, do you use the adhesive spray? i tried it for the first time and it really glue everything so nicely and doesnt peel in the shower. i love it.
Posted 8/24/2010 10:46 PM (GMT 0)
nope just the paste
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