Tricks for Eakin Seals?

I've been having a lot of problems with leaking on any type of appliance so far (have used durahesive and stomahesive 2 pieces and active life 1 piece from Convatec. have samples coming from Hollister). Three bags ago I used my first Eakin Seal. I warmed it up with my hands like it says before I took off the white contact paper stuff and placed it around my stoma. I didn't like how it felt; it seemed to bunch up under my wafer and I couldn't tell by touch if it was the seal or stool under my wafer! There wasn't any stinging, just a little itching (which is fairly normal for me) so I left it on. The seal let me keep a bag on for almost a week! It was amazing. It was also the first time I changed my bag because I wanted to and not because I had to and THAT was the greatest feeling of all.

Because of the bunching and my concerns I didn't use the Eakin Seal for two bags after that. And I had leak after leak! I was getting frustrated so I used an Eakin Seal again this morning at 4am when I had to change my bag. This time I still warmed it up but I smooshed it like a pancake in between the white papers first trying to get it thinner hoping it wouldn't bunch up. I'm hoping this makes for a better seal and more comfort this time.

Does anyone have tricks for Eakin Seals? They seem to help my wear time but kinda bug me

For notes: My stoma is 7/8 to 1 inch (depending on the day). It kinda points downward so I was super careful when I put the appliance on last night and pulled the skin above my stoma to make it more parallel to the ground (hoping I'd get a better seal). Also, on the right and left sides of my stoma it has what I can only describe as dimples... small divets in the skin that leave a lower skin level than the rest. I think it's from my site still finishing up healing.

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

I made it flat this time but the last time I did kinda what you did except I held it between my hands to "warm" it. Then I stretched the circle just a bit, put it around my stoma, then placed the wafer. I thought it bunched because it was too thick?? I know it increased my wear time which is why I used it again this time. I'd rather be a little frustrated with bunching then changing my bag every day! I just got my Hollister sample box so I'll be trying a Hollister bag with their Adapt wafer (which I just read on another thread people were LOVING) next time. I know I'll find something that's perfect at some point but the trial and error stage is mildly annoying LOL. I'll try warming the seal under my wafer like you do next time I use them. Thank you!

I'm only 2.5 months out or so. I know I have a LONG way to go to full comfortability but I'm trying. I love the suggestions I get from the site

I apply mine to my wafer and smush it thinner and farther out on the wafer. I actually have to make the center smaller for my stoma and have never had a problem from touching/smushing it I did use it for years without 'customizing' it and it worked fine that way, too, I just tried something different and liked it.

bearbear3~the fact that your stoma points down is GOOD!! That helps with the output going where it needs to go Have you tried convexity? That may be your next step if the eakin doesn't solve your leaking problems. Convexity pulls the stoma up/out and is usually a great help with uneven stomachs.

Bearbear, my stoma points down also. When I changed my bag today, I used the paste again because I had issues last time with the eakin seal. I was wearing Hollister and had a horrible blow out and the eakin seal was stuck to my skin and I couldn't get it off. I just left the eakin seal on my skin when I applied another bag.

I have yet to get the hang of how to apply the eakin. I just tore a piece off last time and placed it around the hole in my wafer. I will try to use the entire eakin next time and see if this helps. I was not sure you could use the whole eakin seal or not??

There is a newer product called Eakin SLIM Seals. I used to smoosh the Seals down flatter as well but with this I drop it onto the wafer, open up the center hole a bit and then slap that sucker on!
Call Convatec and ask for samples .... :)

Bearbear, I have found that the convatec moldable wafer, 2 piece, works GREAT for preventing leaks. It sticks well and seems to hold up to all my stoma throws out there, from complete liquid to thick pancaking, this wafer sticks like super glue. Have you tried that? Just be sure when you call to ask for the moldable wafer for ileostomies. Also, when you are applying the bag since it does not have a floating flange, that you rub some water around the ring of the pouch....this seems to help me to get the bag to click onto the wafer easier.

But for some reason, my skin gets irritated when I wear the same appliance week after week, so I switch up between Hollister and Convatec. I requested some samples from Coloplast too, but I have not tried them yet. For one, I have to cut my own hole and I hate that and the last time I tried Coloplast, it would not stick to my skin for some reason.

Have a great Thanksgiving! Tracy

Well I had my first experience with a Hollister one piece and the Adapt seal. I do like the seal better. It comes right off and didn't bother me as much while it was on. Problem is that it only lasted until the beginning of day 3. I put on the same pieces this morning to see if it was just a fluke. The Hollister tape irritated my skin a bit more than the convatec ones so I used some stomahesive powder and the allkare barrier wipes. OMG did THAT hurt! It's still a little sore but I do think it will be okay in the long run.

I definitely like the bag on the Hollister brand better. Cloth feel instead of just the plastic and its way less see-through. So I'm still experimenting to see what works for me. I have a convex Hollister bag to try but they sent me four bags and only two seals! I thought that was weird. My stoma was standing at attention this morning so I used a flat wafer.

My output was very thick. I wonder if that had anything to do with it?

RiddleMeThis said...
I love the Eakin seals my self. I was having problems with leaking but with them I haven't had a single one.

I never warm it up with my hands before. I was actually told by my nurse to not handle it too much. I just take the white papers off, stretch the sides to fit around the stoma and place it on. Once I have everything else on, I hold my hand tight down on the system. I was told heat helps everything stick together. No problems from me!

ditto!! i'm using the standard 2" eakin, but they do have like someone else mentioned, a thinner version that's 4". i leaked with 7 different systems until I just tried stretching the eakin and placing it right around my stoma in a pinch. i had no other bags to try and my stoma nurse told me to do this and i haven't had a problem since. I always shower with my system off the day of that change so i take my time and get all the eakin residue off. It takes about 10-15 minutes and I have to scrape and use lots of adhesive remover, but it gives me a good clean starting point. I blow dry my stoma skin before putting anything on too since i just got outta the shower. This warms my skin helping the eakin to stick and then i blow dry the eakin seal. no longer than a minute with either blow dry. then i put my wafer on and press and blow dry again. lastly i put the bag on and then sit around with light pressure on my wafer for at least 10 minutes. I haven't had a leak since I started doing this and my stoma is flush with the skin and the wafer crosses a slight fold in my skin on the left side. I get a solid 7 days of wear, changing every saturday since i like to leave my system off for at least 30 minutes if not longer to give my skin a breather. Plus my least active time of day is 10-2pm and that's not a good time to change during the week because of that pesky job and all ;) i've done this 5 times now with no problems. I've never experienced a bunching but my stoma is high on my belly so that probably makes a difference. I hope you figure something out and stop those darned leaks!

You have totally found the secret to Eakin seals. Not only warm then in your hand, but squash them totally flat. Then because they are flat, they get wider. So just trim off the outsides to make them about the size they originally were. An allcare wipe applied prior to putting on the Eakin and some stomahesive powder on any really burned place just under the spout of the stoma should do you just fine.

With this system (usued with Convatec) I CAN go up to 10 days before a needed change, but I was told to change every 3 to 4 days so I do. If I go longer I usually get a little burn right below the spout of the stoma because my output is so liquidy. BUT Eakins are worth their weight in Gold.

Rosemary (3 years of experience)

I use Coloplast wafer/skin barriers and they just don't want to stick to my skin. Eakin Seals have helped me a lot. I reached my limit for medical supplies last March, so insurance doesn't pay for my ostomy supplies now. It was frustrating to have found something that worked but was so expensive. I found that I can purchase them on ebay (new, sealed in box) so much cheaper than from local medical suppliers. I buy big 98mm seals, tear off and shape what I need. Now I buy 10 98mm seals for what 3 or 4 small ones cost locally.

I had an emergency colostomy a year ago because of the location of a strep infection that required surgery and am scheduled to have a reversal soon.