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What to do when flange gets wet??

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Posted 10/3/2011 4:57 AM (GMT 0)
Every time I have a shower, my flange gets wet, then the itch starts. I have tried to soak up as much water as possible from the flange to dry it, but it doesn't help. I have also tried tieing a freezer bag onto the bag and around the flange, but everything still gets wet.

Can anyone please advise me what to do.

Many thanks

Cleo

Posted 10/3/2011 12:29 PM (GMT 0)
Just dry it with a hairdryer. Or use a sure seal and it won't get wet at all! They are awesome, they keep water out and help keep leaks in. I wouldn't go without them
Posted 10/3/2011 12:40 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Cleos.. when you say 'the itch starts'.. do you mean it then starts to leak and you have to change it? or does it dry off and is then ok? Does getting the flange wet compromise the effectiveness of the seal?

It's ok to get it wet and as Summerstorm says, just dry it with a hairdryer (taking care not to melt the pouch! which I've done on occassion). It should be fine then. Some flanges do seem to absorb more water than others though, so you could try a different bag?

I do tend to shower without the bag on at all - it's heaven! then stick a nice dry clean one on afterwards.

Sarah
Posted 10/3/2011 1:44 PM (GMT 0)
Haven't tried it but some use the "Press and Seal saran wrap"...I guess totally wrap it around you and press and seal it to keep wafer and pouch (?) from getting wet while you shower if you are not doing a full change at the time.
Posted 10/3/2011 1:53 PM (GMT 0)
I agree with sarah,I also shower bagless,i find it so much better than with one on....i too use the hairdryer treatment if i do shower with one on and have melted many of bags in the process,i didnt know until my wife showed me that it has different heat settings so now im basically a melt free zone!!!!
ROF
Posted 10/3/2011 8:08 PM (GMT 0)
What is the press and seal saran wrap method? Rosemary
Posted 10/3/2011 9:28 PM (GMT 0)
I use Sure Seals also. They are so amazing. I have baths and showers all the time and im still able to keep my pouch on for 6-7 days. I love not having to change it as often without the seals. I do find that about a half a day after the change for about 24 hours afterwards my skin around the tape part of the wafer gets very itchy periodically. Im not sure why this is whether its my skin getting used to the new seal or what but it's kinda annoying. Worth it though to me because being without the seal.... i wouldnt feel as confident as I do now.
Posted 10/3/2011 11:05 PM (GMT 0)
Wow, lots of great advice, thanks everyone.

Sarah, I have tried using the hairdryer, it seems to dry the top area of the flange, but when I press down on the sticky flat bit of the flange, there is still a lot of water. When I have had a shower, the water does compromise the seal at times and also the itch can start.

Summerstorm, as I'm still quite new to this, I'm not sure what sure seals are. My district nurse is bringing me Saltz Seals from Secuplast, to try and stop the leakage and itch. I did use them a few weeks ago, they were great, but she has now ordered me the pre cut flanges, I am yet to try those. The seals I used before are round with a round bit in the middle, you can mold them like play dough onto the flange.

Another UC wife, what is Press and Seal saran wrap?

ROF, when you shower do you take the whole flange and bag off, or just the bag, (I know silly question). I have been told to leave the flange on for two to three days, but change the bag daily.

The bag and flange I am using at the moment is by Hollister the two piece.

Cleo
Posted 10/3/2011 11:16 PM (GMT 0)
sure seals are these cling wrap (you know that clear stuff you can put over food bowls) that go over the outside of your flange. Are you in the US?
Im not sure what kind of system you are using, but i dont know why you would need to change your bag everyday, or your whole system every 2-3 days. Changing that often could be hard on your skin. I go 6-7 days, same bag and same flange.
Posted 10/3/2011 11:24 PM (GMT 0)
I get a burn right under stoma where poop comes out that is why I have to now change every other day. Flange wise I could go for a week like I always have. I use eakin seals with a convatec system. Even convex wafers did not help. I do have to be careful of the rest of my skin. Any ideas?
Posted 10/4/2011 3:39 AM (GMT 0)
Summerstorm, I currently use Hollister flange and hollister bags. I was told by the nurse to change every 2 to three days the flange that is, and the bag daily. I will try the glad wrap and see how i go.

I live in Australia, if i don't change my bag every day, it becomes distorted. Obviously I do empty my bag daily.

Many thanks

Cleo
Posted 10/4/2011 5:11 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Ron,

Thanks for the tips. I have been handling the Eakin Seal with my hands with the paper off of it prior to putting it around my stoma. I bet you are right, I am killing the adhesive properties of the Eakin. Tomorrow I will try and do like you said. I do have to flatten the eakin a bit, but I press it together between my palms with the paper still on, then I peel the paper off and then start handling it.

Also one time I tried the sure seal over the wafer to keep it dry. Water still got under the sure seal and then I had a really hard time getting that sure seal off. I don't know what I did wrong. Thanks, Rosemary
Posted 10/4/2011 5:14 AM (GMT 0)
Ron,

Another thing I thought of was I put a big spray of Stomahesive powder on the burn under the stoma, then I put on the Eakin. Do you think that lump of powder is disrupting the adhesion of the Eakin?

I used to do just fine with Eakins. Do you think this is what I am doing wrong in addition to touching the Eakin flat surfaces?

Rosemary
Posted 10/4/2011 7:18 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Ron,

Oooops OK. TOday I did put just a tad of powder on the burn then i just took the eakin and put it right on then put on the face plate and the bag. Then I pressed around to be sure to flatten all to my stomach.

In two days I will see how that went. There was no lump of powder this time. If not good in two days, then I will only use the eakin without touching it like I did this morning. The powder in any amount may actually disrupt the seal like you say.

That was a good clue about not putting our hands all over the eakin. I also HAVE to lose some weight. I have gained 35 lbs since my ileo. 25 I needed to gain back as I dipped from 125 to 99, but that extra 10 I think is creating havoc. I tried the convexity but that did not help with the burn. I will do as you suggested above and see what happens.

Thanks, Rosemary
Posted 10/5/2011 11:05 AM (GMT 0)
Cleos.. I was thinking about this in the shower this morning. You are obviously using a 2 piece and showering with the bag off, BUT with the wafer on?? is that right?? I understand what you're saying now about the wafer getting wet... the hairdryer advice probably isn't that appropriate. I use a one piece, so when I shower, I'm in there with the whole bag on.. OR I strip it off altogether (wafer too) and shower 'naked'. Yes the stoma sometimes squirts a bit.. but you're in the shower so it doesn't really matter.

I also posted the following on another thread and wasn't sure if you saw it..

Hi Cleos.. really sorry to hear about your sore skin and leaks. Sounds really sore you poor thing :-( It really is a massive learning curve and challenge and one I'm not fully to grips with yet either. Do you know why you are having leaks and why your skin is sore?

I had a loop ileo last year and about 2-3 weeks post surgery it retracted (very common with a loop apparently) and I had awful leaks. Like you my skin was really sore, itchy and felt like it was on fire. My stoma nurse changed me to a convex bag which made the stoma pop out and from that day on, I didn't have a leak. Does your stoma look like it's gone flatter?? if so, then I reckon a convex wafer might be the answer.

You also need to get some orahesive powder (or equivalent) onto that sore skin to help it heal. Take care and hope your nurse had some advice today??

Let us know how you get on. It will get better trust me! Sarah x
Posted 10/5/2011 11:56 AM (GMT 0)
Rosemary -- I was having trouble w/the bag sticking die to the curve of my (expanded since ileo) belly. My nurse had me start pushing down hard on the middle of the wafer when I first put it on, so I'm pushing the wafer down on flat, not round skin (this is a convex wafer). Totally solved the problem. I push it down in the middle first, then around the edges.....not sure if it's the same issue, but might help.
Posted 10/5/2011 12:29 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks bluegrass. I tried the convex and even that did not help. But will keep trying. In the meantime since all of this I am starting to get a face pain syndrome called Trigeminal Neuralgia caused by compression of a blood vessel on a branch of the main nerve in the head. Bad nerve pain in upper right jaw. Connected with a specialist in this. BUT, all this on top of the ileo and burn issues. I'm so down.

The ileo was needed to save my life but only due to a botched misdx pelvic floor surgery. Had 4 good years of travel since the ileo and before all this face pain issue started. BUT, the whole gut issue was unneeded. Plus I have a virus. It's a cascade of things. Thanks for the tip and I will keep trying with the burn issue.

Sorry to go on, it just seems like I want all my issues to just stop multiplying. Auuugh!

Rosemary
Posted 10/5/2011 1:19 PM (GMT 0)
Press n Seal is by Glad and you find it where saran wrap, aluminum foil are in the supermarkets.

Hubby has not tried it yet.  But from what I have read before you go in the shower you totally wrap it around your body and cover the wafer and pouch and have it press and seal onto itself when you finish wrapping...I suppose an extra 6" maybe to it to stick to itself and I would imagine wrap it snugly to your body.

The sure seals are great but we do find them a tad difficult to remove.  He experimented with them for the express purpose of using them for vacation, swimming etc and not on a daily basis.  We are going on a cruise in a few months and will definitely use them then.

Posted 10/5/2011 4:22 PM (GMT 0)
Great I will look for the press and seals Sound great. Rosemary
Posted 10/6/2011 3:50 PM (GMT 0)
Two things make the skin itch around my stoma: glue and hair. I notice the skin gets itchy a day or two before my wafer change. The hair needs cut away after about a week, and the glue needs cleaned off. A warm shower is probably activating that glue and may be making it itch. Probably best to take the advice to keep it dry in the shower. When changing use a razor (I use an electric one) to remove hair around the stoma. Make sure to get all the old glue off before putting on a new wafer. I use adhesive remover then rub all the glue off from around the stoma. Keeping the area dry is important to get the wafer seated and sticking well. I keep a box of Kleenex tissues beside me when I do a change. Sometimes the stoma will bleed a bit or otherwise moisture builds around the stoma, I wipe the area with tissues making sure it is completely dry, then wipe the entire area around the stoma with the Hollister skin gel protective wipe and let that dry for a minute or two before putting the wafer on.
KBD
Posted 10/6/2011 4:50 PM (GMT 0)
Sure Seals are great to keep the wafer area dry and extend wear time :-) I also change my pouch daily or every other day depending on how I feel...not right or wrong answer!

Rosemary~ have you tried Coloplast Extended Wear? I have a similar issue with my 'new' stoma and the only thing that helped prevent the skin issues on the bottom area was changing the brand...I could only get a day's wear time out of Convatec and Hollister and could never get the skin to clear mad Since switching I've gotten at least 3-4 days wear from a wafer.
Posted 10/6/2011 5:40 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks I will look into the coloplast extended wear. Rosemary
Posted 10/9/2011 2:31 AM (GMT 0)
Ironmum, I usually shower with my flange and bag on at the same time, and yes it is a two piece.

Sorry, I must of missed your answer to the other thread. My stoma has shrunk to 29mm and it is not flat, but protrudes slightly. I have been sent some samples from Dantec, bag and flanges, two piece, and have been wearing them for a couple of days. I have to say that the flange is silicon ( or something similar) and it has a seal around it. This is supposed to help with leakages, but had one leakage the other day, so popped on an secuplast seal. Seems ok up to now, one thing I like about the flange is that it doesn't matter if you get the flange wet, the water runs off it and all you do is dab it to dry it. The bag is another story, is a lot smaller than hollister, softer. This I prefer to Hollister, the hospital and my stoma nurse all keep advising me to stick to Hollister, it makes me wonder whether they have some deal with Hollister.
Posted 10/9/2011 1:52 PM (GMT 0)
Like Equestrian Mom, I also use the Coloplast extended wear wafer #2833 with matching cloth covered pouch #13986, and it's been great for me! No leaks in 5 years! :-)

I live in Florida where it's hot and humid 6+ months a year, so I shower every day and love to go swimming at the beach, in the pool, and at water parks. This wafer is like the Energizer Bunny of wafers... it lasts, and lasts, and lasts! I've never covered it when I shower or swim, and it has never leaked after getting wet. It's definitely worth giving it a try!

Cece
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