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Posted 8/3/2012 1:37 AM (GMT 0)
Does anyone have any advice on how to stop your stoma from going to the bathroom when changing your bag?? Also does anyone have any advice on how to stop your bag from leaking and how to get rid of pyoderma?
Posted 8/3/2012 3:55 AM (GMT 0)
Eating 6 marshmallows about 15 minutes before my change slows down or even stops my output for about 30 minutes. Sometimes my stoma still acts up, but this little trick given to me by my stoma nurse has made things so much easier most of the time.
Posted 8/3/2012 6:13 AM (GMT 0)
Hey blueheron. I thought about buying the marshmallows when I saw them at the grocery store today but they were the GIANT ones. Which ones do you use. They have small, medium and large.
I normally take the bag off and shower. I try and time it right and jump over to the sink while everything is all layed out. Then it takes less than 2 minutes to put the bag on. Sometimes I have output but that's why I put a paper towel right by the sink just in case.

As far as stopping it from leaking you might want to try a convex wafer? I use adapt rings and a convex wafer and I don't have any leaks.
Posted 8/3/2012 1:21 PM (GMT 0)
I think most of us have figured out when is the best time to change our appliances by trial and error...and it is very different for each of us.

Many change first thing in the morning before they eat/drink anything, but for me that is disastrous! I usually get up and can have a cup of coffee, take a shower and then change.

Try to keep track of how things work and pinpoint a time frame...also try the marshmallows since many have good luck with that!

What does your doctor say about the PG? I agree with Brian, if you haven't tried a convex wafer, you may want to.
Posted 8/3/2012 2:20 PM (GMT 0)
Helen what also works for my husband is first thing in the morning before eating or drinking anything he jumps in the shower. Since he has no issues at the moment he does a full change on Wed and Sun mornings. His stoma is not as active then and he gently leans over to apply that little bit of pressure to get anything out that might be there before he gets out of the shower and a final rinse. He does NOT take the time to fully dry off...only around the stoma itself. We have a roman shower that is even with the tile in our bathroom...he lays a towel down and shuffles on it over to the vanity to put on the new wafer. He puts a clear plastic cap from my mousse container over the stoma in the off chance it leaks...he keeps the shower running in case he has to jump back in and rinse again which doesn't happen often. He uses the blow dryer on cool setting to be sure it is totally dry, sprays on the skin prep, drys it with the dryer until a little tacky and slaps on the wafer.

Try eating a few marshmallows as suggested to see if that helps...many people do that and I always have them on hand but he never needs them.

The leaking is a trial and error thing...if you don't use the inner seals (Eakin or Adapt) give them a try....maybe a convex wafer you need for a better fit...my husband's stoma does not protrude a lot so the convexity he needs and it works very well. Get samples of different types of wafers and log what you used...in the beginning I was logging if he used paste to fill in a crease (that he no longer has as he gained weight and it smoothed that out)...if he used an Eakin seal or adapt one, which type of wafer. Until you find the right combination for you it can be a little confusing. Add to that trying to clear up a skin condition that certainly affects wear time and leaking. If you are struggling too much and before you get the skin into too much trouble get to your WOCN for some help.
Posted 8/3/2012 9:52 PM (GMT 0)
Thank you all for the advise!! I tried 5 of the big marshmallow's and it worked. I do use the Marleen deep convexity pouches and the adopt ring's, but it still leak's.  My colon was removed when I was 14 and I just got my stoma revised and more of my small bowel removed in May and I have had nothing but problem's with this new stoma and my bag leaking. The ostomies nurse's I saw said the reason why it's leaking is; my stoma is in a really really bad spot ( where I bend) and it's hard to get a good fit, my stool in liquid and comes out an hour from when I eat or drink, and because of my pyoderma. I want to know not why it's leaking but how to fix it. Thank's again for all the advise, I will look into all of it.  
Posted 8/4/2012 8:25 PM (GMT 0)
How long have yo been dealing with the pyoderma, and how bad is it. I have not had surgery yet, but that is a concern of mine due to a weird open wound I experienced behind my knee about 4years ago. I have UC and my surgeon said that is really rare and hopefully I will get a pouch so I won't have a stoma for long. Crohns is always in the back of my mind, but I am going on 9 years do I guess my diagnosis wouldn't have changed by now hopefully.
Posted 8/4/2012 8:52 PM (GMT 0)
allswell, I have had it for over a month now. It's a huge spot and like 4 skin layer's deep. It has been so hard!! I half to change my bag every day and I can't get my stoma to stop from going. It take over an hour some day's and I loose it. As soon as I get everything cleaned up it shoot's out again and I half to start over. My pyoderma is right under my stoma so the stool goes in it. Than I half to put this cream in it that burn's for hour's. I called my surgeon about how bad the cream burn's and he said "than stop the cream and I will inject it with steroids again" well of corse I do not want that because it killed to get 5 injection's in an open wound. I went 17 year's believing my GI that I had uc. I found out this year when I got a second opinion, Because my GI kept denied my symptoms, but it was to late and I had to have more small bowel (witch is all I have left, my colon was removed when I was 14) removed, my stoma revised, 18 unit's of blood and my family was told by the doctors they didn't think I would make it and they had to say their goodbyes. I think I was resuscitated twice. I also have a J pouch (I'm not useing it now) and I think I only had the bag on fo 6 month's to a year before I was reconnected, but had to be unconnected year's later. Do you have your colon still?
Posted 8/5/2012 2:02 AM (GMT 0)
Yes, what were your symptoms prior to your colon removal, if you can remember, tou were so young. How long we're you sick before that first surgery.
Posted 8/6/2012 12:25 AM (GMT 0)
2 year's. The first year I had stomach ache's and would see some blood in my stool. Towards the end of the first year I loss alot of weight ( I got down to 75lb's from 160lb I worked out alot and lifted weight's before I got sick) had bad stomach aches, and would get really sick after eating and my stool was all blood with blood clot's. The second year was spent in the hospital with the same sympotm's. The doctor's tried all kinds of different med's with no luck. So at the end of a full year in the hospital the doctor's told my parent's the only other thing they can do is take my colon out, but the doctor's said it was a huge risk with me being that sick and not strong enough to make it through an 8 hour surgery, but I made it through thank GOD!!!!
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