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Pouch Change Procedure Qs

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Posted 9/11/2012 12:34 AM (GMT 0)
Hi all,
I am just wondering if, after you change your pouch, you rest for a bit? My stoma nurse says I should lay down for about 20 minutes after a change and apply heat and light pressure over the area (I just use my hand) to help the wafer stick and create a good seal.

I find this annoying and I hate having to just lay down when I'm busy and have stuff to do, but if it helps then I'll do it. I can't figure out how helpful it really is so I'd like some feedback.

Thanks :)
Posted 9/11/2012 1:07 AM (GMT 0)
I was told ten minutes - the stoma nurse said he hears people range in time from 5 minutes to 30 minutes. I'm relatively new to all of this so I don't have evidence for what timing is sufficient.

I use Convetec paste and a hollister pouch.
Posted 9/11/2012 1:29 AM (GMT 0)
Hey
I hold a folded towel over mine for about 10 minutes or so, it does seem to make the wafer stick better.
Posted 9/11/2012 5:00 AM (GMT 0)

I had not heard that coming from an ostomy expert, but someone posted on here once about if she had the extra time she would lay with the heating pad over top of the new pouch for 15 minutes, or so.

I do the "heat & pressure" step using my hairdryer, though.  I heat both my Eakin and my wafer prior to applying each.   Then for 3 mins or so, I alternate heat from the hairdryer and pressure, back & forth, once my wafer has been applied.

Something clicked when I started using a whole Eakin with the Convatec Convex Moldable and the "heat & pressure" step.   I went from 2-hrs to 2-days wear, to 7+ days with this set-up.

Posted 9/11/2012 11:07 AM (GMT 0)
So you use a mold able with an Eakins? I was told moldables are meant to be used without an eakin.


Do you guys lay down? Or just stand?
Posted 9/11/2012 11:35 AM (GMT 0)
 

I use a whole Eakin with the moldable and it works great for me.

I lie down, so everything lays flat when I change.

 

Posted 9/11/2012 7:04 PM (GMT 0)
I do the hairdyer thing and it works for me. Lie down when I change at night. I only use 1/3 of an eakin seal molded around the stoma and Hollister 2 piece slapped on my little Bubbles. Ostomy's name.

If it's after swim team workout and falling off I have no where to Lie down, so I just hair dryer it and I'm not too active after. (No 2 hour run, or something like that) It still stays on just fine. I am happy with 4-5 days because of activities I do each day.

Good luck with your adventure to get it all figured out!
Posted 9/11/2012 8:55 PM (GMT 0)
Hello!

When I change, I usually just heat my skin well with the hair dryer and heat the pouch part. I wear a Hollister one piece. I stick it right on and hold it firmly for about 30 seconds to a minute. I don't lie down, I close the toilet lid and kinda "slink" on it to apply my bag. I will sometimes heat it all when its on, if I have the time. If i don't, I just go right on. I do usually put on a panty girdle. I think that continues to put on additional light pressure which I think helps. I can sleep in it, if its nighttime, or wear it if its daytime. I change my bag at various times. I do like, if I have the time, and the stoma isn't too active, to leave it off and let my skin "air" as long as I can. I do not get stressed over doing this though... One other tidbit I like to think helps is I use Witch Hazel to clean my skin very well. Even when I shower with the bag off, I dry off and clean well with Witch Hazel. It has worked well for my skin for many years. One day, I was swabbing around with alcohol in that area, and I thought I would try it...has worked great!!

Have a wonderful day!
Mollie
Posted 9/11/2012 10:06 PM (GMT 0)
Hubby takes a paper towel and dries the area well...puts a clear cap over the stoma -uses hair dryer on cool setting to be sure skin is totally dry...applies the Smith and Nephew skin barrier prep in a pump spray and dries that with the blowdryer and then applies the wafer.  Since he does this upon rising and has had nothing to eat or drink the stoma cooperates very well for him (the clear cap will collect anything that might leak out which is rare..or else back in the shower to clean it off).  Once the wafer is on his skin he puts his hand over it for a moment to be sure it feels like it is stuck well.  Sometimes he might use the blow dryer for a few seconds if he thinks it might need it but usually not.  He does not lie down afterwards.

He is usually hurrying and getting his underwear & sweats back on so he can go out and make his coffee and a bite to eat.

Posted 9/12/2012 1:00 AM (GMT 0)
I never hold the wafer on after applying. No warming or heating. Stick it on and go eat breakfast. Sometimes right into the shower. Wafer adhesives (at least convatec) are waterproof and work like construction contact cement, or CONTACT PAPER. Once touched it is on for good. No waiting. No repositioning. Done deal.

Dan
Posted 9/12/2012 2:55 AM (GMT 0)
I never heard I was supposed to lie down for 15 minutes. I do lay down while I'm putting it on, then stand up and do the hair dryer for a minute.
Posted 9/12/2012 2:14 PM (GMT 0)
No time for that nonsense. I just put hairdryer the whole contraption for about one minute after I'm done. And then I try not to twist or bend for about 30minutes.
Posted 9/12/2012 8:30 PM (GMT 0)
During my first month afther colectomy, the nurse told me to lie down with a towel over the seal for about a hafl hour. Doing so did not make any difference on whether I had a leak or not. Over the following 12 months of having a stoma, I just put the bag on and got on with the day, no lying down, no heat, and I never had any problems.
Posted 9/15/2012 2:14 PM (GMT 0)
Good to know!! I think the hairdryer thing sounds like the least time consuming but smartest plan.
Posted 9/17/2012 8:29 AM (GMT 0)
I absolutely do each and every time.  My nurse told me that heat helped so I always tried my best to apply as much pressure and heat to the wafer as possible.  My procedure when applying everytime is lay down on my bed, hold down with fingers as hard as possible to wafer for 15 minutes, place whole hand over wafer as hard as possible(for both heat and pressure), and lastly, I apply a last 5 minutes of just hard fingers to the wafer to make sure it is as secure as possible. 

This technique has always worked very well for me.  My system can stay on for 10+ days no problem even with some skin issues.

Posted 9/17/2012 9:27 AM (GMT 0)
I'd never heard of this before now.. I just 'stick and go'.. ;-) the closest I get is holding my palm over the wafer for a few seconds. Luckily don't get leaks.
Posted 9/18/2012 12:21 PM (GMT 0)
     Wow, this is all news to me!  My stoma nurse never told me anything about applying heat to the appliance and holding it in place.

     When I switched from the Hollister over to the one piece Coloplast Sensura, over two years ago,   I just use an adhesive remover while peeling off the old wafer, wash area with antibacterial soap (I use the paper washcloths they use in the hospitals), rinse with clear water, dry area thoroughly, put some stoma powder on, wipe off with kleenex and pop the new bag on...then add the reliamed drops to the bag...good to go yeah !

     I take baths, showers, swim, etc.  My bags always stay on until I remove them every third day or so.

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