Prolapse, Flat/Convex, and 1.5 Eakins

I've written here about having trouble with Eakin's not lasting very long, when they used to, and the skin under my stoma getting very irritated. My stoma is a bit prolapsed, and I asked my nurse for suggestions. One of them was to use half an eakin below the stoma, putting it on the skin directly, and then put a whole eakin on the back of the pouch.

I tried it, and it worked great, so I wanted to pass on. I was nervous that it was going to make things worse and cause a leak, but I just changed after 4 days and could have gone longer (I was changing after 3 before, but it always hurt by then, and not today).

I don't think this is a permanent solution, though, as she thinks the convex wafer might be pushing out my stoma more. When I started with convex, my belly was soft and rounded, and it's still a bit round, but a lot more toned. So she is thinking I should switch to a flat 2 piece -- not the coloplast, as their flat is too flexible (I wear the convex sensura now, one piece).

I'm sad about this idea, as I've liked the pouch I use, but it makes sense to me. She is sending some samples from hollister and convatec, wondering if others have suggestions. Has anyone else switched back from a convex wafer to a flat one? Seems people usually go the other direction....

thanks.

Change can be nerve racking but hopefully it can be a great improvement! I've always had convex wafers. But it makes sense if it's prolapsed, the convexity will push it out even further. Correct, the flat's profile isn't as noticeable as the convex.....so there's a great upside! Hey, as long as the leaks aren't an issue and you can get a great wear-time, to me nothing else matters. Hope your sample testing goes smoothly and maybe you'll find an even better appliance!

Dan, I switched to the convex a few months after surgery because I was having leaks with the coloplast flat. My stoma was always plenty long, but my belly was soft and the coloplast was just not rigid enough to stay w/the curves. I questioned the choice at the time, but soft belly is a reason for convex too. The leaks stopped completely after switching to convex.

However, I've been swimming and losing some weight, and I'm more toned now.

It is not clear to me whether the convex wafer caused the prolapse or not. It's only prolapsed a little....

At the beginning, I found the convatec uncomfortable because it was so stiff, and I liked the coloplast bags a lot better because I found them easier to clean. Now I just want to get more wear time with less skin irritation, and I don't think it'll be a huge problem to get used to something else if it lasts longer and is better to my skin.

Thanks everyone for mentioning the up side to a flat wafer. Looking forward to that. I also hope the moldables will work for me, as they could shave a few minutes off a morning change... now that I'm so busy that matters.

ddd, thanks. I have ordered some adapt rings, and will try them. You are right, I have been using the sensura convex light.

I started with the coloplast one piece flat and an eakin that's what I had all the leaks with, so that makes me a bit nervous to try again, although I do still have some.

An eakin melts on me after about two days, which is why I've been using extra eakin, rather than less.

I don't know if there is any difference between using the two piece and the one piece regarding the issues I've been having.... I had some mishaps with a two piece early on that turned me away, but I should be able to figure out now...

hi i also have a suggestion - hollister Adapt do conformable washers which are convex shaped, not flat - that might be good for trying flat bag.