How long do most of you (veterans) take to change wafer?

I get everything ready before going into the shower. Then when I get out, it takes about 30 seconds to a minute to put it all on. I use a two piece with a hollister adapt barrier ring.

I probably would have had that routine down in about three months. Now I'm six months post surgery, but I spent three months applying specials creams, powders, honey, gauze, and an extra protective layer due to a skin condition. So once I was past that part and doing "normal" changes those were cake! It's really not that bad once you do about 5 changes. When I first started, I was having to read my "cheat sheet" given to me after surgery.

Thanks. Oh, UcWhat?- pre-cut- brilliant! Thanks- I have been wondering about that- all the talk re cutting made me wonder why, once stoma size and shape settles (which I realize can take awhile), pre-cut customized isnt the norm- I guess you answered that mystery- or do most veteran ostomates still cut?

activeUCer- ah, I see, the stoma activity issue- do marshmallows really shut down the stoma for a few minutes or is that hit and miss from person to person? Not keen to eat sweet junk but if it takes a few marshmallows every few days to change a stoma bag, so be it.

I'm not a veteran by any means (I'm 3 months post-op now) but here's my routine anyway:
- Start laying out my supplies on my counter, count out five marshmallows (I used to eat them straight out of the bag but then I would forget how many I had eaten! So now I take five out and put the bag away. Stupid tip but helps me :))
- If I'm going to shower beforehand, I shower before I eat the marshmallows -- they kick in quickly for me and don't last a long time, and I have long hair that takes a little while to dry enough after a shower for me to be able to change my wafer. YMMV obviously.
- Eat five marshmallows while I continue laying out stuff
- Cut my wafer (my stoma is a 1 3/8" x 1 1/8" oval -- my mail order pharmacy does do oval shape pre-cuts but only one more month left with this stoma so no point to switching), then tuck the wafer and Adapt barrier ring into my bra to warm up from body heat.
- Then I usually have about five minutes to twiddle my thumbs before the marshmallows kick in :)
- Remove the old wafer, 1 minute
- Clean the stoma and skin and examine for any irritation, 3 minutes
- Apply anti-fungal powder and skin prep, 1 minute
- Stretch and apply barrier ring, 1 minute
- Apply wafer, 1 minute
- Snap on bag, 1 minute
- Clean up! 2 minutes

So in total about 10 minutes from the time I start actually taking off my old wafer, more like 25 including set up time and waiting for marshmallows to kick in (but I do other stuff doing that time, like drying my hair, cleaning the apartment, etc). I don't have problems with getting a good seal with my appliance for whatever reason, so I don't need to lay down or blow dry afterwards. I just don't do anything that really distorts the skin (e.g. I try to avoid bending over to put on socks immediately after) for the first 30 minutes or so, and rest my hand on my stoma to help the seal with my body heat. No leaks so far :)

And yes, DEFINITELY close the pouch long before you snap it on!! LOL. I prepare individual change "packs" in sandwich size ziploc bags so I can just grab one and know I have everything I'll need: 1 wafer, 1 barrier ring, 1 pouch that is already velcro-ed shut, 2 prep wipes, 2 adhesive remover wipes, and a small garbage bag to dispose of the old pouch and catch any output during my change (I tuck it into the waistband of my shorts). Powder, hand mirror, scissors, and pre-cut Viva paper towels I keep in a caddy on the counter. Phew! It sounds like a lot of work but it is really second nature by now.

I swear by the marshmallows. I eat three or four, put all my stuff out, take old stuff off, hop in shower, enjoy my "naked" shower, get out, dry off, apply my Friars, slap on my flange, hold it for a minute or so, snap on my pouch. I then do a little trick I learned on here. I put my panties on with a small towel tucked inside my panties covering my flange to keep the heat in and then proceed to get ready for my day.

Not long, adds about five mins to my routine.

Try Convatec two piece moldable wafers, no cutting and it hugs up to your stomach creating a turtleneck that helps seal. Changes are fast as all you have to do is pull it open a bit to the approximate size of your stoma, once it is on press the soft moldable part with your finger making sure it is right close. I use an eakin sometimes to extend wear time, most times I change every 6 to 8 days. They are available convex and flat.

My process is exactly the same as Shaz!  In - out - done!

I only change in the mornings and never eat or drink anything before and I pre-cut the flange and even attach a new bag. I find that the seal is so tight that it's tricky attaching the new bag to the wafer after it's on the skin. After I shower I dry, apply some stomahesive powder, dry some more and attach and keep pressure on the bag and wafer for a few minutes to ensure a good seal. It's a 10 minute process in all including applying pressure during which time I'm also pouring a cup of coffee with my free hand.

It's under 5 minutes for me. Usually in the am and it doesn't matter if I eat or drink right before...I do just make sure I've emptied once and if there is anything left to come out from the night before it's done by the time I'm ready.

I loved the moldable wafers but after my proctocolectomy my stoma changed just enough (it's now a loop-end) to where they didn't work for me...I do use pre-cut light convextiy with an Eakin and a Sure Seal. I just use paper towels and water to clean right around the area and have just tried Compound of Benzoine Tincture (if I spelled that correctly...lol) a couple times. PolishDan swears by it and I think I have become a fan, too!!

Having everything ready and waiting and lined up is a given as it makes the process so much faster. Hubby leaves the shower running "just in case" he has to jump back in there if there is an unplanned discharge. When he dries the surrounding area off he uses a clear plastic cap from my mousse can which is very helpful if something decides to leak out as it contains it. Since he changes early first thing upon rising before eating or drinking anything it seems to be a very cooperative way for him to change with very little activity when he gets out of the shower.

He only uses the Smith and Nephew skin barrier prep in a pump spray bottle, blow drys it on cool setting and then puts on his one piece wafer. He does this on Wed/Sun each week. He can go a week easily but prefers to do a full change and shower without the bag 2X week. Once he found the wafer that his skin liked this set up for him works well and his skin seems to like it too.