Does anyone remove their bag and clean the flange?

Does anyone take off the bag and clean the flange from time to time? I do this probably twice a day. I wipe inside of the flange and clean the stool off of the stoma area. I did this originally thinking that cleaning it would prolong the wafer. However, I'm noticing that when I wipe it the wafer actually moves and some comes off.

So I'm just wondering if anyone else does this or am I the lone weirdo?

I do clean the flange and the area around my stoma. I even take showers with the bag off. It just makes me feel better and I like not having to dry the bag. I don't really wipe on the inside part of the wafer right around the stoma though....and if I do it is VERY lightly, or I will blot it.

Rabbit are you wearing opaque bags yet? I feel like at the very beginning when I was wearing clear bags I would want to clean around the flange (inside the plastic ring) and stuff like that, but once I switched to opaque bags it was pretty much "out of sight, out of mind" (and absolutely no effect on wafer lifespan).

@Probiotic~ I HAVE thought about if the shower thing shortens my wear time. That said....I probably average 6 days, and have gone as long as 8, between changes. BUT....I also have a problem where once in a while my wafer comes off at night, from the inside of the wafer, out. I thought this was happening because my stoma shrinks down so low at night that it sits almost flush, and more output sits right around, and gets under, the wafer. But, the beating/moisture from the shower could be contributing to that problem also. At some point I'll try a week of showering with the bag on, and see what happens.

Nope, more hassle than it's worth. Unless there's a thickish plug of poo blocking the stoma output, taking the bag off to clean the flange doesn't really gain you anything. With my luck, I end up spreading stuff everywhere.

Well, Rabbit....it looks like *I* am the one who is the lone weirdo! HA! :)

I wear a two piece but I put on a new clean bag each day.  At that time I do gently wipe down the area around the stoma.  I thought that cleaning it off would help it to last longer; but from what you guys are saying it doesn't seem to matter? 

UCwhat?

I am in your same boat. I have found I love the 2 piece pouch system. I found I like taking the bag off also. I clean it out first, I have a 20oz water bottle on the toliet to use, works great. I like how the shower cleans the flange out and I also use a washcloth to get under the edge. I don't think it makes my wear time less. Because the water is not sitting there like the bag does. Plus it allows me to inspect my flange better. I don't like drying the bag either.

As always just make sure you dry the flange well. I am careful not to disturb the part that has melted away some, so I don't make it worse.

Hope this helps.

@Halo~ Good to hear I'm not totally alone in the bagless shower concept. Aside from just not wanting to be bothered with drying the bag (mostly because I am always running late!), I dunno....something just feels good about showering as "normally" as possible. I still might try and go a week showering with the bag, just to see if anything feels different...but I'll likely always take most of my showers bagless :)

uswhat?

You could go without the bag and cover the flange with Glad press and seal to cover it. It sticks to the skin very well. If I'm going to have the spray hit it directly, i'll put my hand over it to make sure it stays on. Otherwise the flow of water does not take it off. Then you can have your way of no bag but keep the flange clean. I also will do this if I have a one piece bag on. I don't like to get it wet, so I put the wrap over it. Or you could order the small closed pouches to use in the shower or swimming. Then just let it dry on it's own after cleaning it out and put your regular bag on after the shower. The benifet of two piece bags.

Probiotic

I'm a weirdo with you. I like to be able to see through my bag, so I know whats going on in it. Started because I started out with one piece pouches. But even with my two piece I like to see. I like being able to keep an eye on Igor (my stoma). I wear a cover I made, so others won't see the bag if it peeks out below my shirt.

@polishdan - I have used the BCT a couple more times. I don't solely use it as I rotate between that and barrier wipes. Both seem to work well

Hiya Rabbit

The only time I clean the gunk around my stoma is if I take my bag off bc I want to put a clean bag on.

I also use the Glad Press and Seal as mentioned above, it keeps everything fairly dry when I shower. I have a friend who wraps her bag in a shower cap and she finds it works well, she just dries her flange pretty quickly with a hairdryer (it's a flange with a paper backing on the adhesive).

Oh ya that pink tape is a great option as well! I'm glad that you are adjusting well, you've been through a lot and seem to have a "healthy" take on things. Hard as it can sometimes be, having a positive viewpoint definitely helps. Also happy to hear that you are getting back to the gym - definitely go slowly and I'm sure you'll be great!