HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

Child with colostomy - NOTHING sticks around the stoma.

Support Forums
>
Ostomies
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 8/25/2014 2:23 AM (GMT 0)
I am soooo desperate for help. It's been 1.5 yrs. His stoma was a bit tilted so after trying about everything on the market, we decided on a stoma reshaping. It ended up being a complete revision because of so many underlying adhesions. His stoma is much much bigger, sticks out more and yet just a week out from surgery and we are still having the same problems. Anytime he leaks just a bit of stool, it loosens and we end up with a silent leak starting to work it's way out. Really I have tried just about everything and I am at my end with this all. My heart is broken over this. I've tried most products - calling Coloplast for Mio tomorrow to see if size wise it might work (he is a small guy and pedi supplies are greatly lacking). I can't stand rings, they always make it worse no matter how I've used them. I do paste. I heat, apply pressure, keep him in one position for a good 10 mins after. I've cut the hole bigger, smaller. I've tried skin prep. Usually just water to clean. It's dry when I put the wafer on. What am I missing? Someone help. I have nurses on the case trying to help but nothing has worked. I truly am desperate. He is only 5. shakehead shakehead shakehead
Posted 8/25/2014 2:53 AM (GMT 0)
Valleygirl
Please try my method. First forget about the powders and skin preps that ostomy nurses promote. The first time you use my method, you may need to clean any residue from eakins, etc. with alcohol. NO SOAP. Clean with only water and paper towel. Then dry with a hair dryer. Apply Geritrix Benzoin Compound Tincture with a q-tip all around the stoma and the entire wafer area. It dries sticky. Dry again with hair dryer. Apply the wafer. No soap, alcohol wipes, powder, skin preps, nothing. No wash cloths. They will have soap residue. Just paper towel and water. When you remove the wafer to change the BCT will come off with the wafer leaving clean skin. If there is open skin it will sting when you apply the BCT.
I assume you are in the US. Geritrix Benzoin Compound Tincture is available from drugsdepot.com search product C2540383.
If you are not in the US we will help you.
Almost forgot....IF YOU SPILL IT ONLY ALCOHOL WILL CLEAN IT UP. IT IS WATERPROOF.
Dan
Posted 8/25/2014 3:17 AM (GMT 0)
I think you shared this method wit me in the past....probably here....like I said I have been having issues for a long time. I did buy what you told me in the past and it did not work. I am going to look up past messages....I can't remember exactly.
Posted 8/25/2014 3:24 AM (GMT 0)
I just emailed you, we went back and forth one year ago on this and me trying it out. I can sure try it again though. I have since moved so I have a new WOC nurse closeby and hopefully more resources but I'm still trying to figure that part out.
Posted 8/25/2014 3:47 AM (GMT 0)
You may or may not have tried these already but, get some Hollister medical adhesive spray. Spray it onto the precut wafer and let it dry. While it's drying remove old setup and clean the area apply a barrier wipe let it dry then apply some stoma powder over the area and one more barrier wipe. Once the barrier wipe dries up and the spray on the wafer dried (a good 5-10 minutes) apply wafer and press down gently. Should stick right on.

That Hollister adhesive spray works great for me and peels off really clean.
Posted 8/25/2014 3:52 AM (GMT 0)
I don't think I tried that spray, I will look it up. I did do the powder/wipes before to do that crusting, right? It didn't work so we stopped. What would be the benefit of it? He doesn't have broken skin, surprisingly.
Posted 8/25/2014 6:24 AM (GMT 0)
if no broken skin sounds likes the Adhesive spray might do the trick.

I have been having issues getting things to stick as well.

I can be completely dry and hold the wafter for 15 minutes and it still peels up a little on the bottom! So frustrating. I am focusing on this issue the last week or so and having some luck.
I have been using ConvaTec convex wafer. They do not have cut to fit convex. And moldable seemed to be causing me major issues. I think I had too big of a size... so it never stuck CLOSE enough to my stoma. So I got the pre-sized moldable. Right at 7/8 inch. my stoma is maybe a mm smaller, but I gave it a shot.
warmed up the back of the wafer between my hands for a minute, peeled off the sticky and put it on. Held both hands over it. No moving, bending... reaching. If my stoma starts spitting up I grab a bag and snap it on quick, while applying pressure the whole time and keeping my warm hands on the wafer.

I really think it sticking has to do with the warmth... not pressure. It was suggested to me to keep the wafer in your armpit while setting up for the change. that way the wafer is super pliable and sticky once you're ready for it.

Sounds rough... hope those nurses can help!! good luck!!
Posted 8/25/2014 3:16 PM (GMT 0)
Valleygirl - Polishdan is your man. Follow his advice and you will have a good outcome.
Posted 8/25/2014 4:28 PM (GMT 0)
I have taken his advice and my son didn't react well to the stuff...he got red and bumpy skin from the Benzoin. I can try it again, that was a year ago.
Posted 8/25/2014 4:49 PM (GMT 0)
I only had problems with the rings, I found that I was better off without them. I also had problems with my supplies sticking whenever I used the stoma powder.

Everyone is different but what I found that worked best for me was the Coloplast Protective Sheets underneath the baseplate and then putting on the Coloplast Brava Strips over the baseplate.

I'd try to think of it as a new ostomy since it's only been a week and try not to get frustrated. Maybe once the surgery site and skin starts healing then things will stick better.
Posted 8/25/2014 6:19 PM (GMT 0)
I have changed it three times already today and it's only 1! :( I"m so tired of this!!!!! I feel like I get a new bag on and barely get going with something else and then it's time to go again.

I did call Coloplast and they are sending me the sheets to try. And the Mios. I have gone through a month supply of stuff already in 1.5 weeks. I'm about out of things....but yet I don't know what to order. :(
Posted 8/25/2014 8:19 PM (GMT 0)
Does your son have a loop ostomy or end?
Posted 8/25/2014 9:27 PM (GMT 0)
I think they said it was loop. I have no idea what that means.
Posted 8/26/2014 1:35 AM (GMT 0)
Val
Thanks for sending our conversation of last year. Did you say your son had reconstruction surgery since then?
I got to thinking about the PDI swabsticks. Package says 10% Compound Tincture of Benzoin but it does not say what is in the CToB. Friar's and Geritrix list all the ingredients. I sent an e-mail to the manufacturer asking about the ingredients. I did not remember that you are in the UK. Friar's is available in Canada and Geritrix in the US. Geritrix will ship to the UK. Don't know the shipping cost.
I will post what I get from the swabstick manufacturer.

Dan
Posted 8/26/2014 2:01 AM (GMT 0)
No I am not in the UK, I am in Kansas. And yes he had a revision recently. So I know its still early and will take some time....we have some separation from skin and stoma we are dealing with....so that might be our problem right now too. Have an appt with our nurse tomorrow finally, I'm so glad.
Posted 8/26/2014 2:09 AM (GMT 0)
Are you using anything at all other than the paste? I honestly don't clean the area around it with anything, I just wipe off any poo or blood. The only time I use any water is if I have an irritated spot, I wet the rag with cold water and hold it over the spot. I always cut or mold the wafer a bit too small and apply it while laying flat. I hold it for a few minutes then stand up and use the hair dryer. Then I apply the sure seal. I get 7 days. Have you tried the sure seals? They may help if moisture of some kind is getting to his skin from above the wafer. Maybe from sweat.
Good luck.
Posted 8/26/2014 2:54 AM (GMT 0)

valleygirl26 said...
I think they said it was loop. I have no idea what that means.

A loop means that there are actually two openings -- one that is on the "top", where stool comes out, and one that is on the "bottom", that is attached to the rest of the intestine inside the body (the stool comes out into the bag instead of flowing down through the rest of the intestine).

The reason I ask is that the bottom opening, what they sometimes call the mucus opening, can be very small and hard to see. Because the intestine is always producing mucus, it is common for mucus to come out of that second opening, even multiple times per day. If you don't know where it is, it's easy to accidentally place the wafer directly over the mucus opening. Mucus comes out underneath the wafer and loosens the adhesive almost immediately, leading to tons of leaks when everything else seems to be right.

It's great that you have an appointment with the nurse tomorrow -- definitely ask the nurse to point out where the mucus opening is so you know for the future.

Good luck!
Posted 8/26/2014 4:16 AM (GMT 0)
Pluot may be on to something with this new stoma. Def ask the nurse! Good luck!
Posted 8/26/2014 5:49 PM (GMT 0)
One other thought what do you use for baths or showers? That might be loosening the seal also
Posted 8/26/2014 11:25 PM (GMT 0)
Valley - sorry it's taken me so long to respond. So the purpose of crusting is to even out the surface of the skin, makes sure all skin oils aren't interrupting with the wafer and lastly it protects the skin from any leakages.

With that being said the spray from Hollister is number 7730 and it's called Medical Adhesive. The stuff was specifically designed to adhere things to skin in tough places while being safe for open wounds. However you cannot apply it directly to the skin (it doesn't burn or anything it just needs to dry before being placed on the skin). So apply it to the wafer after you cut it to fit and just let sit for a few minutes. It really works great and leaves no residue.

If you want feel free to message me here or "tweet" me on twitter, my handle is the same name as here. I'm set on private so you'll have to add me. Keep me posted!

Ps - you can get the stuff from your WOCN with your insurance or you can get it on amazon for like $30. Good luck!
Posted 8/27/2014 1:26 AM (GMT 0)
Yep, Pluot is right. That's what was happening to me until I got the hang of going under the loop part. I also found switching to a larger wafer helped as well.

I hope your appt goes well.
Posted 8/27/2014 10:18 PM (GMT 0)
I forgot to ask about the loop! Shoot! For some reason I stopped getting notifications here. Here's the update so far though:

- Since we have separation from the skin and stoma right now, we are putting powder in and covering with a (for now) Hollister barrier sheet cut to fit exactly around the stoma.
- On top of that we put the pouch
- Once we experiment with skin sensitivity we will try a two piece with a floating flange and then add a support belt
- She did not think we should try Mastisol, Benzoin or the Hollister adhesive, saying that although yes people do great with these products, he is a child and does have more sensitive skin. She did saw we could try some of those things maybe JUST a dab in the problem areas....BUT....

I don't think it's an adhesion problem. Now that I am watching it more it just seems like it is breaking down super super fast. To the point it's making me feel like all the products out there are total crap. But yet others can get actual wear time so there's gotta be something to this.

Since we tried this new method (using the barrier sheet and one piece) we got 8 hours wear time. That's still not acceptable to me. I could see it swelling and breaking down through the see thru pouch before he even stooled.

Even if this mucous hole or whatever you said is nearby, I have tried cutting the wafer bigger so that nothing is actually touching his stoma. That would have done it I would think...but we still had the same issues.

I'm at a total loss. I'll try the two piece and support but I am not convinced that's going to be our solution either.

Oh and as far as baths....we haven't actually given him a true bath but one time in the last 9 days because I don't want to make things worse! I cath him anyways and will do the sponge bath thing if we need to so it's not like he is all that "dirty". So it's def not baths giving us problems!
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply