HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

Hollister Bag Suddenly Leaking Daily

Support Forums
>
Ostomies
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 1/1/2015 1:51 PM (GMT 0)
Hello All,

My mother had an ileostomy in 2010 and has been using the Hollister 28400 one-piece bag fairly successfully since then. She uses the Eakin seals too that has helped the skin significantly. Before applying the bag, she takes a bath and then applies Betadine and the Hollister powder before putting the Eakin seal and the bag.

Apart from the sporadic times when there is leakage (once a few months) and then the subsequent irritation / redness of skin, this system has been working fairly well. However, over the last week, without any particular change in skin contours or the size of the stoma, the bag has been leaking literally every day.

Are there any suggestions that we should try please? I've read on this forum that changing to Coloplast has done the trick for some folks...

Also, I dont want to go the 2-piece system as putting that on can be difficult, so a 1-piece one is preferable. Secondly, Coloplast seem to have multiple brands and types... any ideas which ones are best!

Thanks very much for your help here ... really appreciate it!
Posted 1/1/2015 3:42 PM (GMT 0)
To prepare for new appliance application, super clean skin surrounding your stoma. Blow dry. Apply Friar's Balsam Compound Benzoin Tincture to entire area. Blow dry. Apply Eakin Seal. Blow dry. Apply wafer. Apply some pressure for a few seconds. Done. You should get 6 - 7 days wear time.

The Friar's is available from Wellca.com of Canada. There may be other sources and similar products, but this has worked for me. If your skin is irritated it will sting for a few seconds, but it's worth it. This stuff is sticky as the dickens and also antiseptic.

Credit to Polishdan!
Posted 1/1/2015 5:21 PM (GMT 0)
Are the appliances you're using from a new box/recent order? It could be you've just been sent a bad batch.

It's also possible that after using the same setup for so long her skin has just gotten used to or is no longer agreeing with the hollister adhesive. Maybe changing to a different brand for a little bit will help.

I never used anything aside from hollister other than a few random samples here and there so unfortunately I can't suggest which ones I liked best. I would try calling the companies and asking for starter kits or just talking to a rep, they're always extremely knowledgable and helpful.
Posted 1/2/2015 1:55 PM (GMT 0)
It sounds like it could be a bad batch of bags, as that's such a sudden and dramatic change. Definitely the first thing to check out -- if she has extra supplies, start using from another box first (and call the company).

It can happen that a system stops working, though. Did she lose or gain weight or have anything else that could change the shape of her belly under the stoma?

Does she use a convex wafer? If not, that might help. I had to switch to one just because my belly was soft and rounded a bit, even though my stoma is plenty long.... this was a few months after surgery, but it fixed the leaks.

It's possible that an extended wear wafer could help. I use the xpro from coloplast.... but I switched to a two piece system because the bag only came in clear (not sure if that's still true).

Does she put skin prep over the powder? The powder can make the wafer not stick as well, so it's good to "crust" it with the skin prep.

It might be a good time to check in w/an ostomy nurse who can make more specific suggestions and also give her samples of other products to try.
Posted 1/4/2015 6:04 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks all for your comments. It doesnt seem to be a bag-related problem now - she tried a Coloplast bag today but that too leaked after 10 hours.

We're just running out of ideas now am afraid.... this has been successfully working for the last 4 years and now suddenly, there's leakage everyday...

I think the only slight change is that my mother's been having a slight diarrhoea over the past 4-5 days. Does a more liquid flow increase the chances of leakage or other problems? Not that the liquid outflow is happening for the first time but the leakage certainly is a new issue...

Many thanks once again!
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply