leaks

It's been a while since I've posted. I have had my ileostomy since November 2007. The first couple years were terrible. Constant leaks and surgery to fix prolapse and retraction. Sometimes my stomy is out and sometimes retracted. Doesn't matter anymore. I have no leaks. This is my procedure. Hope it helps.
After I remove the wafer I shave with an electric beard.trimmer. Then I clean the area with only water and paper towel. No soap, no adhesive removers, nothing. Then dry with a hair dryer. Next apply Geritrix Benzoin Compound Tincture with a q-tip. Dry with a hair dryer. Apply the wafer. I wear a two piece with convex wafer. After applying the wafer I apply Geritrix around the stoma again and dry. Apply the pouch. Done.
No eakin seals, no powder, nothing else. Just Geritrix Benzoin Compound Tincture. That's the secret. It is waterproof. It's a first aid product and helps to heal any open skin. It protects the skin from the poop that is always there. If you spill it only alcohol will clean it up. I don't understand the powder thing. Nothing will stick to powder. Soap leaves a residue. Nothing will stick. The first time you use my procedure you will probably need to use alcohol to remove any residue from eakin seals and anything else.
Geritrix Benzoin Compound Tincture is available at drugsdepot.com ..search product C2540383. It's only $4..49 plus shipping. Give it a try..
Oh, I use "select-a-size " paper towel and cut the whole roll in half. Very convenient..

I also continue to use Benzoin Compound Tincture with every change and have no skin issues. I use the swabs.

And, I would also have no leaks if I would change consistently every 7 days. However, I tend to get lazy and push wear time to the max and sometimes end up with a leak

BCT, by far, is the most reliable product in my arsenal.

Thanks, Dan

I use it under the entire wafer with the double coating around my stoma. Use it......you will love it!

So when you put the second coat of the benzoin around the stoma after the wafer is applied, I guess it must be a very narrow second application? Does it matter if you get it right on the stoma? Also, when you clean the area while changing everything, does the benzoin come off with the water and towel, or does it sort of stay on all the time once you've applied it for the very first time?

The second coat is narrow around the stoma. Yes I get the BCT on my stoma. No problem.
The BCT comes off with the wafer leaving the area clean. I shave with an electric beard trimmer right after I remove the wafer.
To be sure you have the right BCT, put some on your arm with a q-tip. If It won't wash off with soap and water it is the right stuff. You will need alcohol to get it off.
Dan

WORTH EVERY PENNY!!!!! I pay $9.99 per bottle in Canada and order over $50 so shipping is free. I always keep a few extra bottles on hand in case I meet someone who is desperate need!

Swollen
So glad you are giving it a try. BCT is a first aid product.Apply it right on the irritated skin. .Yes it will sting. And apply it on the entire wafer area. I get it on my stoma with no problem. Don't wait for the convex wafers. Use what you have. The BCT will come off with the wafer leaving clean skin. Remember,no soap, no powder, nothing but water and paper towel.
Dan

Best wishes to you. Let us know how it goes when you are done.

Dan-you've been pushing this for so long, thank you for always posting your most valuable tip.

I've personally never tried it. But believe I will now. The area directly under my stoma is always red. Never inflamed or bothersome unless I've had a leak and then it is. I've recently started using a barrier spray in addition to the barrier wipe, hoping it was my application that was not really hitting that area. It has somewhat helped.

I will give this a try!

Thanks again!

I'm not 100% sure it's working. I'm still getting that stinging/burning feeling, but maybe it's just isolated to the skin that's not underneath the barrier. I coated everything pretty good after I applied the barrier, so I'm hoping it stays stuck down. Do you ever take the bag off and clean up around the stoma without removing the barrier?

I removed the old bag, cleaned everything, dried everything with hair dryer, applied BCT all around the stoma, dried with hair dryer, applied barrier, applied additional BCT to exposed skin/barrier junction, snapped bag onto barrier. Now it appears the same thing that always happens has happened......cut edge of barrier has turned loose all around the stoma and curled upwards allowing output to puddle. Any ideas on how to keep the barrier stuck down? I dabbed a clean gauze pad all around the stoma before applying the barrier to be sure no moisture had seeped through the dry BCT, so I don't think there was any dampness that would cause it to not stick good. I was thinking applying the BCT to the peristomal skin/barrier junction would seal it all off, but apparently it didn't.

I'd be afraid to cut it smaller, but its not round, so there's a spot I have to guess at how much inside the line to cut to get it close. This barrier cut is very close to perfect.

I thought I had a leak, so I went ahead and changed barriers this morning. Not sure about the leak.....had moisture in navel under barrier fabric, but couldn't see a breach when I peeled the barrier away.....may have been sweat? Anyway, irritated skin actually looked better. I cleaned everything, re-applied the BCT, applied new barrier. Still have dampness weeping through the dry BCT somehow, so cut edge of barrier doesn't stick all around. I guess I can live with that since the skin seems to be much better protected just from having the BCT on it. Take down is next Friday , so I think it'll be no problem holding out for 8 more days.