Leaking Help

I was sent home with a Holister 2 piece. I have a ileostomy. I did not leak in the hospital but the last 4 changes have.
I also use the Holister ring Seal. Today my nurse had to use the powder, prep, ring seal and flange. She wants me to wear a belt but The one they gave me in the hospital is too big. I change every 4 days.
Do you think I should change more often?
Do u think the shower is causing me to leak?
Are their better products to use.
I'm at a loss. This has got to work. No going back to j pouch.
Thanks so much.

Getting 4 days wear isn't bad, imo, but most Americans seem to stretch their bag changes to once every 5-7 days. As far as getting the optimal set-up is concerned, it usually takes a few months. That's partly because there's so many different products to try and partly because the stoma is still changing in those early months. 95% of my leaks were in the first year and most of those were in the first few months. I had virtually no leaks in the second year of having a stoma.

In my experience showers do weaken the seal. That's one reason why I dunno how Americans get 5-7 days' wear time out of the same flange/wafer. Maybe somebody can give you suggestions on how to shower without weakening the seal. I'm afraid I don't have any, as I simply timed my bag changes with getting a shower.

I change more often. How soon after putting on a new bag do the leaks occur?

Has yournurse measured your stoma lately? They change size in the weeks after surgery so using measurements you had at the start may not work now.

I also found powder interfered with adhesion.

Tape helps me a lot too, because my stomach isn't flat. I'm underweight so my stomach bloats outwards a bit and I have a bumpy scar where part of the bag needs to be stuck down. Tape helps keep the bag stuck onto that shape and supports the weight of a full bag.

Yes I'm using Adapt rings.
I have nurses come in twice a week to measure.
My stomach is flat
This is the first change I used powder cause of skin breakdown
4 nurses and can't seem to find answer, very frustrating
I will ask about convex but the stoma seems to be a good size, I remember using convex in the beginning 15 years ago with stoma paste and powder. Then when the skin was bad I used stoma powder, Maolox layered, really old fashion I've been told now,, got 4 days. Maybe 3 days is all I'll get with this new stuff. The rings are something new to me. I never used them or a belt. Ugg, I had everything under control and now I have to find my way again.

I need convex to prevent leaks, works way better than a ring for me. I don't have a super-short stoma but probably about .5 inches... If i don't use convex, it seems to shrink down to where it's barely poking out of the wafer.

I use Brava elastic tape: https://www.charter.co.uk/Charter/coloplast/brava/rings-paste-and-tape/brava-elastic-tape/

I use Convatec brand appliances, have for fifteen+ years. My wafer is convex even with my new stoma as it served me well when my previous stoma retracted. I use those little half-moon barriers (forget the exact name) to protect my skin, plus an Eakin seal to ensure longer wear time. I also find it's easier to avoid leaks if I try to keep my output in the pudding stage. Generally, whenever it'd get thicker than that it would sit and kind of 'eat' away at the seal, causing leaks. But then, too much liquid and the effect is the same. It's like we can't win! XD

Whenever I get out of the shower, I make sure to towel dry the edges of the wafer and tuck a little folded bit of TP under the bag inside my underwear to catch the lingering moisture. This has helped me make the exterior adhesion last longer, though sometimes I'll use a little paper tape in case bits are misbehaving. I generally change when the wafer begins to pull away from my skin or if I feel extra sensitive around my stoma. It holds up better in cold water, like when I swim, though even then I don't overdo it. Waterproof tape is rubbish in my mind. A good cloth tape or satin tapes works better.

Somebody said...
I always used convex bags, even with a good end Ileo. I used to hate the early days after surgery, when I wasn't allowed convexity because of the new wound and stitches. I ALWAYS leaked with a flat bag, they are so useless. Convexity and an Adapt ring were my best solution.

Is that why they don't use convex after surgery? I've had three stoma surgeries (long story), after the first one, I was fine for a few weeks, then started getting leaks, stoma nurse switched me to convex, no more leaks. Second surgery, exactly the same. Third surgery, when I started getting leaks I switched myself to convex. I couldn't work out the downside to convexity, but someone told me it puts pressure on the skin round the stoma. I'm not sure if that's true, but I've never had a problem.

Somebody said...
I use those little half-moon barriers (forget the exact name) to protect my skin

Do you mean the Brava tape I mentioned in my previous post?

susans
Please see my post to "concerned ".

Dan

jgalvis
WOW. .How different we can be. I shower every day with Convatec two piece. I never add any extra tape or cover. Sometimes I shower right after I change. No trouble. I play pickelball and I don't own a belt.
Dan